Tayside and Central

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty is relishing the hectic schedule ahead after a long wait for their return to action.

Dundee had their first game of October on Tuesday when they played out a goalless draw with Ross County.

They now face a double-header against Livingston, which sandwiches a midweek clash with Rangers.

Docherty said: "You need to be ready for that. You are calling on your squad and that's the reason we assembled a robust squad to go into these blocks of games.

"Players like that when they are coming thick and fast. I like it as well.

"We are very much looking forward to it. We will put in the work that's necessary and be ready for Saturday's match."

Dundee have only lost twice since their return to the cinch Premiership but have only won once.

"As a newly-promoted team there is a lot of learning going on and we are only eight games into the campaign," Docherty added.

"I would just like to turn those draws into wins but I am striving for the consistency of performance because if performances are good, the results will follow."

Dundee's festive meeting with Celtic at Dens Park has been moved to Boxing Day after being chosen for TV coverage.

Originally set for 27 December at 19:45 GMT, it will take place the previous day at 15:00.

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Burnley owners ALK Capital are in talks with Dundee over proposals to make the Scottish Premiership side a feeder club. (Mail), external

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Dundee boss Tony Docherty is urging his side to match their defensive solidity with a greater goal threat to haul themselves up the table.

Successive goalless draws with Hibs and Ross County means the Dark Blues have made netted just seven goals in their eight games so far since returning the Premiership.

Docherty, whose side visit Livingston on Saturday, said: “It’s performance levels for me all over the pitch. We’ve now kept three clean sheets out of eight and that’s really important for the defensive side of it.

“If you’re doing that it gives you a real platform to win a game by one goal.

“It’s now about getting into areas where we’re more of a threat and are creating opportunities that we can take.

“We’ve been looking at that and it’s something we’ll endeavour to make sure happens on Saturday."

Mexican striker Diego Pineda made his league debut as a substitute in Tuesday night's draw with County and Docherty wants everyone in his "robust" squad to contribute.

"I keep banging on about the importance of the squad," he added. It's really competitive, there's good players there and when you get the opportunity - like Diego and Charlie Reilly did the other night - you have to take them.

"We finished the game well as a result of the substitutes' impact. We're looking to start and end games well on a consistent level and that will give us more chance to pick up three points."

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Tony Docherty has been speaking to the media before Dundee face Livingston in the Premiership this weekend.

Here are the key lines from the Dens boss:

• Livingston are a "very competitive team" and Docherty believes they'll be smarting from defeat at Kilmarnock, adding: “If I know anything about Davie [Martindale] he’ll be in about his boys all week.”

• It was important Dundee avoided defeat when not at their best on Tuesday night against Ross County.

• Having maintained their unbeaten run, Docherty's side will need to do “a lot of things right” at a difficult venue.

• He says three clean sheets from eight games gives Dundee a platform to win matches, but they need to show more attacking threat.

• Mexican striker Diego Pineda impressed off the bench against County having “waited for his chance”. Docherty stressed competition is strong within the squad and players must grasp their opportunity when it comes.

• The Dens manager says Livi are similar to Dundee in struggling for consistency but they’re a good side and David Martindale is doing a “great job”.

• Lyall Cameron, Scott Tiffoney and Zach Robinson are all back in the squad after injury, but Josh Mulligan is out and needs a hernia operation.

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• Livingston have won their last four home league games against newly-promoted sides, including two against Dundee back in 2021-22. Their last such defeat came against Hearts in December 2021 (0-1).

• Dundee have lost their last three Scottish Premiership meetings with Livingston, as many defeats as in their previous 17 top-flight league games against them (W7 D7).

• Livingston won their last home league game against Motherwell 2-0, their first league victory on home soil this season. Indeed, they’ve now only lost one of their last nine league games at the Tony Macaroni Arena (W4 D4).

• Dundee’s last two league games have both ended goalless against Hibs and Ross County; the last side to record three successive goalless draws in the Scottish Premiership was Hibs in March 2022.

• No player has created more chances from open play in the Premiership this season than Dundee’s Luke McCowan (17 – level with James Tavernier). Indeed, of the five occasions a player has created at least five chances from open play in a game, McCowan accounts for two of them (5 against St Johnstone in September and 5 against Ross County last time out).

Dundee travel to Livingston on Saturday in the Scottish Premiership.

If you were in Tony Docherty's shoes, would you make changes to the side that drew 0-0 against Ross County?

Pick your starting XI here.

We asked for your thoughts after Dundee played out a goalless draw at home to Ross County.

Here’s what you had to say:

Alister: Only one win in eight says it all. Our so-called strikers are just not up to Premiership standards. The manager is usually late bringing on subs, but playing players out of their natural positions and not changing tactics.

Doug: There was some nice build-up play, but the lack of a cutting edge in the final third is concerning. Ross County set out to play a disruptive physical game and rode their luck to still have 11 men on the field of play by the end of the game. Onwards and upwards!

Kevin: It wasn’t the greatest game but it was clear that neither team wanted to lose so a draw was probably fair.