Tony Docherty confident Dundee can get back on track against Airdrie

Tony Docherty is confident that Dundee can work their way through the trauma of back-to-back thrashings as they look to progress against Airdrie in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup on Saturday.

The Taysiders lost 6-0 at home to Hearts in the William Hill Premiership last weekend then capitulated to the same scoreline when they travelled to Celtic Park on Wednesday night.

However, the Dundee boss is now focused on the visit of the Championship’s bottom side and the chance to get through to the quarter-finals.

“There’s challenges around the corner all the time as a manager, there’s always something going on,” said Docherty, who will again be without Billy Koumetio (ankle) and Scott Fraser (groin) while a few players with knocks will be assessed.

“It’s been challenging. But I’m very much grateful for the level of support I’ve got throughout the club, from the top right through to the players in the changing room and there’s real support there.

“And as a group, that’s what we need to do. We need to make sure that throughout a season (when) there’s moments, when there’s turbulence, it’s important that you keep the focus and what the goal is, and what you’re trying to achieve as a group.

“I’ve got real support in doing that, and I’ve got real confidence in the group and in myself that we will manage to navigate ourselves through any turbulent periods that we have, and make sure we come out the other side of it.

“The mood in the camp is really good.

“It was important we brought the players in on Thursday afternoon, after they rested up as much as they could, and we analysed things, like we always do.

“They are a real honest, conscientious group. So it was important that we did that, and then we move on and make sure that our full focus is towards the Scottish Cup game. It deserves that.

“We need to make sure that the amount of effort we put in in the last round to win a derby (against Dundee United), we need to pick up on that opportunity.

“So the mood in the camp is really good. The boys are really positive and there’s a real buzz about the place.”

Dundee beat Airdrie 6-1 in the Premier Sports Cup in August and although the Diamonds are nine points behind second bottom Hamilton, they have won their last three matches in all competitions.

Docherty said: “I’ve watched the last three games, and they performed really well, good performances, good results and they’re a good side.

“We played them early on in the League Cup, and already done work on them, and we’ve done more work on them now.

“They’ve got a really attractive style of play that they continue to do what they believe in and they’re a good team with good individual players within it.

“The fact that they’ve won their three last games – they are in good form coming up here.

“So we’re under no illusion, it’s a tough opponent, and we will need to be our best to win and progress through.”