Dundee boss Barry Smith is refusing to push the panic button.
The Dark Blues have struggled to hit top form this season. Saturday’s home defeat to Morton plunged them to second bottom of the first division.
Smith was keen to put their start into perspective. He said: “We’re only four games into the season.
“There’s no panic here. It’s just a case of keep working.
“This will be a tight league. I’ve always said that. It’s a case of making sure we’re there or thereabouts.”
The Dens manager may be relaxed about the slender four-point gap between themselves and the top of the table, but that doesn’t diminish his determination to stamp out what is becoming a worrying habit conceding quick goals.
He said: “Teams will come here and sit in.
“That makes life difficult so to lose an early goal and it’s not the first time it’s happened is disappointing.
“I don’t think Morton had many other chances but the fact that they’ve got something to hold on to and are playing on the break makes it hard for us to play the way we want to.
“It gives teams the chance to camp in. I don’t think it’s a concentration thing because we started well.
“The boys had a couple of chances in the first five minutes.
“I don’t know what it is but it’s something we have to work on because we can’t keep leaking goals.”
Dundee will play Brechin in a friendly at Glebe Park on Thursday to keep them ticking over during the international break.
Smith pointed out that all fit players will be in the squad. He said: “The break’s not come at a good time for us because I’d rather have another game instead of having to wait for two weeks.”
There were a “couple of knocks” picked up on Saturday, but no serious injuries.
Meanwhile, Smith is still hoping to add to his pool before tomorrow’s transfer deadline.
He said: “I’m going to watch a couple of games tomorrow to see if there’s a couple of players I can get. It’s a maybe, but nothing definite.”