Having led late on at Partick, Ross County and now Dunfermline, Jocky knows things could have been very different.

He also knows only a miracle will see Dundee go up, but, disappointed as he’s been with the late lapses, when he looks back on this campaign he will judge everyone on their work since his arrival.

“I am still really angry because that is three times in a row we have dropped points in this way and, each time, we should have been looking for the second goal we needed and won.

“The players know my feelings, but, when I start thinking about what we need for next season, I will take into account what they’ve done over the last few months.

“In November, no-one at all was mentioning us for promotion, but the players changed that by February and that is to their credit.

“There has been an improvement, but what they have to realise is I am demanding and I don’t want to wait for this club to be promoted — I want it as soon as possible.

“I look at them and see a decent team that can be a right good team and, at times, I feel they need to believe that more themselves.”

While thoughts are now turning to next season, Jocky stressed there would be no let-up in the bid to catch Saints, however unlikely that now seems.

“We have six games left and I can assure fans the plan is to take maximum points. If we do that, we can then sit down and see where it’s got us.”

With a couple of months or so before he has to have a replacement for Celtic-bound Lukasz Zaluska fixed up, however, Craig is not going to rush into anything.

“Marrama has done well and he is a good goalkeeper, but the good thing about our situation is that we have time to study all our options,” he said.

“The keeper Scott watched in Austria the other week was also decent and there are a couple of others we are looking at as well.

“Unless I see someone who is nailed on certain to be better than anyone else available, I’ll continue to look at a few people and then decide which is the best way to go.”

Last night, Craig travelled south to watch Middlesbrough and Bolton play in a reserve fixture and, while he saw some decent talent, he was only having a general look at the standards.

Saints manager Derek McInnes said, “I’ve seen Steven play a couple of times. He’s quick, a good user of the ball and he comes highly recommended.”