Fin Robertson sends Dundee blunt 'badge on your chest' demand as hurting Dens ace admits players owe fans
Devastated Dundee diehard Fin Robertson admits the Dens side owe their supporters big time after being hit for six twice in just four days.
The boyhood Dark Blues fan was feeling it more than most in the away dressing room at Celtic on Wednesday night after Tony Docherty’s side suffered a second successive 6-0 drubbing to leave them lurking just a point above the relegation play-off spot. It came after Saturday’s shock hammering at home to Hearts.
And it’s taken any shine off the new deal Robertson signed on Tuesday keeping him at Dens Park until at least 2027. But with Championship strugglers Airdrie up next in tomorrow’s Scottish Cup fifth round clash at Dens, Robertson insists he and his Dundee team mates know they need to deliver for his fellow fans.
He said: “It's up to us to put it down as a blip. We just have to win the game on Saturday. It's as simple as that, no matter how we win. We need to put a stop to this run. There's always going to be outside noise, but we're professionals.
“We've got to deal with that like anyone should and then just keep going forward. And we owe the fans a win, because they've supported us on Wednesday there and on Saturday against Hearts.
“They pay their good money to come watch us play football, so we do owe them.
"It’s just not acceptable, losing by six goals again. It’s been a tough week. It's never nice to lose football games, especially in the manner that we've lost, so we need to put that right on Saturday. It's a good group in there. We need to get around each other and then go again.
“It's hard to put your finger on exactly why, but we've just got to keep working hard in training and put it right.”
Docherty said he wanted his players’ pride to be dented after the Parkhead rout - so they could use the pain to get back on the horse against Airdrie. But Robertson insists the Dens boss doesn’t need to lay into his bruised squad because they know themselves the results are completely unacceptable.
He said: “The manager doesn't really have to give us much because we know ourselves. You've got to represent Dundee, you've got to work hard for the badge on your chest.
“I think the boys do that, to be fair to them, but it needs to be better. I’m confident we can do that. The boys work their socks off. Maybe it didn't go well in the last few games, but Airdrie is important on Saturday and that's how we can look ahead to it.
“We had been on a decent run. Obviously, the last couple of results have not been anywhere near the standard required but football is good like that. We've got another game on Saturday and we need to win. That's it. End of.”
One positive from a horror week for Robertson was the new two-year deal penned on Tuesday. The former Scotland U21 international said: “I love playing for Dundee. It's been my dream since I was a boy and to do it for another two years is brilliant.”
