Tayside and Central

We asked for your thoughts after Dundee lost 3-0 against Celtic.

Here’s a taste of what you had to say:

Bob: Not very often that I can say this but we were poor all round, it was attack against defence the whole game. I can accept getting beat 3-0 but at least have a go.

Carl: The wrong team selection, wrong formation and wrong tactics meant we were beaten before we started. Our lack of width meant Celtic had a free pass on both wings and they used it to their benefit. We were outclassed by a better team who deserved their victory.

Alister: Extremely poor tactics and game plan in the second half. Trevor Carson yet again let in two bad goals, the same as he did at Motherwell a couple of weeks ago. I’ve said it before but we have zero decent strikers up front and Malachi Boateng can't compete in the midfield on his own. For some time now, players are just turning up and going through the motions and not fighting for the shirt or their wage.

Brian: We were totally outclassed, it’s an embarrassment to our supporters, sadly both Celtic and Rangers are financially miles ahead of everyone else.

Tyrone Smith, BBC Sport Scotland

You get the sense that Dundee’s next block of games could be potentially season-defining for Tony Docherty’s side.

I wrote recently that after a trio of away fixtures, they at least had home comforts to enjoy in back-to-back Dens Park dates with Aberdeen and Celtic.

Well, the Dons game was postponed and they lost 3-0 to the champions.

Now they face another brutal looking run of league fixtures, with only three of their next nine Premiership outings on their own turf.

And given that only one of their last four games has been in the City of Discovery, you start to see how punishing and difficult a sequence this is.

During a season everyone plays the same amount of times, but the way those fixtures fall that can determine how a campaign plays out.

Dundee remain well placed in mid-table and they have been a team that have dealt pretty well with the obstacles that have been placed before them since they returned to the top division.

They will certainly need to do so again over the coming couple of months.

On Tony Docherty: "We're very proud of what Tony does, his work ethic, the way he puts his team together. He doesn't leave one stone unturned and he prepares, prepares, prepares. Because of that, we've had a bit of success. Our goal is to stay in the league this year and Tony is making that look easier than it is.

"It takes some doing, but Tony has been in this game for a long term, he's well-versed, well-educated, has two degrees. He probably could have taken the step a while ago but he and Derek were a team and he was very loyal. Now he's a bit older, a bit more ambitious, and we're glad he made that decision.

"We have an idea of what we'd like but you have to go out and find those parts and Tony and the team did that. It was a bit manic during the summer and we're planning on not being that manic going forward. He's done a fantastic job in a very short period of time."

On Owen Beck: "We're hoping he stays until the end of the season. There's no way in hell he'll be here beyond the end of this season. He's going to end up with a full national team cap quite quickly. We love him, he enjoys being here."

On Aberdeen postponement: "We'll put a letter into the league and the SFA. We didn't understand why in the world we didn't take time, like they did at Cove. We were told by the league to do whatever we could do to get the game on, and it seemed like we were the only ones that wanted to do that. It was dry enough that we could have a training session."

Image source, SNS

Image source, .

Were you at Dens Park or following the match from home? Either way, we want your views on the game – have your say here.

Dundee manager Tony Docherty told BBC Scotland: "I was happy with the first-half performance.

"I came in at half-time bemoaning that our ball retention could have been better, but our defensive structure was very good and I stressed to the players - as we are an honest group - that the first 10 minutes against the Old Firm, it is really vital that you stay in shape and don't lose your discipline.

"And I just felt a couple times that they made those runs down the side and we succumbed to that. When Celtic get their tails up like that it's difficult. You can see the quality they are bringing on off the bench.

"That won't define our season, our reaction to it will define our season. When we lost to Rangers here and lost our 'run', our reaction was really positive to that. I'll be looking for the same from the players and I think they have the character to do that.

"It is important we bounce back from today, it's difficult for the players but they've shown us a real consistent level of performance this season."

Image source, SNS

BBC Scotland's Andy Campbell

The amount of chances Celtic carved, particularly on the left, encouraged them to keep at it and their persistence paid off with the Paulo Bernardo opener.

However, a second-half injury to Cameron Carter-Vickers will be a frustration given Rangers' impending visit on Saturday.

Dundee's counter-attacking game did not create too many openings, though a looping Zak Rudden header forced Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart to retreat and catch in the opening half.

Defensively, the Dark Blues were often effective in getting in blocks to repel both shots and crosses and it's easy to see why Tony Docherty's side find themselves in a comfortable mid-table position.

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On-loan Liverpool left-back Owen Beck has recovered from a groin issue to start again for Dundee as Tony Docherty makes two changes from the side that beat Ross County last time out.

Cammy Kerr returns to defence as Ricki Lamie misses out, while Zak Rudden comes into attack as on-loan Wimbledon striker Zach Robinson drops to the bench.

There, he is joined by fit again centre-half Lee Ashcroft and forward Diego Pineda, but there's still no return for on-loan Burnley midfielder Marcel Lewis.

Image source, SNS

Image source, BBC Sport

Dundee: Carson, Kerr, Beck, Shaughnessy, McGhee, Bakayoko, Cameron, McCowan, Rudden, Boeteng, Donnelly.

Substitutes: Legzdins, Tiffoney, Pineda, Ashcroft, Mulligan, Robinson, Robertson, Howley, Sylla.

Celtic: Hart, A Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor, McGregor, O'Riley, Bernardo, Maeda, Palma, Furuhashi.

Substitutes: Bain, Yang, Turnbull, Oh, Kwon, Forrest, Ralston, Welsh, M Johnston.

Image source, BBC Sport

Dundee manager Tony Docherty believes his side can cause Celtic problems on Boxing Day, and want to channel frustrations positively after their game with Aberdeen on 23 December was postponed.

"When you get promoted, you look forward to playing these games," Docherty said. "It will be difficult, we understand that, but we're in good form.

"Regardless of opposition I've got huge faith and trust in my team that any time I set them up, it's to win football matches. Hopefully we can execute a gameplan that can cause problems for Celtic - that's what we'll be endeavouring to do.

"With the frustration of the Aberdeen game being called off, hopefully we can take some of that frustration out in the game."

Dens Park has been a tricky place for Scottish Premiership sides this season, with just two defeats for Dundee at their home ground.

Tony Docherty praised the fans for their part in that and asked for them to be as intimidating as possible when they welcome league leasders Celtic.

“Our fans have been fantastic,” Docherty said. “You saw them last weekend on an away trip and they have been brilliant at home.

“I know they will be there in their numbers and I’m hoping they are vocal.

“Certainly at this period it’s important everybody realises the importance they play.

“I want teams to come here and feel they are not just playing against the team on the pitch they are playing against the crowd in the stands as well.

“They have been there for the players and the players really, really appreciate it, they comment on that all the time, about how the fans do play their part as the 12th man.”

Image source, SNS

Centre-half Lee Ashcroft, on-loan Burnley midfielder Marcel Lewis and forward Diego Pineda are pushing for returns with Tony Docherty's side.

Meanwhile, on-loan Liverpool left-back Owen Beck, who was man-of-the-match last time out in their win over Ross County, is expected to be fit after struggling with a groin issue.

However, defender Antonio Portales is out until after the winter break with a hamstring injury.

Odin Thiago Holm is in contention for Celtic following illness.

Fellow midfielder Tyomoki Iwata has missed several games after picking up a knock, while Liel Abada and Reo Hatate are in the latter stages of their rehab.

Image source, SNS