Tony Docherty urges Dundee to 'sprint across finish line' in top-six pursuit
- Published
Dundee drew 1-1 on their last visit to Pittodrie in late January
Tony Docherty wants to see Dundee "sprinting across that finish line" with two games left in their pursuit of a Scottish Premiership top-six place.
Dundee can seal a top-half finish on their return to the top flight with victory away to Aberdeen on Saturday, having not won at Pittodrie since 2004.
The Dens Park side also host Rangers in their game in hand on Wednesday.
"It is huge testament to the group we have got ourselves in this position," said Docherty.
"As a newly promoted team, as a team we are the youngest squad in the league. Seventeen of our squad have made their Premiership debut this season, of that 11 are under-21s and eight of them been internationals so.
"Yes, we are a win away from that and it is an advantage to us because it is in our hands, so I need to give them great praise for that. I've sense in training the last two days there is a real desire and hunger about the squad.
"I want to see them sprinting across that finish line because they have got themselves in a position now where it is down to us. It would be pleasing because that was an objective but I would be more pleased for the players. I would love to see them getting the reward for that but knowing them, they will continue to push themselves even beyond that."
The twice postponed game with Rangers at Dens Park has attracted headlines and criticism from the Ibrox club. The game was originally supposed to be played on 17 March and then on 10 April but was twice rained off.
It was the fifth call off at Dens Park this season and Dundee are facing disciplinary proceedings.
The rearranged game on 17 April could yet be crucial to Dundee's hopes, with Hibernian and Motherwell also in contention for the top six before Saturday's games.
"I really don't know," replied Docherty when asked how the pitch was on Friday. "I have not been anywhere near the pitch.
"Of course it can be unsettling because you prepare for every game and we have had five called off so you prepare for every game in terms of game plan, selection of players but players quickly move on, and that's gone now."
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