Joe Shaughnessy realises that Dundee might not have many more chances to end their long, lamentable record without a win against Celtic at Dens.
On Friday, Dark Blues managing director John Nelms discussed the latest developments around the club’s plans to move away from their famous old stadium to a new state-of-the-art ground close to the city’s Camperdown Park.
The American co-owner unveiled a fresh conceptual image of the proposed new home and said a “planning permission in principle” application is set to be lodged imminently.
Nelms also insisted that the club hopes to complete the move away from Dens by the summer of 2025.
It is an ambitious timescale but if it does come to fruition, it means the clock is ticking for Dundee to finally beat Celtic at Dens for the first time since 1988.
They have an opportunity to do just that this afternoon with the top-of-the-table Hoops the visitors for a game that will be televised live on Sky.
Dundee skipper Shaughnessy said: “Maybe there are only a few chances left. The plans last week look good and it is an exciting time to be at Dundee. It would be a nice Christmas present, I suppose.
“Any time you come up against the Old Firm, you hope a couple of their players have an off-day and you are all firing and at it. Hopefully that will be the case on Tuesday.
“We know we can give them a game, especially here at home. The fans will expect us to have a go at them.”
This will be the first time Dundee have featured on Sky so far this season but Shaughnessy insisted that is not a distraction to the players’ No.1 target.
The Irishman added: “It is not something we think about as players. It is just a big game at home and it is a chance to show what a good team we are.
“We’ve had a good start to the season and being on television gives us the chance to show what it is all about.
“A win is doable. It is not impossible. A few teams have shown this season that it is doable.”
As the newly-promoted side, Dundee have been one of the surprise packages in the Premiership this season.
The Dark Blues currently sit in seventh place in the table but they were denied the chance to build on last week’s victory over Ross County in Dingwall when Saturday’s home game with Aberdeen was postponed less than an hour before kick-off because of a waterlogged pitch.
And Shaughnessy, who scored the dramatic late winner against the Staggies, admitted the late call-off by referee David Munro was incredibly frustrating for everyone connected with the club.
The 31-year-old said: “We were all sitting there in our kit ready so it was disappointing. The referee said the pitch was unplayable so there wasn’t much we could do about it.
“We were in a meeting before the game and I think that was when the inspection took place.
“I was surprised as there was no hint that it was going to be off. There probably should have been a pitch inspection earlier.
“It is annoying. I have never been involved in a game like that when it has been so close to kick-off.
“It is frustrating when you come out of a meeting and you don’t know what is going to happen. It was just a bit of a shambles.
“It would have been nice to play at home in front of the fans after three away games.
“We were looking to get up and running and to kick on again. We just need to do that on Tuesday. It is another big game with a big crowd and it is a good chance to show where we are at the minute.”
Dundee boss Tony Docherty is also hoping his players do themselves justice against Celtic.
The 52-year-old said: “This is our first game on Sky and being a newly-promoted club is why you’ve got yourselves into this position.
“Playing against the champions at home live on TV, I just want everyone to represent themselves, the club properly on the day.”
