Jon McCracken has insisted Dundee won't settle for sixth despite easily surpassing initial goals of retaining their spot in the Scottish Premiership.

Tony Docherty's top-flight new boys have been somewhat of a surprise package this season achieving a top-half finish and with a shot at Europe heading into the split.

Dundee sit just two points behind fifth-placed St Mirren with European qualification up for grabs for the team finishing fifth unless Aberdeen win the Scottish Cup.

And McCracken insists Dundee will push for fifth after proving they weren't on cruise control for the season conclusion with a goalless draw against Rangers.

“It gives us freedom," said McCracken of achieving a top half finish and securing top-flight football next season. "That was always our objective coming in to keep that.  

“Now we have secured that by getting the top six and it gives the boys confidence.

“The league table doesn’t lie and we have proved we should be a top six team over the course of the season.

“That performance [against Rangers] just shows that.  “It was good and we will build on that.”

“We have always believed we are a good team. It is good that the league table shows it. We believe it and it is there for everybody to see that we are a top six team.

“A lot of people were aiming it at us that this was a free hit but that was never the case from us.

“We have new targets now we are top six and that performance will show we are not going to down tools and just be happy with being top six.  

“We have new targets we want to achieve. The next target would be the team above us, which is St Mirren. That is two points.

“That is our next target to get ahead of them. I think we are well within our rights to believe we can do that. Hopefully, we can show people we can do it.”

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McCracken - loaned to Dundee from Norwich - has played seven times for the Dens Park side in the league this season since returning in February.

The goalkeeper had joined Dundee in the summer before returning to Norwich after a goalkeeper was sold at his parent club. 

McCracken spent time on loan at Accrington - where he broke his arm - before a second spell at Dundee where he has now started the last six matches.

“I am really pleased. I am just happy to be playing," said McCracken of being back in action.

“It has been an up and down season so it is good to get a wee run of games.

“Playing behind that defence it is a good back four and I am enjoying my football.”

McCracken played his part in the draw too - saving superbly to deny Cyriel Dessers - even if he showered praise on his team-mates rather than taking plaudits himself.

“Dessers, was a good save but you will take any save. A save is a save," he said.

“I thought, as a team, I wasn’t exposed to too many shots.  

"I had a shot out wide and a couple of crosses to deal with but as a defensive unit we will take credit from the fact they never really cut us open in open play.

“It was a good result. I thought we came in pretty confident after the weekend."