Dundee v Livingston: Farningham seeks early goals

Dens Park assistant boss Ray Farningham said: “Our games this season have all been tighter than they need to be.

“We are starting games well but not getting in front and once things start tightening up we are, along with our fans, becoming a bit unsettled.

“The players are all working really hard and we are taking the game to teams well but we need to start putting our chances away.

“The Forfar game in midweek was a great example as we should have been well in front but ended up having to work hard for extra time with the ten men.

“Livingston will be pleased to win at Airdrie earlier in the week and will look to do something similar at Dens but we want the three points to tuck in nicely beside the teams at the top of the table.”

Kevin McBride is available as the suspension for his midweek sending off against the Loons will be served in next season’s Scottish League Cup. However, ankle injuries keep Iain Davidson and Steven Doris out, with Nicky Riley and Kyle Benedictus facing late fitness tests.

The Lions will use Tuesday night’s 2-0 win over Airdrie in the Scottish League Cup as a template for success at Dundee as they continue to have five players ruled out through injury.

Manager Ritchie Burke said: “Tuesday night’s win was a victory for hard work and organisation as opposed to the nice football we prefer to play. We were more workmanlike as opposed to free flowing and we will need to have a similar approach against Dundee particularly at their place.

“It was nice to get through against Airdrie as we are so short of bodies and to be honest it will be good to get this game out of the way and hopefully get some of the boys back to fitness during the international break.”

Marc McNulty, Burton O’Brien, Mark Burchill, Stefan Scougall and Jack Beaumont are all out but Keaghan Jacobs could return after playing his first 45 minutes in six months in a bounce game on Wednesday.