Hartley Taking The Positives

Photo by Jeff Holmes

Dundee manager Paul Hartley believes their impressive performance against Aberdeen should give them confidence going into tomorrow night's Scottish Premiership match with Kilmarnock at Dens Park.

The Dark Blues drew 3-3 with the league leaders at Pittodrie last weekend after being 3-1 up at one stage and looking all set for victory.

Now they are preparing to welcome Allan Johnston's Killie to Tayside with their manager sure their last performance can stand them in good stead for the visit of the Ayrshire club.

Hartley said: "There were a lot of positives to take from the Aberdeen match.

"Aberdeen are a very good side who are top of the table on merit.

"So I was pleased with the way we went there and caused them so many problems during the course of the match.

"Although we were disappointed being 3-1 up and letting them come back into it, I think we have a lot to be positive about.

"We have to take that into Kilmarnock which will be another tough game.

"We're looking forward to it and hopefully we can give another high level of performances to try and get the three points.''

Dundee have come through a sticky patch recently when they went eight games without a win in the league before their 4-1 win over Motherwell saw them return to winning ways.

And Hartley wants to see them build on their last two displays which have brought them four points from six.

He said: "We have to build on things. "The lads have been great all season and we always knew there would be the odd dip here and there.

"But we're new to this division and with so many changes we've been doing well.

"There are no easy games in this division and we'll be giving Kilmarnock our full respect.

"Our last home game against Motherwell was great for everyone concerned.

"It should give us confidence and we want to make this a hard place to come.

"The games are coming thick and fast and that's what you want as a player.

"We're a bit low on numbers through things such as injury but we'll just get on with it.

"Kilmarnock are never easy opponents but we'll concentrate on ourselves and look to get a positive result.''

Dundee's Bulgarian defender Kostadin Gadzhalov is a doubt with a thigh injury and Paul McGinn is out due to his on-going back problem but defender James McPake is set to come back from injury while Paul McGowan returns from suspension.