CAMMY Kerr believes Dundee are due a break in their battle to beat relegation after being denied a penalty in injury-time in their narrow 3-2 defeat by Celtic at Parkhead on Sunday.

Jota clearly headed Kerr’s cross into the home team’s box onto an outstretched arm that was above shoulder height before clearing to safety – but referee Gavin Duncan declined to award the spot kick. 

However, the defender won’t allow the Dens Park club’s disappointment at the denouement to the league game in Glasgow to turn into a “sob story” with an important match against St Mirren looming at home tomorrow.

He is focused on helping the bottom-placed side in the top flight to reproduce their all-round team display in Glasgow under new manager Mark McGhee in the coming weeks and avoid relegation.

“There have been times this season, without having a sob story, we’ve been unlucky,” he said. “We’ve shot ourselves in the foot at times, but in certain games we’ve been unlucky. 

“From 1-0 down against Hearts we go and win the game. On Sunday, we were unlucky not to take something as well.

“I thought it was a handball. I’ve seen them given, we would have liked to have had it given. But sometimes you get them, sometimes you don’t. As the gaffer said, that hasn’t decided the game. Things happen in football and you just have to get on with it, that’s what we’ve done.

“It’s important we build on that from now on, going into important games this season. It’s just about getting your head down and working away. The boys do that every day.”  

Kerr was bitterly disappointed when James McPake, who had led Dundee to promotion from the Championship last season, was sacked after two-and-a-half years in charge last week following two consecutive wins.

But he has been impressed by the impact made by McGhee and his assistant Simon Rusk, who was in the dugout during the Celtic game, and is looking forward to a run of three straight home fixtures. 

“Training has been dead enthusiastic and we were very positive in the game plan we tried to impose on Sunday,” he said.  

“These games we have coming up are important, but the way we need to approach it is one game at a time. It’s important we focus on the next game and we’ll go again Wednesday.  

“St Mirren are in a situation similar to what we’ve just had with a change of manager and things are up in the air, but we just need to make sure we punish them come Wednesday.” 

Having grown up in Dundee and sat in the stands at Dens Park cheering on the team as a boy, Kerr feels for the supporters at the moment.

But the 26-year-old is hopeful the display in Glasgow lifted their spirits and is optimistic they can get firmly behind the side and make their presence felt in the forthcoming run.  

“Being a fan myself, I know being a Dundee supporter isn’t easy,” he said. “There are a lot of ups and downs. 

“We showed our appreciation at the end at how good they were for us Sunday. The home support is going to be massive going forward to get behind the boys. Sometimes you don’t realise the impact they can even have. 

“Everyone knows in the dressing room that I am a Dundee fan, I grew up being one. But it’s not about me.  

“It’s about this group and having the resilience to pick up results until the end of the season and make sure we’re still fighting in the league next year.”