Dundee’s Craig McKeown insists the fact the club still exists means this season will be a success no matter what happens in the SPL promotion race.
The Dark Blues sit in third place in the First Division, 14 points behind leaders Ross County. With just 10 games remaining for Dundee who came close to shutting the doors for good last season after going into administration the odds look stacked against them being able to stop the Staggies juggernaut.
However, McKeown is adamant that everyone at Dens is fully focused on winning their remaining matches between now and the end of the campaign, starting tonight against Ayr United.
He said: ”We just have to take every game as it comes and see where we are at the end of the season. There are 10 matches left and a lot can happen, but we can only concentrate on what we can do, starting against Ayr.
”We will be looking to pick up three points and hopefully get closer to Ross County. That’s the only thing we can hope for, that Ross County maybe slip up or make a few mistakes.
”We can only influence the games we are involved in and if it’s good enough come the end of the season great if not, we will just start again the following season.
”The main positive this year is that we still had a club to play for after everything that happened. But from the players’, the manager’s and the fans’ point of view, we all want to be back in the SPL that is where this club should be. That is the mission we are all on.”
Ayr were defeated by Hibs on Saturday in their Scottish Cup quarter-final tie but, before that reverse, Brian Reid’s side had recorded a couple of notable wins against Livingston and second-top Falkirk, and McKeown acknowledged they will be dangerous opponents.
He said: ”Ayr have had a couple of good results recently. They beat Livi 2-1 last midweek and came from a goal behind which tells you a lot about the team we will be playing against. They have a lot of character and good players in the side so, as I have maintained since the start of the season, there are no easy games in this league.
”We know what to expect and we just need to go with the right attitude and get three points.”
Dundee boss Barry Smith last week bolstered his squad with the addition of Kevin McBride, who has played the last two games as a trialist, as well as former Dark Blue Mark Fotheringham. And McKeown believes the addition of the duo could prove vital if Ross County do slip up.
He added: ”Fozzy and Kevin McBride are good players who have performed at the highest level and that can only help the squad. So, having two players like that coming in at this stage of the season is a boost for anyone, especially in the First Division.
”We are delighted to have both of them on board and hopefully they can help us kick on.”
Manager Barry Smith, who will be without Nicky Riley and Steven Milne but should have Jake Hyde available, urged the Dundee support to rally round the team tonight. There should also be a special atmosphere as the Dark Blues plan to pay tribute to legendary fan Wullie Reilly after his recent death from cancer.
”The fans have been brilliant all season and we need them to keep turning up, to back the boys and to support the club,” said Smith. ”The attendances have been great and that is to their credit. It is important that they still come because it is vital to the club financially that they do so.”
Ayr will be playing their seventh game in 24 days when they pitch up at Dens. The Honest Men will need to put the disappointment of Saturday’s Scottish Cup exit to Hibs behind them as they concentrate on First Division survival.
Reid said: ”Saturday did not go for us in the way we had hoped as we found ourselves two goals down quite early and that was a huge mountain to climb. We are now back focusing on the league and will travel to Dundee with confidence as we have hit a decent run of form with three wins in our last four league games.”
Former Dark Blues striker Sean Higgins heads a list of four players that continue to be ruled out through injuries with John Robertson, Martyn Campbell and Alan Trouten all missing as well. Midfielder Andy Geggan looks set to join them after picking up a knock at Easter Road on Saturday.