Tayside and Central

Dundee manager Tony Docherty: "I'm really pleased, particularly with that second-half performance.

"I thought the first-half we weren't taking care of the ball as much as we should have. Malachi's substitution at half-time, right from the get-go, brought control to the game.

"We used the ball well to exploit weak areas in Livingston and it was only a matter of time until we got the goal. To win a game with that type of goal is outstanding. Befitting of winning any game.

"It doesn't surprise me with Luke, he practises that everyday. I see him on the training ground so I'm just pleased he's getting his rewards for that. He's such a hard-working, conscientious player, like all the squad.

"I wasn't surprised the red card was rescinded, I haven't seen it but Sean Kelly is not that kind of player. Thankfully, it had no baring on the game.

"We displayed a real resilience, a togetherness - which doesn't surprise me. We shown that in abundance this season. The clean sheet is particularly pleasing.

"Huge credit to the players after a difficult night on Wednesday.

"I'm happy with the points tally. If I'm greedy, there could be more, but every manager could say that. There is no patting on the back now, though. We'll enjoy looking at the table tonight but we'll dust ourselves down and get ready for St Mirren next week."

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You always felt he would create something every time he was on the ball, and his goal was worth the admission money in itself.

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Tyrone Smith, BBC Sport Scotland at Dens Park

Dundee manager Tony Docherty will he been very satisfied with the character his players showed to bounce back from their midweek thrashing at the hands of Rangers.

His side have plenty of character, but they also have plenty of quality too.

Several players in their ranks - McCowan, Beck and Cameron being the obvious picks - can open teams up and make the difference in tight encounters like this one.

Dundee are back in the top six, and with those qualities, you wouldn't bet against them staying there.

The season is still in its relative infancy, but that is now four defeats in a row for Livingston. In fact, they have won just one of their last nine league games.

Unsurprisingly, given those numbers, they remain precariously placed second bottom of the table.

And while there will be no panic stations just yet, the West Lothian side know they must somehow turn that form around, otherwise it is going to be a very long season.

Dundee manager Tony Docherty confirmed pre-match that Scott Tiffoney picked up a little knock in training yesterday, which has ruled him out of the game today against Livingston.

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Dundee: Carson, McGhee, Portales, Shaugnessy, Lamie, Beck, Cameron, Sylla, McCowan, Bakayoko, Rudden.

Substitutes: Legzdins, Kerr, Pineda, Robinson, Reilly, Robertson, Howley, Boateng, Donnelly.

Livingston: Hamilton, Welch-Hayes, Devlin, Kelly, Penrice, Shinnie, Pittman, Holt, Lloyd, Nouble, Kelly.

Substitutes: George, Parkes, Anderson, MacKay, Brandon, Bradley, Sangare, Nottingham, Guthrie.

Follow our live coverage.

Amadou Bakayoko felt he was robbed of a goal by VAR in Dundee's win over Livingston last weekend and wants to put it right when the sides meet again at Dens Park on Sunday. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip

Dundee's Josh Mulligan underwent a successful hernia operation on Tuesday and will be out for another four weeks. Otherwise, boss Tony Docherty's squad has a clean bill of health.

Livi are still without Cristian Montano through suspension after his red card against Dundee last Saturday.

David Martindale must decide whether to restore goalkeeper Shamal George, dropped to the bench against Hearts due to a minor injury, or keep faith with Jack Hamilton.

Kurtis Guthrie returns after illness, while Michael Nottingham could be in the squad following tendinitis.

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Tyrone Smith, BBC Sport Scotland

Striker Amadou Bakayoko believes Dundee will bounce back from their "bizarre" game against Rangers by continuing to prove they belong in the Scottish Premiership.

The 5-0 midweek loss started 45 minutes late because of traffic issues and was then halted after flares were set off in the away end.

That defeat ended a four-game unbeaten run for the newly-promoted Dark Blues, who host Livingston on Sunday.

Bakayoko said: "A lot of things obviously happened, I am not here to make excuses but it was a very bizarre game and day.

