Dundee: Paul Hartley optimistic despite fourth loss in row

Paul Hartley believes his side have proven they can cope with the Scottish Premiership despite suffering a fourth straight defeat.

David Goodwillie scored Aberdeen's winner as they edged a five-goal thriller at Dens Park.

"I am disappointed in the result, but I'm not disappointed in terms of how we tried to play the game," Dundee manager Hartley told BBC Scotland.

"If we keep playing like that, I think we'll do okay this season."

Dundee started the season brightly but have slipped to eighth place, but Hartley believes the upcoming break for international matches will allow his team to regroup and allow missing players to recover from injury.

"The league has been terrific so far," he said. "Some good teams, I think they're trying to play in the same manner - get the ball down and pass it.

"I thought today's game was terrific, I thought it was end-to-end, There were loads of chances, loads of goalmouth action."

Dundee pegged the Dons back twice through goals from Gary Harkins and, from the penalty spot, David Clarkson before Goodwillie clinched the points.

"We know Aberdeen's strengths," said Hartley. "They've got good quality in the final third and they showed that today.

"But I thought some of our play was excellent. I was happy in terms of the chances that we created, not happy with the goals that we lost.

"We thought they were soft on our part - Aberdeen will look at it differently on their part - and it's something we have to look we to do better at in terms of defending.

"But, overall, I'm pleased with how we played and it was two good teams having a go."