Docherty on bad run, injury woes & mental resilience

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

Docherty doesn't "put more emphasis on this game" than any other and has "no" concerns about potentially being bottom of the table this weekend because "there's no prizes given out in February".

With Dundee winless in seven league games, losing the past five, Docherty says they need to stay "focused and strong" in a bid to "stop the bad run". He believes it was an encouraging performance at Motherwell in midweek despite the defeat.

"We have been really blighted by injuries," the Dark Blues boss says, but emphasised there is "real mental toughness" in the squad.

He insists the players and staff are working hard to "turn this round and it is encouraging that you see a dressing room that are fully together".

Antonio Portales, Clark Robertson and Seb Palmer-Houlden are out for "four to six weeks" and and while it is "really frustrating" to have key players missing, Docherty was "delighted" with Charlie Reilly's performance at Fir Park and is hopeful Scott Fraser will be back with the squad next week.

He urged the fans to stick with them and understands their discontent following recent results but says "we've got that youth, energy, bravery and sometimes that can bring the inconsistency".

Docherty insists fit-again skipper Joe Shaughnessy is "really important" in influencing young team-mates.

On St Johnstone: "They are a good, possession-based team, you can see that the manager's been working a lot on them in terms of their system."