Dundee have made Dens Park a fortress this season. Rangers were held to a 2-2 draw. Motherwell, Aberdeen and – in a madcap final 10 minutes on Wednesday – Kilmarnock have all been dispatched on league business.
Only Hibernian have taken three points from Dundee’s back yard.
That’s not to say Pressley’s troops have toiled on their travels. They were impressive at Celtic Park in a 1-0 defeat on the opening day and claimed the city spoils with a 2-0 triumph down the road at Tannadice.
Underpinning this has been tactical flexibility and a workmanlike industry in the image of their studious figurehead. The players have clarity in their roles and are asked to run their legs off.
The 3-1 victory over Kilmarnock was a case in point. Pegged back to 1-1 by Joe Hugill’s penalty and having seemingly ceded the impetus, Dundee regrouped and seized back control.
“The thing that really pleased me was after Kilmarnock scored and the momentum changed, we showed great resilience and determination and ran really hard,” Pressley told BBC Scotland.
“After the equaliser it is easy to feel sorry for yourselves. We didn’t and we got a really important three points.”
Pressley has weathered the sale of big assets and injuries to key players too. Tony Yogane went north to Aberdeen, having been a profitable option down the left. Luke Graham and Billy Koumetio left a gaping chasm at the heart of the Dundee defence and the dangerous Cam Congreve went back to parent club Swansea City.
To stretch Dundee yet further, veteran striker and club icon Simon Murray was seriously injured at the start of the campaign. Joe Westley, who scored nine goals last season, has been out for a month. Yet another forward – Bobby Wales – is injured too, as are Finlay Robertson and Jack Moorhouse.
Pressley has recruited shrewdly from the English market to stem the bleeding.
Matia Akinmombi got his introduction to the Scottish game this week. Fellow Bournemouth loanee Owen Bevan has brought class and composure to the backline. Bradley Fink, on loan from Wycombe Wanderers, has scored four goals in six matches.