Cammy Kerr insists Dundee simply have to toughen up if they hope to extract themselves from the precarious predicament they currently find themselves in.
The Dark Blues dispensed with the services of boss Neil McCann last month after just one win in the opening eight Premiership matches, a lamentable record that left them rooted to the bottom of the table.
However, there has been no new manager “bounce” since Jim McIntyre took over in the Dens hot-seat with Dundee losing his first three matches in charge with the latest defeat a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Celtic on Wednesday night.
The manager said his players had been too passive throughout against the champions, an accusation Kerr agreed with.
He said: “Definitely. To come up against these teams you are going to be in for a tough game.
“You are going to need to defend and we didn’t do that again.
“Again that is three or more goals we have conceded and that is not good enough.
“We need to start becoming a bit more resilient even starting on the training field and then in the games on a Saturday or whenever it is.
“We need to find a way of getting results. We need to become a hard, gritty team to beat because just now we are soft.
“Boys just need to keep going, that is the only thing for it.
“I know the other boys will say the same thing. I know it is hard to take.
“It is raw, really raw but what are you meant to do – back down? We are not going to back down.
“I know I certainly won’t and the boys in that dressing-room won’t either.
“It is easy for me to come in and say that but I am telling you now we are not going to back down against anyone.”
Despite only securing three points out of a possible 33 on offer so far, Dundee can move off the bottom of the Premiership table if they beat Motherwell at Fir Park on Saturday.
Kerr added: “That is how much it changes. The best thing about being a footballer is that you have always got a game to turn it around.
“It sounds terrible to say it but we need to put this defeat to Celtic to the back of our heads because it has gone now.
“We get it out of the system, we are back in at the end of the week and now the preparation turns to Motherwell on Saturday.”
If Dundee are to upset the odds and pick up a result at Fir Park, then they will have to find renewed self-belief from somewhere.
Kerr said: “You’re right, it is difficult when you are at the bottom of the table.
“You see results going against you, goals are going in and boys are going to lose confidence. “Football is all about being confident.
“When things are going well there doesn’t seem to be any problems but when you are down at the bottom then decisions seem to go against you, teams seem to score better goals and everything goes against you but you just need to keep going.
“There is nothing else for it. You can’t give up and be known for losing every week because that will get you nowhere.
“I am not saying we are doomed or anything like that – absolutely not!
“But we are not in the position we want to be at this time of the year.”
