Safety foremost in Dundee boss Tony Docherty's mind with top six still in reach
Last updated on .From the section Dundee
Dundee manager Tony Docherty is refusing to consider clinching a top-six Scottish Premiership place until safety is secured.
The promoted side are seventh in the table, two points off Hibernian. Dundee visit 10th-place St Johnstone on Saturday while Hibs visit Rangers.
Docherty's team are also nine points clear of second-bottom Ross County and 19 clear of Livingston.
"Sounds easy doesn't it? I won't be dragged into it," said Docherty.
"When I came to the club [last summer] our aim was to retain our Premiership status. That is still firmly our objective.
"We haven't overachieved. Not in my eyes anyway. The squad I got together at the start of the season, I had objectives when I saw the level of player I had brought in.
"I was confident enough we would have a decent season and we are still competitive in every game."
Dundee are unbeaten against Tayside rivals St Johnstone this season, having drawn in Perth and won at Dens Park.
"We are in good form at the moment," Docherty said. "In the last two games we have taken four points out of six against good Kilmarnock and Aberdeen teams.
"So we go into this game with confidence as well. It's a huge game where we can extend that gap.
"They are in good form as well. Before the Celtic game they had drawn at home to Livingston and beat Aberdeen away, so it will set up as a really competitive affair.
"If I know [manager] Craig [Levein] like I do then he will have his team set up as well to make it as difficult as he can. Hopefully we can exercise our gameplan and get the best."
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