Dundee’s Ryan Conroy believes it is time Lady Luck smiled on the Dark Blues as they look to end their derby drought on Sunday.
Local rivals Dundee United have held the upper hand in all three meaningful games between the sides this season, with their latest triumph coming two weeks ago when they won 2-1 at Dens Park in the Scottish Cup with Gary Mackay-Steven scoring what turned out to be the winning goal.
Dundee will take the short walk down to Tannadice this weekend to face a United side missing a host of first-team regulars in the injured Johnny Russell and Gavin Gunning with skipper Jon Daly a big doubt, while midfielders John Rankin and Willo Flood are suspended.
Despite that, Conroy is taking nothing for granted however he believes that a rejuvenated Dundee side can finally break their derby duck with the help of a little good fortune.
He said: “We have a quick chance to put things right after the cup game. We were disappointed with that result as we feel we played quite well.
“Afterwards, I spoke to a few of their boys and they said we were probably the better team in the first half but then they hit us with a sucker blow when Gary Mackay-Steven scored.
“So hopefully we can continue the way we have been playing recently, score a few goals and get a victory this time.
“They may have a few missing but they will have boys who have been sitting on the bench raring to go. They have quite a good squad and they signed another striker recently in Rory Boulding so they have people who can come in.
“We know it is always a hard game across there but it is one to look forward to.
“It’s maybe time we had a wee rub of the green against them. I think we are definitely due a result. We will have to work hard but we are confident now with the way we have been playing.”
That recent resurgence saw Dundee take high-flying Inverness right down to the wire at the weekend with Highland hitman Billy McKay breaking Dark Blue hearts by netting an equaliser with just seven minutes remaining.
However, Conroy believes that considering their previous results this season against Caley, it shows just how far the Dundee squad have progressed recently.
He said: “We were disappointed in the end to just get a draw against a good Inverness team. The previous two games we played them, they have beaten us 4-1 each time so it just shows the fact we were disappointed to draw means we are doing a lot better now.
“I was on the bench for a while but I am enjoying being back in the team. After regaining my place, I am even more determined to stay there having experienced being a substitute. It is not nice so I am happy to be back in and I will just have to keep performing to retain my place.”
When asked if the new-found confidence was linked to the arrival of new interim boss John Brown, Conroy admitted: “It’s not so much that. I think it comes with results as well. All the boys are playing well together and I think we have that belief now even when we go behind.
“Maybe earlier in the season we wouldn’t have come back but in the last few games we have gone behind and done that.
“I think that breeds confidence and we have scored a few goals now which gives everyone a boost.”