Smith wants same again from Dundee Dundee boss Barry Smith has challenged his players to reproduce their Tynecastle spirit when they host Motherwell in Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League match at Dens Park. The SPL new boys picked up their first league win of the season with a backs-to-the-wall performance away to Hearts before the international break to triumph 1-0. And Smith is calling for more of the same for the visit of the Steelmen, who went into the break top of the SPL. Smith said: "It's always nice to get your first league win of the season and now we have to look to try and build on that. "The boys have been in good form in training all week and that tells you the difference a victory can make. "It's still early days but we have to take encouragement from how we played at Hearts and try to do the same thing against Motherwell. "We showed great concentration, effort and application at Tynecastle which we'll need to do again for this game. "Not many people outwith ourselves expected us to get a win at Hearts and it will probably be the same against Motherwell. "But we have to believe in ourselves and try to take the game to them as much as possible." Smith is full of praise for Stuart McCall's side, who are unbeaten in the SPL this season. But he is adamant his side will not be overawed when they run out to welcome them at Dens Park. He said: "Motherwell are top of the league on merit which you can't take away from them. "They've shown what a good side they are so will come here full of confidence after a good win against Inverness in their previous match. "We're new to the SPL while Motherwell are an established side. "We respect them but that doesn't mean to say we'll sit back and let them have it all their own way. "We'll have our own game plan and with the supporters behind us as usual we'll attempt to give them problems." Dundee are still searching for their first home win of the new campaign. Motherwell's Tom Hateley turned 23 only this week but is feeling a growing sense of responsibility as one of the leaders of the team. Hateley is in his fourth season at Fir Park and recently missed his first game since joining as a teenager. His injury and other knocks before the international break paved the way for a new influx of young talent, with teenagers Adam Cummins, Steven Hetherington, Zaine Francis-Angol, Stuart Carswell and Fraser Kerr all featuring. Hateley believes the likes of himself and Jamie Murphy have more onus on them after Motherwell lost captain Stephen Craigan and central midfielder Steve Jennings in the summer. "Murph has played another season than me and I have played close to 150 games now for Motherwell," said Hateley. Motherwell are looking to maintain top spot in the Premier League at Dens Park on Saturday. "I'm just 23 and Murph is 23," Hateley said, and it's time for players like us to stand up and be counted. "With the likes of Jenno (Jennings) going, his experience in the middle of the park was massive. "We have got to the stage in our careers now where we can't say we are young lads and get away with the odd mistake. "We are experienced professional footballers and hopefully we have learned enough to do that job and stand up and be counted." Hateley feels integration off the park has been vital in the successful blooding of the young players on it. "As a young lad when I first started playing, it's nice to just feel part of the group," the former Reading trainee said. "I think that's a massive part of it, we have got a lot of young players and as long as you make them feel part of it and bring them into the banter, it's a massive part of developing your game and developing as a person. "They are all great lads and involved in the banter and I think that shows in their performances, no-one has come in and shied away from getting on the ball." Manager Stuart McCall has everyone except long-term absentee Steven Saunders available for Dens Park, with Shaun Hutchinson back after being sent off in consecutive games. "It's good going into the game with no injury concerns," Hateley said. "We have big Hutchy back from suspension, so hopefully if he can stay on the pitch, that will be nice."
Source: PA
