One of the stories of the season thus far in the first division has been Dundee’s remarkable 15-match unbeaten league run.
The doubters are saying it can’t last much longer, stretching as it does back to September 25 and pre-dating their fall into administration.
The biggest test of all will come tonight when they travel over the Tay to Fife to take on leaders Raith Rovers.
When the Kirkcaldy men were at Dens 10 days ago they looked the likelier winners for most of the afternoon until Dundee produced stunning late goals from first Gary Harkins then Neil McCann.
However, Dens midfielder Stephen O’Donnell believes the run cannot only survive the trip to Stark’s Park but that it carry on from there.
“We will need to be at our best, that’s for sure,” said O’Donnell. “I think this is the one game that most people are thinking we will come unstuck in. But we have a confidence and a belief that we can go there and do well.
“It does motivate you when people think you are going to come a cropper and we have a siege mentality which is helping.
“It will be a really hard game but we are going into it with no shortage of confidence either.
“The other thing is that they will probably still be smarting from being in a winning position against us the other week only for us to win it right at the end with two late goals.
“That will be in the back of their minds so we won’t get a harder fixture than going away to play the league leaders on a Tuesday night but we will be ready for it.”
Saturday’s win away to Stirling Albion merely enhanced the view that the Dark Blues, who will be without the suspended Gary Irvine, are in no danger of relegation, despite being hit with a 25-point penalty for going into administration.No complacencyO’Donnell insists that they won’t rest until they are completely safe. “What we have done up until now has been unbelievable but we know within the dressing room that we have not achieved anything yet,” he said. “There are a lot of hard games between now and the end of the season so we can only take it one at a time.
“Missing Gary Irvine is obviously a blow but hopefully the manager will have a replacement to go in. The fact that we have gone this far without getting too many injuries and suspensions is amazing.
“A suspension is the last thing we need with the squad being so tight but our team spirit has been massive through all of this.”
As well as having to find a replacement for Irvine, Dundee boss Barry Smith revealed he will have to pick four players from his youth team to sit on the bench.
“We are down to the bare bones,” said Smith. “Neil McCann has picked up a knock so we will just have to wait and see how he is.
“It will probably be four youths on the bench which would be a first-ever but it is inevitable since it is so difficult to get new players in.
“It will be a very tough game especially considering Raith’s good home record. They are a big, physical side so it will be a battle. The fans were magnificent away to Stirling so hopefully there will be another decent turn-out.”