LEE WILKIE: Dundee’s burgeoning team spirit epitomised by Shaun Byrne attitude – Dee starting to look formidable

Dundee’s 1-0 win over Hamilton Accies might not make big headlines.

It might not be one for the history books either or a victory that lives long in the memory.

But, for a player, that’s the kind of result that fills you with confidence.

As a defender, I would take far more out of a game like that than if we’d won by three or four goals.

In an attacking sense, the Dark Blues may not have been at their best against Hamilton or how they’ve played in recent weeks.

But defensively, there seems to have been a corner turned.

You can see the mentality boss Gary Bowyer has talked about coming to the fore.

And he deserves a lot of credit for the way the team are performing.

From day one he’s talked about putting together a team willing to fight for each other and stick their bodies in where it hurts.

Ryan Sweeney showed that by sticking his head among flying boots after Ian Lawlor had pulled off a wonderful save.

Grind

We’d like to see Dundee in full flight, playing teams off the park but you can’t play well every week.

What they did on Saturday was show they could grind out a result if they needed to.

And that kind of ability is what can prove the difference when it comes to winning titles.

They are now making themselves a formidable team to face.

Subscribers can watch a full match replay, highlights and a post match interview with Gary Bowyer now on DeeTV #thedee

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— Dundee Football Club (@DundeeFC) November 19, 2022

Psychologically that could be huge for Dundee in the games yet to come.

They seem like a happy group right now as well, even with a bunch of injuries to worry about.

Shaun Byrne

None more so than Shaun Byrne.

He’s back in the team and performing like we know Shaun Byrne performs.

And showing what can happen when you don’t go off in a huff.

That sort of thing can damage the atmosphere in the dressing-room and fair play to Byrne to getting his head down and working to prove his manager wrong after telling him he could leave in August.

There’s no hiding from that fact – from either side.

It speaks well of both manager and player that they’ve moved on with Bowyer picking Byrne and Byrne performing.

As a player he brings a lot of help to the defensive side of things and especially in games where maybe the team isn’t playing so well –just like Saturday against Hamilton.

Contrast

The situation is a complete contrast to the one with Niall McGinn, however.

He’s out of the picture completely and that doesn’t look like changing.

Clearly Bowyer has appreciated the way Byrne has reacted and hasn’t liked the way McGinn has.

When you’ve got a bunch of injuries like Dundee have right now, a player like Byrne coming back is ideal.

I think Saturday being a cup game might have come at a good time in case players are missing.

We might see the likes of Lyall Cameron involved and few risks taken with any carrying knocks.

The league is all that matters.