
Jim McIntyre will consider changes when he leads Dundee at Dens Park for the first time as Premiership leaders Hearts come calling tonight.
Most of all, though, the new Dark Blues boss wants to see his players stand up and be counted.
His opening game in charge produced a disastrous 4-0 defeat at Livingston on Saturday and left Jim dismayed at the sight of all the goals being conceded at set-pieces.
And he was also disappointed by a tame second-half display that saw his team let the game slip away from them.
“We highlighted Livingston’s strengths before the game, we talked about it, we showed what a big threat they are from set-plays and the need not to give away silly free kicks because it’s one of their major strengths,” Jim said.
“Equally you have to stand up and be counted when it comes to man-to-man defending and we’ve not done that.
“We’ve not done that which is embarrassing.
“It’s not good enough, we can’t accept that, I won’t accept that and it’s something that’s a major part of the game. Teams all work hard on trying to score goals from set-plays.
“It wasn’t if we were undone by really good play but it doesn’t matter. It’s the ugly side of the game that you’ve got to do better and that’s what, unfortunately for us, has been our undoing.”
The lack of a reaction from his players to being two down when they headed out for the second 45 minutes was also a matter of concern – one that could see others give their chance tonight.
“The second goal just before half-time is a killer blow. Equally the reaction second half has got to be better, far better,” added Jim.
“We didn’t create enough and again when you lose that goal it just drains confidence.
“Now there will be opportunities for others, that’s just the nature of the beast in football when you have result like this.”
That could see a return for the likes of centre-half Darren O’Dea, who was largely left out in the cold by previous boss Neil McCann in recent months.
The experienced former club captain has made just a solitary appearance so far this season – in another 4-0 defeat, against Rangers at Ibrox last month.
Ironically, despite the shambolic defending at set-pieces, Jim did think that was an area where, in open play, his team didn’t do badly at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
“There were positives. For a 10 to 15 minute spell when we were on the front foot we were creating, though maybe our final ball was just lacking,” he added.
“I thought young (Calvin) Miller at full-back was excellent, I thought he was our best player. “And I thought in the main the two centre-backs in open play did well,.
“But we have to defend better when it comes to set-plays.”