With the Reserve League shut down until next month, for the Dark Blues, the main purpose of that match was to give Lee Wilkie another game as his comeback from serious injury continued.

Likewise, Saints were able to give two of their returning men, Paul Bernard and Ross Forsyth a run.

“Today is another example of how valuable the undersoil heating is to us. We can’t work on our normal training pitch because of the frost and, previously, that would have been a real problem, but, thanks to the new system, we can get the work done,” said boss Jim Duffy.

“As well as the training session, it was good to get a game. Along with Lee, I’ve been able to give the likes of Alex Cerdeira, Glenn Larsen, Mark Fotheringham and Bobby Mann a run out.”

Missing today’s work was midfielder Neil Jablonski, who now holds this season’s record for the quickest injury picked up in a game.

“He only came on for the final minute of normal time and three minutes’ injury time against Aberdeen on Saturday, so he’s done well to get injured. Quite how he managed it I don’t know, but he isn’t fit,” said Jim with a smile.

The manager, meanwhile, has played down talk that full-back Jonay Hernandez could be on his way out of Dens during the transfer window.

Left out at the weekend and out-of-contract at the end of the season, Dundee would listen to offers for the former Real Madrid reserve. Jim, though, stressed Hernandez remained part of his plans for the rest of this campaign at least.

“Jonay did not play against Aberdeen because of the way I set up the team, but there is every chance he will be on from the start at Kilmarnock on Monday,” he said.

“It’s not the first time this season he’s been left out and then been brought right back in, so just because he missed one game and is out of contract at the end of the season, does not mean he is about to leave.

“For a start, before anyone can go anywhere someone else has to want them and, as of now, we have not had any offers.”