Only one point from the opening three home games does not look good and it must be a worry for Jim Duffy that the fans are voting with their feet. A crowd of only 4387 turned up for this one after opening losses to Hearts and Motherwell. While this fixture is never a huge crowd puller it's 1500 down on the corresponding fixture last season and 1800 down on the last time Livi played at Dens. At a ridiculous £20 a ticket this is around £30k down, and the club can't sustain this for any length of time.
All this makes a victory against Livi in the CIS Cup vitally important, for both morale and finances. A semi final tie would provide much needed income, and it would give the fans a boost after a miserable year supporting the Dark Blues.
Next Friday (24th September) in fact sees the anniversary of the home tie against Perugia in the UEFA Cup. The away leg provided probably the last bright spot for Dees fans , a couple of derby wins aside.
A welcome face returned to Dens on Saturday, in the shape of former Dee Claudio Caniggia. I doubt any player will ever make the same impact on collective memories as Claudio's 8 and a half month, 24 start Dundee career.
Now 37 years old most Dees would still love to have him around the place.
After Livingston in the CIS we have Rankers at home and then the Sheep away. Probably not two games JD would have picked for attempting to turn fortunes around but no game will be easy, aside from derbies at Burneys house, this season and everyone should get behind the team.
If you can, get along to Livingston as Dundee will need all the support they can get.