Dundee boss Gary Bowyer insists fighting foundations have been laid for his team during a tough period beset by injuries, suspensions and the spread of a sickness bug.
Wins have been hard to come by in recent games with three having passed since they defeated Ayr United.
However, defeats have also been rare with the Dark Blues unbeaten in four Championship matches, drawing three times.
But the Dens Park gaffer says he has spotted a mental “shift” in his squad in recent weeks, one that he thinks will stand them in good stead as the season progresses.
Robinson and French
And he’s hopeful of having the players affected by illness, including Zach Robinson, back available for the weekend trip to Partick Thistle.
Also returning will be midfielder Josh Mulligan after he sat out Friday’s 2-2 draw at Queen’s Park due to suspension.
“Zach Robinson is still off after he was sick on the pitch on Friday,” Bowyer said.
“Tyler French missed that one but returned to light training on Monday after being off for a week.
“That’s it at this moment.
“We’ve got a couple with knocks who haven’t trained since the game on Friday.
“So the only consistency we have right now is the inconsistency in terms of players out with suspension or injury and now this sickness bug.
“What that has done is helped the spirit and fight in the squad.
“We’re unbeaten in the last four games (in the league) and you look at all of those games, they were tough.
“We beat top of the league, we drew with Morton 0-0 and then they put four past Inverness in the next game.”
‘Fighting like mad’
Bowyer was full of praise for the way Dundee equalised twice against the Spiders on Friday night.
And he points to the struggles last season in a poor Premiership campaign which the majority of the current squad endured.
“What I have seen is a team fighting like mad – they showed that against Queen’s Park by coming from behind twice,” Bowyer added.
“The only thing I can level at the players is the goals we conceded. We have spoken about that as a group.
“We need to be more ruthless.
“But it is important how the players respond and they are not going under.
“I’ve only brought in two permanent signings so the vast majority of the squad were here last season.
“They went through a season where they were getting beaten most weeks.
“So, mentally I’ve seen a shift in the last couple of weeks.
“There is real belief in the group and a togetherness.”
‘Take off’
Bowyer is aware, though, that victories are needed for the Dark Blues to realise their ambition of returning to the top flight at the first time of asking.
The draw against Queen’s Park leaves them in sixth place in an incredibly tight Championship table but now five points off leaders Ayr United.
“We just need that little bit more now so we can push on,” he added.
“There is a resilience about the team – they showed that after going down to 10 men against Morton just days after running Rangers close.
“The players have some fight about them.
“That’s laying a foundation – now we need to kick on.
“A couple of wins back-to-back could see this team really take off.”
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