Dundee boss John Brown says Saturday’s defeat shows it is still all to play for in the Championship title race but stressed the players are determined to put their latest setback behind them.
The Dark Blues missed the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table when they lost 1-0 at home to Livingston at the weekend, although they retained top spot by virtue of Hamilton’s failure to beat Falkirk.
It was nevertheless a frustrating outcome for Brown’s men, though, and Bomber is looking for his players to provide the appropriate response when Accies come calling this weekend.
“We’re straight back into it,” he said.
“The boys are all disappointed after what happened at the weekend and they want to make it up to the fans. They all feel as though they let them down with their performance.
“But if you’d said to me that you’d be one point ahead in the league at this stage of things, then you would probably have taken it.
“The boys are angry that we’ve let certain games go this season, but that’s how competitive this league is. It’s all to play for.
“I still think it will go right down to the wire and Saturday’s game won’t decide anything. There have been shocks throughout the season and there will be a few more.
“But we can’t afford to have too many more here at home.”
The feeling after Saturday’s game was reminiscent of when Dundee lost 2-1 at home to Cowdenbeath on December 14, although the Dark Blues’ reaction after that blow was to win three games on the trot.
Brown is looking for a similar response this time around, and knows just how important a win over closest challengers Hamilton this coming Saturday could be in the grand scheme of things.
Asked if the players were angry at passing up the opportunity to move further clear this past weekend, Brown added: “It’s more frustration within the dressing room.
“But I think there will be a few more surprises between now and the end of the season, so we can’t dwell on the disappointment of the Livingston game.
“What’s gone by you has gone by you, so we can only move on to the Hamilton game.”
Brown will be hoping to have top scorer Peter MacDonald back available for the visit of Accies after missing the Livi defeat due to a leg injury.
The striker’s fitness will be assessed ahead of the game at Dens Park, although winger Nicky Riley will remain sidelined.