Jim McIntyre praised his players’ work-rate but felt they again pressed the self-destruct button as his first home game in charge ended in defeat to Premiership leaders Hearts.
Jim’s Dens Park bow got off to the worst possible start as his Dark Blues fell behind to an Oliver Bozanic free-kick after just two minutes.
Twelve minutes later they were 2-0 down as Jambos skipper Steven Naismith found the back of the next.
The start to the second half was even worse as Steven MacLean made it 3-0 just 20 seconds after the restart and put the game beyond the home team.
The lapses that led to all three goals were frustrating for Jim but at least he felt able to praise some of the work put in, particularly in the first half.
“The players showed plenty of character at 2-0 down, the way it’s been going recently it would be easy to just feel sorry for yourselves and just collapse but we never,” he said.
“We had a real go at it in that first half and created some good opportunities ourselves. That’s the positive to take, but we need to eradicate self-destructing.
“There was a bit of that and their might be a bit of pain before it gets better but it will get better, that’s for sure”
Dundee squandered a great opportunity to get back in the game when Calvin Miller fired wide from the penalty spot with the score at 2-0 and Jim felt other chances went begging as well.
“Hearts are a good side, but you can’t stand off teams. You’ve got to make sure you are taking the game to them as well.
“I felt they did that on a number of occasions and we drove Hearts back and created opportunities. When you get those opportunities that lifts the belief to go to the next level.
“Obviously the penalty is the biggest chance and we have a great chance with a head as well and we should have done better at that.
“The pleasing thing is we didn’t crumble and feel sorry for ourselves.”
Things don’t get any easier for Jim and his players and after a free weekend, next up at Dens Park are Champions Celtic a week tonight.
After that one comes what is already looking a massive clash at Motherwell on Saturday week.
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