Credit where it’s due for Neil McCann – I was delighted to see Dundee get their first points of the season at Hamilton.
There was a reason he was under big pressure. You can’t get away from the fact that his team were on a terrible run of results.
But hopefully the Accies win will prove to be a turning point rather than a one-off.
There is a lot to be encouraged by.
The clean-sheet will be particularly important. I’ve lost count of the number of times Dundee shot themselves in the foot so to keep Accies out is a big confidence boost.
The players should feel like a weight has been taken off their shoulders.
They don’t need to look at the league table through their fingers anymore.
One of the big things is that they didn’t become detached even when they had no points and now Motherwell, St Mirren and Hamilton are all within touching distance.
Kilmarnock will be a tough game but it is one Dundee should still be looking to win.
If they do, and they get off the bottom, then we really can say that a corner has been turned.
Neil will have Kenny Miller available again after his ban and Paul McGowan could be fit but I would be tempted to say to the 11 players who won at Hamilton: ‘Go again’.
He might think that there’s a tactical reason to change but I think there’s a lot to be said for the old saying about leaving a winning team alone.
It sends out a message to the players with the jersey that they’re being backed and to the players coming back that they need to fight for a place.
* The writing was on the wall for Csaba Laszlo at Dundee United.
I didn’t like the reaction of some of the players when we played them in the Betfred – the attitude back towards him.
I know for a fact that if it was our manager, you wouldn’t have got away with it once, let alone two or three times. You’d have been taken off by the scruff of your neck.
He asked them to do things and I heard one of the players chip back three times. I couldn’t believe it.
I know it was pre-season for the bigger clubs but chipping back at your manager is a dangerous one.
To me it showed a bit of disrespect.
The players have to take responsibility. You can say you’re not having him but once you cross the line you have to give 100%.
They were lucky to take us to penalties that day.
Once again Dundee United are now going through another transitional period. Will there be another big squad overhaul? I think they’ve got to go with experience for their next manager.
* It’s the League One top of the table clash at Stark’s Park on Saturday.
Raith Rovers have got the new manager bounce with John McGlynn coming back but we’re in great form.
The Arbroath boys were flying in training on Monday night and we couldn’t ask to be going into the game in better form. It should be a cracker.
