Barry Smith: Partick’s the perfect chance to halt Dundee slide

[News Bot]

The terrible run Dundee are on has to end sometime — and tonight’s game against Partick is the perfect opportunity to do just that.

Manager Paul Hartley will prepare the team as well as he can but what he can’t legislate for are individual errors.

In recent weeks, it has been defending set-pieces which has caused problems.

If it was one player to blame for the two goals conceded from free-kicks you have an easy decision to make but when it is different players it becomes more difficult.

The one thing for sure is the players have to take responsibilty.

Everyone will make mistakes in a game but it is how you react to it that’s important.

Unfortunately, Dundee’s errors have been in the box and, the level they are playing at, they are getting punished readily.

Tonight is a big game for the Dark Blues as they can lift themselves off the foot of the table and give a boost to their confidence.

A win will halt the run they’re on and get out of the rut the team is in but it takes enormous bravery to take the ball at Dens when things aren’t going for you.

I know.

I had the ‘Derry’ breathing down my neck when I first arrived at Dens in what was a tough start to my career at the club.

The only way to deal with it is to remain focused on the job in hand.

Fortunately, I was able to shut everything off and not let the crowd affect me — that’s what the current players have to do if the going gets tough tonight.

Paul McGowan is exemplary on the park and comes into the brave category. His work-rate and attitude are second to none.

He looks to get on the ball no matter what the score is and, although he may look to be playing side-passes a lot of the time, in my opinion, it is because of lack of movement from other players.

I’m sure the manager will be looking for others to feed off his enthusiasm on the park and produce the type of performance needed against Partick.

If there is an acceptance on the pitch then that is when trouble is really around the corner.

At the moment there is no acceptance from the players or management that they’re content with recent results and that bodes well for the next few games where there are points on offer.

Tonight could be the turning point.

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