Steven Pressley ‘proud’ of Dundee players after securing top-flight survival

Dundee boss Steven Pressley heaped praise on his players for proving the doubters wrong by securing Scottish Premiership safety.

The Dark Blues beat relegated Livingston 3-0 at Dens Park thanks to goals from Cameron Congreve, Finlay Robertson and Ash Hay, with the Lions having a Robbie Muirhead penalty saved.

The win combined with St Mirren losing to Kilmarnock rubber-stamped Dundee’s top-tier status for another season.

Pressley insisted his players deserve a huge amount of credit for battling through the dark days.

He said: “I spoke to the group prior to the game and people don’t really see the cold dark December Monday mornings after several defeats.

“We have to come in and we have to keep going and we have to keep finding a way, a motivation, keep taking steps forward.

“It’s difficult times and we have to experience those.

“Then it gets sunny again and everything looks a bit brighter and shinier.

“But we can never lose sight of what we have to endure. I spoke to the group about that before the game.

“It’s easy to forget those times and they were difficult times for us this year.

“When I consider that and I consider where we were, I showed them the league table after 18 games and it was pretty bleak.

“At that time, we all have doubts. They were really difficult periods. That’s why I’m so proud of the group.

“Today was a day where all of those experiences, the December dark days, I think prepared us for today.

“So to consider 18 games on, for us to have secured our Premiership status, I think the players deserve enormous credit.”

Despite securing safety, Pressley insisted he isn’t sure he has won all the Dundee fans over.

He added: “I never would say that. The reason I would say that is the kind of predicament of a manager is you’re only two or three games away from supporters turning on you again.

“One thing this team did was prove a lot of doubters wrong because we were the bookies’ favourites and the pundits’ favourites to be relegated.

“But we’ve managed to avoid that.”

Interim Livi boss Scott Arfield admitted the game summed up his side’s season.

However, while he enjoyed his first experience of being in charge in the dug-out, the former Rangers midfielder insisted he still sees his future as a player.

He said: “No, that’s not my decision at all. I feel as if I’m still a player.

“I feel as if I can still have moments as a football player, but as I say, in terms of the bigger picture and preparing for the game, I really, really enjoyed it.”