Paul Hartley ready for the challenge of lifting Dundee
Boss Paul Hartley is looking within for answers as he faces the challenge of getting Dundee out of the doldrums.
The Dens Park side are bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership after 10 matches and without a win since the opening day of the season against Ross County.
Second-bottom Partick Thistle are the visitors on Wednesday night and the Jags are one point ahead having played a game less, but are also without a win since their campaign opener against Inverness.
The former Alloa boss, who insists he has the support of the players and owners, has not sought any outside advice as he battles to arrest the slide.
He said: "It is probably the worst run I have ever been on in terms of it is testing, but it is a challenge for me to come out the other side.
"I have just looked within, on how can I improve and how can I get the results and the confidence back.
"I think you have to look at yourself and really challenge yourself, but I am ready for the challenge.
"I won't change in terms of how I prepare and how I manage the players because if you start doing that, it shows a little sign of weakness and players are not used to that.
"I think you are always concerned when you are at the bottom and not winning games of football.
"We are not stupid. We have to find a way of winning football matches soon and try to get a little bit of confidence back."
"We are in a position we don't want to be in after 10 games.
"It is a big game tomorrow night, we understand that.
"I don't think it would matter who it is against, it would still be a big game just because of the run we are on.
"I can handle the pressure. I will try to keep the players as calm as we can and hopefully the fans will be patient tomorrow night.
"They pay their money so they have the right to be disappointed but hopefully they will back us and hopefully we will see a little change."
Alan Archibald does not think the crowded nature of the bottom half of the table will have a negative impact on the style of football.
The Partick Thistle manager, though, does accept that being close to the drop zone could bring an edginess late on in matches.
But Thistle are only three points off sixth place and are aiming to lift themselves a few places above the Tayside club.
The Jags have paid the price of losing four crucial late goals in their last five home matches but Archibald feels it is too early for teams to start sacrificing performances for results at all costs.
He said: "With the pitches being so good, and all the pitches are good just now, there is a lot of good football being played. The pressure is not affecting the football.
"Whether it affects decision-making and late goals, which we have found, that might come into it.
"The Dundee game for us now becomes a massive match and they are all six-pointers already.
"Other teams are playing each other and something has to give, and you know it's a massive incentive that if you get three points it will lift you a couple of places in the league.
"We have had a terrible start to the season, we have not won since the opening day. But on the other side of that we are three points off sixth place, which is incredible."
Source: PAR
