John Brown said his Dundee team are "not frightened of anybody" after fighting back to a 2-2 draw with St Johnstone on Wednesday.
Dundee looked set for their 20th defeat of their SPL campaign after Steven MacLean and Dave Mackay scored either side of John Baird's reply, but substitute Mark Stewart struck in the last minute to earn a point for Brown's 10-man team.
Despite currently sitting bottom of the SPL, interim boss Brown says his side will head into their William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final against city rivals Dundee United on Sunday with a fearless attitude.
"We're not frightened of anybody. United have got a great record. They have got a good team with some excellent players," he said.
"But it's 11 v 11, isn't it?
"This result gives us a good platform. We have got a few problems like Gary Harkins being cup-tied.
"I've come here to assess all of the players from here until the end of the season and hopefully put my hat in the ring with all the other applications to get the job.
"I can't criticise the boys one bit for application and some of our football was excellent."
The interim manager, who was once again targeted by a section of his own club's support during Wednesday night's 2-0 FA Cup fifth round victory at Middlesbrough, was in defiant mood after the game.
He said: "I have been in charge in football for 26 years. I have won the Champions League, won the FIFA Club World Cup, the FA Cup, the Italian Super Cup, the Spanish league twice, nine trophies, all the trophies you can win at club level.
"A group of fans, they are not doing any favours for the team when they are singing and wasting time preparing banners.
"It's because someone made a mistake. They put my title (as) 'interim manager', and I will leave at the end of the season, so they don't need to waste time with me.
"They have to concentrate on supporting the team, that's what they have to do.
"In the end, they are not doing any favours to the club, to the rest of the fans and to the players.
"Every game they continue singing and they continue preparing banners, they are wasting time. What they have to do is support the team.
"If we cannot achieve what we expect to achieve, that is to be in the top four and be in the Champions League for next year, I will leave; they will stay in the Europa League."
