It’s one of the big contradictions of Dundee’s season that despite a league position that remains less healthy as they’d like and a goals-against column that needs improving, there’s no lack of good defenders at Dens Park.
At times young stars Jack Hendry and Kerr Waddell have starred in central defence, occasionally together.
Josh Meekings has arrived at the club and impressed in the middle as well and, although injury problems and two red cards have blighted skipper Darren O’Dea’s campaign to date, he remains an influential figure.
At top-team level, long-term fitness problems have denied manager Neil McCann the chance to have a look at Julen Etxabeguren and Kosta Gadzhalov, but they are both now coming into the reckoning.
At left-back Kevin Holt and Spaniard Jon Aurtenetxe have shown their worth, while on the right Cammy Kerr continues to be a reliable presence and can also operate at right centre-half should the manager choose to go with a back three.
When it comes to the gaffer sitting down to a team selection and all those players are available, it would be understandable if it takes McCann time to decide on his rearguard.
After Saturday’s compact display against Partick Thistle, though, he might just have found a back four that could be picking itself for some time to come.
Having gone with a back three in recent outings, against the Jags McCann reverted to a four.
The men he went with were Kerr and Aurtenetxe in the full-back positions, while Hendry and Meekings got the nod in the central area.
With Sofien Moussa capturing the headlines via his penalty double as well as an expert 90 minutes when it came to leading the line up front and that resulting in a season best 3-0 victory in the league, the work of the back four went largely unnoticed.
Not for McCann and, as he celebrated what was an extremely-satisfying win, he made a point of highlighting how well those at the back had performed.
The best way to sum up how well they did is to point out over the proceedings goalkeeper Elliott Parish, himself an impressive addition, did not have to make a save of note.
Whether it’s been Parish or the frozen-out Scott Bain between the sticks, it’s hard to recall saying that about any Dundee game this term.
This is an attacking team that plays from the back and, under instruction from the manager, is one that is avoiding simply lumping the ball forward.
It’s something McCann takes responsibility for and he accepts at times mistakes that lead to opposition chances will be made.
What it means is whoever he is, the Dundee goalkeeper can expect to be called on at some point during any given game. For it not to have happened at the weekend was pleasing.
And it might lead to that extended run for the current incumbents.
Against the Jags they looked solid. In the middle the experienced but-still-young Meekings was rock-like and looks to be the man around whom the defence can be built.
His presence allows the fast-improving Hendry to move forward with the ball at his feet when the opportunity arises.
Kerr and Aurtenetxe showed they can add to the attacking options as they raided down the flanks. They also did their defensive work well.
As Dundee look to climb the league that has to remain the No 1 priority.
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