Dundee look doomed. They’ve suffered seven defeats on the spin and are rooted to the bottom of the Scottish Premiership. The Dark Blues face a big battle to achieve safety in the country’s top flight. Most of Jim McIntyre’s January signings are simply not up to a relegation fight. One player who hasn’t let himself down since arriving at Dens Park in the winter is Seny Dieng.
The QPR youngster arrived on loan to take up the goalkeeper’s spot for McIntyre’s side. Former number one Jack Hamilton is injured and had performed poorly earlier in the season, having been brought in from Hearts in the summer. McIntyre opted for fresh hands between the sticks because of this and Dieng was his choice.
By no stretch of the imagination has he been perfect. There have been parts where he could have improved or done better, but he has performed well on a number of occasions.
He hasn’t kept a clean sheet in Tayside yet, but some of the best keepers in the world would struggle to in dark blue just now. The sheer volume of pressure Dieng is put under each game is overwhelming.
He’s one of the only Dundee players an argument for pass marks can be made for.
Cricket scores without Dieng
The one cap Senegalese international was in League Two with Stevenage during the first part of the season and played brilliantly. He kept Boro in games at certain points with great shot stopping and commanding of his box.
When he arrived at Dens Park from Loftus Road in January, this seemed like a great move by McIntyre. Dieng is a reliable pair of hands and knows how to perform when the pressure is on.
There have been times he could have done better. He should’ve saved Stephen Mallan’s strike in a 4-2 defeat to Hibs. Sometimes he opts to parry the ball instead of taking it into his chest.
Places to improve no doubt, but Dieng for the most part has been decent. His performance against Celtic kept his side in the game, until a heartbreaking injury time goal prevented the Dee from taking a crucial point, and stopped the Senegalese stopper becoming a hero against the Hoops.
He’s took what he showed at Stevenage and implemented it at Dens Park. Key saves at crucial times plus the ability to command his defence well. It’s just a shame for him the defence in front of him haven’t helped him one bit. Dieng has been a very good shot-stopper and games would be much uglier if it wasn’t for his contributions in certain games.
The next step for Dieng will be to claim a clean sheet and taste victory as he hasn’t kept one in dark blue yet. October was the last time the QPR loanee played in a victory.
If McIntyre’s men are to pull of a great escape, they’ll need Dieng to be on top form. His saves could be the difference between survival and relegation if the Dee get their act together in other areas of the park.