Dundee manager James McPake insists he always thought the Championship would tighten up.
Ayr United’s win over league leaders Dundee United at Somerset Park on Saturday combined with the Dark Blues’ home victory over Alloa means McPake’s men now sit only four points behind the Tangerines.
The Honest Men, who moved level on the 12-point mark with Robbie Neilson’s team, also sent out a message that it won’t necessarily be a one-club title race this term.
The Dens boss didn’t think that would be the case even before the weekend so he wasn’t too surprised to see the teams squeeze together.
McPake said: “Look, we are just five games in.
“It was never a concern – genuinely.
“I had been saying that we just need to get ourselves right with our own performances and if we keep being consistent the results will come – I’m sure of that.”
McPake admitted that the 2-1 success over Alloa was “welcome” after the long wait for a league game since the derby.
He said: ”We had a good performance and result but that was the weekend – it’s now on to the next match at Morton on Saturday.
“Preparations have already started for that.
“It was a welcome result, though, because it has been a long couple of weeks since the Dundee United game.
“We needed another league match and it was a really important one.
“We also showed we had a lot of character late in the game to keep them out because they came at us.
“I thought Alloa were really good so all credit to them as well.
“They played some good stuff but we knew before the match that they are a good team.
“I thought we handled it pretty well and were comfortable.”
McPake’s bugbear after the United loss was the defending of setpieces and they conceded another one to a setplay on Saturday.
However, he can see progress.
“It was a disappointing goal to lose and it was, again, basic stuff,” he added.
“Apart from that, I thought we did OK and the two centre-backs defended the box really well. Also, especially late on, our keeper Jack (Hamilton) was really good and punched a couple crosses and caught one.
“That was a wee test for us, conceding to another setplay, and we came through it but we need to get back to giving nothing away like we did earlier in the season.
“We capitulated a bit down there (Tannadice) – not just the centre-backs but the whole team defensively – so that’s something we have worked on every day.
“Before the derby we had hardly given a chance away from setplays never mind a goal.
“So it is about getting back to that.
“You are going to lose goals from setpieces and that is the nature of football because there are so many of them now. However, I was pleased to see my players stand up after that and defend their box pretty well.”
McPake revealed that central defender Josh Meekings, who missed the Alloa clash, should be available for the trip to Cappielow on Saturday.
Meekings said: “He trained today so will be fine.
“It was a family issue and that comes ahead of anything else really so he had a couple of days off.
“As long as he can get that family matter sorted then he will be back ready to go again.”
Meanwhile, it remains an extremely long shot that he will be coming to Dundee but McPake is still waiting to hear from his friend and former Rangers player Graham Dorrans as to his career plans.
McPake said: “There has been nothing since the end of last week.
“I am sure he will make a decision pretty quickly on where he wants to go.
“He will weigh his options up and then that will dictate where he goes.
“He has options all over the place really.
“He has a young family so he will decide where he feels is best for him and his family.”
“He is a top player.
“More than that, I like him as a person and I like what he brings to football clubs.
“I know him very well.
“I will wait on a phone call and he will tell me what his options are then where he is going.”
