Our fate is in our own hands. Avoid defeat tomorrow and any lingering fears that we'll be the victims of a storming Dundee comeback will vanish. Lose, however, and the relegation battle will continue for another week. That may lead to the nerves increasing slightly and who knows what that could bring. We must seize the initiative. Two years ago we faced Hamilton knowing anything other than a defeat would finish the relegation battle. Instead we lost and things got rather too close for comfort over the next week or so. We cannot allow that to happen again.
Regardless of our own involvement in the relegation battle, a game at home to the team at the bottom of the league is one we have to be looking to win. Our form of late is pretty much like our season - nothing special aside from the cup. We've drawn our last five league games, winning at Hampden in between, and we could really do with getting some points on the board if we're to finish any higher than second bottom. The teams above us have nothing to play for so if we can get a wee run going we could finish the season on a high and a few places further up the table.
Dundee were the last team to beat us, defeating us at Dens Park 10 days before the cup final. It was a game we should have won as we destroyed them in the first half but just couldn't take our chances. We were made to pay as Dundee managed their first a few months - a typical Saints result if ever there was one. All we need to worry about this time is their good form as they beat Kilmarnock last time out. They may be bottom, they may almost be down and out but they are a threat and we cannot take anything for granted. The fact they're annoyed with us over the reconstruction vote on Monday should add a bit more spice
At least one thing will be different from the defeat at Dens last month. That came when Danny Lennon was resting and rotating ahead of our date with destiny, so Steven Thompson didn't start. He almost certainly will tomorrow and the former Arab would no doubt enjoy scoring the goal that sends Dundee down. Sadly, Esmael Goncalves will be missing again as he's completing his ban. Thompson started our last game on his own up front but that's extremely unlikely to be repeated tomorrow. Lewis Guy will probably be alongside him, a fine reward after he ended a six month dry spell.
Whether or not we'll get a glimpse of Sander Puri remains to be seen. The Estonian winger started against Motherwell but was replaced by Guy at half-time. It was supposedly a tactical switch but doesn't bode well for a player who has only a few weeks left to win a contract. If Gary Teale is fit then he'll almost certainly take Puri's place, although if he's doubtful there's no point risking playing him at this stage of the season. Kenny McLean seemed to be back on form at Fir Park so could keep his place in midfield, while Thomas Reilly and David Barron may be fit enough to be involved after their lengthy injury lay-offs. Darren McGregor is unlikely to be available after a few knee problems which has seen him go back under the knife, although he's still in with a chance of returning to the first team before the split. Considering we're playing the one team that can still send us down it's probably a bit too soon to blood the kids!
Many people found it extremely amusing a few months ago when Dundee replaced Barry Smith with John Brown. I should know as I was one of them. Smith had done a good job during a difficult few years for the Dee, while Brown's previous managerial experience at Clyde was a disaster before he spent the summer screaming from the steps of Ibrox. Since getting the job Brown has managed to silence most of the critics - including those among his own support. Two wins as well as a few draws means they go into the post split games with a glimmer of hope of surviving for another season in the SPL. A glimmer is all it is, but considering most people expected them to be officially down weeks ago he's done well to take things this far.
We'll have to watch out for one of our former players tomorrow - although it is only one as Stephen O'Donnell and Jamie McCluskey are both injured. John Baird, who we let go nearly six years ago, seems to have hit a bit of the form since the turn of the year and has managed five goals - one of which came against us. If he could just have done that in the first half of the season then things may well be rather different for Dundee, but even with that small tally he is the club's top scorer. Steven Milne and Colin Nish haven't quite been able to cut it, while Mark Stewart has faired little better. It's perhaps little surprise Brown decided to bring in free agent strikers Don Cowan and Andrew Barrowman, who was let go by Dunfermline as they cut costs. Neither has scored yet so you know what.... ach you know the script by now!
Cowan and Barrowman aren't the only players Brown has signed since arriving. Goalie Rab Douglas had done reasonably well in the first half of the season but was mysteriously dropped after a combination of injury and a supposed argument. In came Steve Simonsen, who I last remember seeing missing the crucial penalty for Sheffield United in last season's League One play-off final. Fortunately for him and Dundee he's rather better at saving shots than taking them. The problem now will be the defence doing there part. There is talent in the likes of Kyle Benedictus, Gary Irvine, Declan Gallagher and Celtic loanee Lewis Toshney, but they are a bit inconsistent. How Dundee managed to pick up Brian Easton remains a mystery as I'd have been happy to have him at leftback, while Matt Lockwood must be enjoying the chance in the SPL that came as a result of Dundee's late and unexpected promotion.
If Dundee are to pull off the great escape then they'll be relying a lot on a man who has done it all before. Gary Harkins was part of the team that managed to stay in the first division in 2011 despite being docked 25 points for going into administration. He then left for Kilmarnock but returned in January, amusingly scoring the goals that kept the Rugby Park side out of the top six. Why they let him go is a mystery as he is a talent. He may be inconsistent and have debatable fitness but if he didn't have those flaws he'd be nowhere near the SPL. He is Dundee's real danger man while Nicky Riley is also pretty handy and will probably be playing in the SPL next season even if his club is not. Ryan Conroy has done a decent job, with Jim McAlister and Kevin McBride providing some experience. Iain Davidson is probably another player, like Lockwood, who didn't think he'd get a chance in the SPL after spending pretty much all of his career in the lower leagues.
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