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Scottish Premiership: Paul Hartley hoping for positive start for Dundee

Image: Paul Hartley: Dundee manager happy with his side's form

Dundee manager Paul Hartley is hoping his side can carry their recent good form into their opening match of the Scottish Premiership season.

The Dark Blues booked their place in the second round of the League Cup with a 4-0 win over Peterhead on Saturday, with Simon Ferry, Greg Stewart, Peter MacDonald and Luka Tankulic on the scoresheet.

Last season's Championship winners begin their top-flight league campaign with a game against Kilmarnock on August 9, and Hartley is confident of a bold showing after the emphatic cup success.

Hartley said. "I thought some of our play was excellent. I was really pleased with the players for how they went about it.

"We've got a real attacking force about us. We want to try and be a creative team, with players getting forward as much as possible.

"The players we've got wouldn't want to play any other way, like going direct. That's why I've brought these players in, to try and entertain. It's been pretty impressive so far, so hopefully that continues."

Peterhead manager Jim McInally, a former player-coach at Dens Park, added: "They've made a lot of good signings. You could see them doing well this season so it was a bad time to get them.

"They're on a bit of a high but our season starts next week for real when we have to be ready for that."

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