'Patched up' Dundee proud to sting Celtic as beaming Tony Docherty hails his battling Dens heroes

Tony Docherty haș insisted Dundee going toe-to-toe with Celtic and Rangers is no flash in the pan and his team will get even stronger once their injuries clear.

The Dark Blues drew 3-3 with Celtic last night and that came on the back of a 1-1 home draw with Rangers. Docherty was disappointed that his side couldn’t get a win from either game but reckons they are both big achievements, as he currently has eight players out injured.

He said: “It does please me and I see the progression of the group. The most pleasing thing for me is that I see a really strong, resilient group who show personality. I know this group is going to get stronger because you can’t get away from the fact that we still have eight injured at the moment. The substitutes we are bringing on compared to our opponents, there is a huge disparity but one thing you can’t coach or put into players in mentality and spirit.

“I’ve got that in my group in absolute abundance. It is something from day one, since I came into the club, I have worked at. It doesn’t happen, it is by design. This group of players go over and above time and time again for each other. That is why we put in that level of performance against Celtic which I felt merited a victory.

“I am hugely proud of the players. Yes, of course, it is tinged with a bit of disappointment but on balance you have to recognise how strong a performance that was.”

The run also comes in a gruelling spell of seven matches in 24 days. It comes as Docherty has been unable to call on the likes of Joe Shaughnessy, Ziyad Larkeche, Antonio Portales, Scott Fraser, Billy Koumetio and Jordan McGhee.

Docherty stated: “You also factor in how depleted and threadbare the squad is. We are patching boys up and they are going