Dundee boss Paul Hartley: Level playing field in derby games
Dundee boss Paul Hartley played down the tag of favourites ahead of the home derby against Dundee United on Saturday.
The Dark Blues are rested after their game against Celtic on Wednesday night was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at Dens Park while on the same night bottom side United were losing 3-2 to Hearts at Tynecastle, to leave them 10 points adrift of Kilmarnock and with only two wins all season.
Dundee came back from two goals down at Tannadice in August to grab a 2-2 draw while last April, Hartley's men recorded their first derby win over their neighbours in over 10 years with a 3-1 win at Dens Park.
Although Hartley takes encouragement from those matches, he knows his side are having troubles themselves, having only won one in 10, as he considered the match against the struggling side from just down the road.
He said: "I think it (April) was our first derby win in 11 years so if we could repeat that, great.
"We had a strong performance against them in August. We were 2-0 down with nine minutes to go and we showed a real spirit and desire to get back into the game.
"I think derby games are like that, it doesn't matter in terms of who is playing well and who is not playing well. It is on the day.
"Everyone will highlight United's problems at the bottom of the league but when you play in a derby anything can happen.
"I don't think when you go into derby games anyone is a favourite. It totally changes.
"One team might be playing well, the other might not be playing well but I don't think you can read too much in to that.
"You have to go out there and hopefully have a strong performance."
Forward Greg Stewart is suspended for the derby after going through the disciplinary points threshold, while the Dark Blues are hoping the players doubtful for the postponed Hoops clash will have recovered.
Scott Bain, Nicky Low, Thomas Konrad, Kane Hemmings, Kevin Thomson and Gary Irvine were all suffering from various ailments although defender Julen Etxabeguren is still out following eye surgery.
Blair Spittal hopes Saturday's derby clash at Dens Park will finally allow Dundee United to give their long-suffering fans something to cheer about.
Spittal reckons form can count for nothing when it comes to the passionate battles between United and their city rivals Dundee.
The 20-year-old forward said: "People will be looking at the position we are in and writing us off. But we are looking at it as another chance for us to kick-start our season.
"The fans will be there in great numbers and supporting us as they have all season. It means much more than a normal game to the fans so we need to be ready for it and firing on all cylinders.
"We need the fans behind us to help get out of the position we're in, so hopefully we can give them a victory to shout about. They deserve that."
United are facing a defensive crisis, with Callum Morris injuring knee ligaments in Wednesday's Ladbrokes Premiership defeat to Hearts and facing six weeks of action while Mark Durnan - sent off against the Jambos - was already suspended for the Dens Park clash.
Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima is due back in the country after finally signing this week but might not be fit enough to start while Florent Sinama Pongolle (hamstring), Paul Paton (knee) and Ryan Dow (groin) are all out.
Source: PAR
