Heart of Midlothian 3
Dundee 1
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Newspaper extract from The Courier .

Archie Knox made no bones about it. "That sort of stuff won't do," he said of Dundee's performance in the 3-1 away defeat by Hearts on Saturday.

"I simply am not interested in others saying that is the best Hearts had saying played certainly not at the expense of Dundee," he continued.

"I'm equally not interested in other managers saying we played well for part of a game. You don't get anything from that.

We could not have had a better start on Saturday," the Dundee manager went on, "a goal up, our keeper saves a penalty, but from then on we didn't battle hard enough, didn't play well enough.

"I don't want that sort of thing levelled against my club.

"All right, we could point to things like John Brown having to go off, which didn't help us. But these are incidents that happen and you have to get over them.

"I have always said you will get 90% of the way in the game by battling hard enough. Get- ting better players can add the 10% that wins you cups and leagues.

"Without players who can turn a game, we are back to battling, giving everything you have.

"We did that against Dundee United and Aberdeen, got two 0-0 draws and could have won both games, but you have to go on and on doing it irrespective of injuries or whatever."

Given up?

Had he, I queried, given up the idea of qualifying for Europe-after all, Dundee have now slipped four points behind fifth-top Rangers?

"Definitely not," was the immediate response, "we have 10 league games to go plus the Scottish Cup, so there are actually two chances of Europe still open.

"I'm not going to be content at the end of February to be looking at the fixture list and wondering, 'what have we got to play for? And every player on the books had better realise that!

"We have had one of those seasons where we have got going in bits, but not in runs. Now injuires have hit us, but it's up to those who come in to do the business.

"Tactics and all the rest mean nothing if you don't apply yourself 100% in the game.

"I use the word battle. It's that aspect of Scottish football that is bringing back the crowds. They realise that players are working hard, trying to achieve something. That has got to apply to Dundee players as much as anyone."