"We have to brush it off quickly and get ready for the next game. The players’ mindset has been good so far and before the other night we have had really good results, we have played good football and been competitive in every game.

"So it is about going out and showing that again, showing everyone that we do belong here. I think we do, for sure.

"We will put it past us, we are professionals, and will go again on Sunday."

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Dundee will hope to sparkle against Livingston on Sunday after the pryo-peppered thumping by Rangers.

Would you make changes to the starting line-up? Choose your Dark Blues XI here.

Dundee will not sulk in the wake of their heavy midweek defeat by Rangers, says Joe Shaughnessy. (Courier - subscription required), external

Manager Tony Docherty motivates his players to show the 5-0 loss was a one-off. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip

Tyrone Smith, BBC Sport Scotland

Dundee manager Tony Docherty says results against the Old Firm won't shape his team's season, but how they respond to those games will.

The Dark Blues were beaten 5-0 by Rangers on Wednesday night, suffering a first defeat in five matches since a 3-0 loss to Celtic.

Docherty's men have an opportunity to bounce back when Livingston head to Tayside in Sunday's rearranged Premiership fixture. And he is confident the midweek drubbing won't derail Dundee's positive start to the season.

He said: "We have now had 10 Premiership performances and that is one that was probably below the standard that the players have set.

"What is important is how we react. After the Celtic game we had a draw at Easter Road, a draw at home to Ross County and we beat Livingston, so the reaction from the last Old Firm game was really good and that is from experience working with the players.

"I am confident I will get the same reaction from them, because that won't determine our fate, playing against the Old Firm, but what will determine it is our reaction from it.

"The message to the players is just keep doing what you are doing, because I have been really happy with the level of performance we have been putting in."

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Tyrone Smith, BBC Sport Scotland

Dundee manager Tony Docherty has been speaking to the media before his side's Premiership game with Livingston this weekend.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• After the controversy regarding pyros in the away end during the midweek home defeat to Rangers, Docherty wanted to solely focus on Sunday's game.

• He has no doubt his players will bounce back from that 5-0 loss to Rangers and his message to them is to "just keep doing what you have been doing".

• Despite beating Livingston on the road last week, he says this weekend's encounter is "a totally different game".

• Docherty says he doesn't look at the league table yet, all that concerns him just now is the performance of his team.

• He is still upset at play not being stopped when the referee accidentally obstructed Luke McCowan in the build-up to Rangers' fourth goal. He says no one in the ground would have complained if play had been stopped, adding the two late goals they conceded have cost Dundee a couple of places in the league table.

• There is "a clean bill of health" apart from Josh Mulligan who is set to be sidelined for four weeks after having hernia surgery.

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• Dundee are winless and goalless in their last five home games against Livingston in the top flight (D3 L2) since a 2-0 win in May 2004 under Jim Duffy.

• Livingston’s ongoing run of five consecutive clean sheets away to Dundee is their longest ever run of shutouts away to a side in the Premiership.

• Livingston have lost their last two league games against promoted sides, including a 2-0 defeat to Dundee last month. They have never lost three consecutive top-flight games against promoted clubs.

• Dundee have won just one of their last 14 Premiership matches played on a Sunday (D4 L9), although that was their only such fixture this season, beating Hearts 1-0 in August.

• Four of Livingston’s last eight league goals against Dundee have been scored by Bruce Anderson (50%), with those four goals coming in his last three Premiership games against the Dark Blues. Against no other side has Anderson scored more goals in the competition.

Rangers and Dundee will not face official sanctions despite the Scottish Professional Football League and Police Scotland criticising Wednesday's pyrotechnic display of flares by visiting fans that forced Wednesday's Premiership game at Dens Park to be halted for 18 minutes. (Scottish Sun), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

Image source, BBC Sport

BBC Scotland's Jane Lewis speaks to Scotsman journalist Alan Pattullo and Dutch football writer Elko Born about the increasing use of pyrotechnics in Scottish football.

Listen to the full episode here.