Dees deserve to be happy - Hartley
Dundee manager Paul Hartley believes his players have every right to approach their Scottish Premiership match with St Johnstone brimming with confidence.
The Dens Park club have won their last three outings after a four-game losing streak so aim to continue their impressive run of form when Tommy Wright's Saints make the short trip east on Saturday.
Hartley's side have returned to winning ways against Hamilton, Motherwell and Kilmarnock in recent weeks and their boss reckons they can take on Saints with high hopes of getting another positive result.
He said: "It always helps when you are winning. It means the players come into training with a spring in their step and the same goes for matchday.
"They're enjoying their football which is a big thing.
"All the positives we have taken from our recent wins can be taken into this match with St Johnstone. It's a natural thing to feel good when the results have been good.
"We're all looking forward to this fixture and with it being a kind of derby there will be that extra edge. Hopefully that can bring out the best in our players."
St Johnstone lifted their spirits with a win over Motherwell last Friday night having suffered a poor run of results up until then.
Hartley was not surprised to see them return to winning ways so expects nothing other than a tough visit from their Perth opponents.
He said: "We know the kind of threats which they possess and we'll have to be wary of that. They got a good result against Motherwell in their last game which will make them dangerous opponents."
Captain Dave Mackay insists it is not too late for St Johnstone to make another bid for the Scottish Premiership top six.
The Perth side have endured a lengthy hangover since lifting the William Hill Scottish Cup for the first time in the club's history last term.
They won three of their first five league games but then went two months without a win before finally picking up three points on Friday night after coming from behind to beat Motherwell 2-1 at McDiarmid Park.
That win moved Tommy Wright's team up to eighth - but they still trail a top-half place by seven points.
It is four years since Saints last finished outside of the top six sides in the country and Mackay is confident his men can propel themselves towards the frontrunners with victory in Saturday's Tayside derby at Dens Park.
He told Press Association Sport: "We are notorious slow starters to campaigns. We have actually started this season better than we have done many.
"But we usually finish strongly and hopefully that will be similar this time and we can get ourselves back into that top six.
"The feeling amongst the players is that we want to aim as high as we can.
"We have finished top six the last three years and we know it is a league that if you can string three or four wins together you can quickly shoot up.
"But we know we can't afford to lose this one. Dundee are just outside the top six but six points ahead of us. If they win it will be a huge gap to rein in."
Mackay kicked-off his career at Dens and helped the club reach the 2003 Scottish Cup final.
But he does not expect to get an easy ride from the home fans when he returns to the City of Discovery this weekend.
He said: "The Dundee fans are not too bad. You get the odd wee chant when you are over taking throw-ins at the Derry.
"I will expect a little bit of stick but nothing too bad. You have to expect that when you move on to another club.
"But I still look back on my time there with fondness. I had a great time there. We were pretty successful - we got into the top six, reached a Scottish Cup final and played in Europe.
"However, derby matches are passionate occasions and maybe that will all be forgotten.
"We never turned up against them the first time we played them this season. We will have to be more up for it this time.
"You have to get ready for the battle - but you also have to play with your head. There is no point going into a game like this determined to run about mad kicking people. You will get sent-off and cost your side dearly."
Source: PA
