A change of perspective when observing Dundee is slowly beginning to be adopted this season. Even at this early stage.
Quite rightly, there was a lot of trepidation among pundits and so-called experts when asked only four weeks ago to predict the path that the Dens Park club will go down this season. The main reason for this concern revolved around the feared loss of influence from Kane Hemmings, the club’s top goalscorer last season, and Greg Stewart, their star player and most influential cog who scored six goals in three Betfred Cup matches during the summer.
The former has since netted twice for new side Oxford United in six games, the latter has two appearances to his name for Birmingham City. But back up on Tayside, those they left behind have yet to validate concerns that they would flounder on their own. Quite the opposite in fact.
Apart from a narrow 2-1 home defeat to Rangers, Dundee have defeated Ross County 3-1 away from home and claimed draws against Hamilton Academical and Motherwell, the most recent point coming in a 0-0 draw at Fir Park on Saturday. Kevin Holt was part of the team that frustrated their Fir Park hosts on Saturday and even he acknowledged afterwards that the void left by Hemmings and Stewart is sizeable. Yet, he has found encouragement in the endeavours of those around him, particularly striker Faissal El-Bakhtaoui, who seek to make a mark this season in dark blue.
"Yes, I know it's hard to make the step up. It's not as easy as people may say or people may think,” said the former Queen of the South left-back. “You have to work for it. Nobody is going to hand you goals but they will come for Faissal. He's working hard and looking sharp and if the rest of the team can help him until he gets his feet on the ground he will score for us.
"Kane and Greg are two great players. They proved that last season with something like 40 goals between them plus assists. It's not easy to replace them but the manager has done well with the players he has brought in. Hopefully we can show we were not just a two-man team last season and we can go on to have a good campaign - or even better.”
On Saturday the 500 or so travelling supporters may have started to fear the wheels were about to fall off Paul Hartley’s bus. In an insipid first half for the visitors they were overrun by a relentless Motherwell who did not make the most of the possession and positions their domination offered up.
Instead, Mark McGhee’s team had to content themselves with a point which makes it one win, one draw and two defeats from an opening four games that probably merited more.
“Personally, I’m not dissatisfied. It was important not to lose going into the international break and it was important not to lose again at home,” said the Motherwell manager. “The clean sheet was good and there was a lot of good play but we’re still weak on the bench – we don’t have a lot to bring on who can go on and win us the game.
“We need to get our missing boys back and they will be available again after the break. It gives Steven Hammell time to get fully fit after his calf problem and Louis Moult should be back in full training next week and that will help.”
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