'Grit added to style makes top six realistic'

I have always maintained that I have found Dundee one of the most entertaining teams to watch since Tony Docherty took charge in the summer of 2023.

I associate them with an attractive style of play, as a front foot team that can set about things with a real swagger at times.

Over the last few weeks it has been different, equally impressive traits - those of being gritty and gutsy - that have also come to the fore.

With a squad that has been stretched to the limits in recent times because of injury and illness, the Dark Blues players have gone to the well - and delivered big style.

Docherty described Tuesday night's 3-3 draw with runaway league leaders Celtic as heroic - and it is hard to dispute that assessment, as they came within seconds of securing what would have been a famous victory.

Despite the selection issues they have faced of late, Dundee have put together a very solid run of results.

It is now just one defeat in five games - a sequence which includes away wins at St Mirren and St Johnstone, as well as back to back draws against both halves of the Old Firm.

And - despite what I have outlined above - they have continued to play some very decent football too.

Dundee are now seventh in the table, just two points off the top six.

And you get a sense that if they can continue to perform the way they have been - as well as get all the players who are unavailable back - then there is no reason why they can't attack the second half of the season with a real sense of optimism about what the next few months can yield.