Rather like their game against Rangers on Tuesday evening, Dundee are hoping their season isn’t remembered chiefly for what happened towards the end. Just like at Ibrox, Tony Docherty’s men have been excellent for the most part.
Ok, their matches in the top six have been a little humbling so far, but not only was simply getting there a huge achievement for the newly promoted outfit, their young squad have gleaned valuable lessons from going up against the best sides in the country at the business end of the campaign.
One of their older heads, Jordan McGhee – who hit his fifth goal of the season to give Dundee the lead against Rangers before it all rather fell apart late on – is certainly hoping that the experience will stand the Dens Park men in good stead to not only repeat the success of this season next term, but aim to go one better and earn European football.
“Listen, we’ve done really well this season but as footballers you always aim high and want to do better than you did the previous season,” McGhee said.
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“That’s what everyone in the dressing-room and at the club will strive to do next season.
“Listen, we are playing at the top venues in Scotland against the top teams and we deserve to be there. We will take our medicine and we will learn from it. We’ll bottle that and use the experience to improve next season and try to build on it.
“I’ve said since the start of the season we have boys in there who can go out at venues likes Ibrox and handle the ball. We showed that in the first half. The second half has probably happened too much this season, going two goals up and then conceding poor goals at poor times and letting other teams in.
“The gaffer has touched on it, it’s something we need to rectify for next season. We have done really well to finish in the top six, but I know the boys in the dressing-room were hungry for more.
“It shows how far we have come as a newly promoted team, some of us were playing in the Championship last season, now we’re playing the best teams in the country and are coming away disappointed.
“In the first half we held our own. That shows how far we’ve come. But the second half shows how far we need to go.”
On a personal note, McGhee has evolved into something of a goal threat this season, with his strike at Ibrox meaning he has equalled his best ever haul for a campaign with one game to go.
In-keeping with the theme though, he is looking to take that up a level again.
“I’ve done pretty well,” he said.
“The manager has seen what I can do getting into the opposition box as a defender. I get into areas and the boys put the ball in.
“To be fair, I think I should probably score more. For me, that’s something to build upon. I want to get more each season.”
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In the here and now, the Dundee fans have a chance to thank their team for their efforts this season when they host Kilmarnock in their final league game on Saturday, and McGhee is determined to give them another afternoon to remember in a season littered with them.
“Definitely,” he said.
“We’re at home, the fans will be there and they’ve shown appreciation to us all season. It’s up to us to go and put on a show.
“It’s an important game for us. We want to do well and pick up points in this second league, if you like, in the top six.”
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