'Coming week crucial for Dundee's top-six hopes'

Most weeks have the feel of being a big one during the course of a football season - such is the nature of the game - but for Dundee that certainly applies to the next few days.

While their next two games – at home to Aberdeen on Wednesday night, then a Dens Park date with Rangers at the weekend – won’t decide anything, the outcome of those two fixtures could provide a significant pointer towards how the remainder of the campaign will play out for Tony Docherty’s side.

The Dark Blues are currently seventh in the Premiership table, a point behind Hibernian, but also with Motherwell breathing down their necks.

With the games ticking down before the split, a couple of wins would certainly put them in a very healthy position in terms of their hopes of playing out the end of the campaign in the top six.

A couple of defeats could have the reverse effect.

Dundee have taken just one point from their last three games – a run of fixtures which has also seen them concede 11 goals, and that will concern Docherty.

Still, the Dundee manager and his team have already proved they know how to get results – and they will firmly believe they will be back on the victory trail sooner rather than later, as they strive for what would be a hugely impressive top-six finish.