Dundee

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

The last time I wrote a piece while bracing myself for defeat was before Dundee's trip to Ibrox - and they stunned everyone by holding Rangers to a stalemate.

I'm preparing for defeat again, but this time it's harder to find the wiggle room for optimism as Dundee host Celtic on Sunday.

The faint hope I'm holding onto is that Celtic are still struggling to get out of first gear - maybe they'll have another off day like we've seen against Hibernian, Rangers, and Kilmarnock.

Our last outing at Pittodrie felt like watching lambs to the slaughter, and there's a real danger things could get worse if Sunday ends in defeat as Dundee could potentially drop to the bottom of the table.

The players owe the fans a far better performance.

Hopefully, the international break has served as a reset and that our form, for once, truly goes out the window.

Boss Steven Pressley has asked Dundee fans for patience with his summer signings after the Dark Blues came under fire from supporters following the heavy defeat at Aberdeen. (The Courier)

Read the rest of Monday's gossip.

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Scottish FA head of referees Willie Collum has backed Ross Hardie's decision to give Dundee a stoppage-time penalty in their 3-2 victory over Livingston last month.

The decision had enraged Livingston manager David Martindale.

Referee Hardie was called to his monitor after the video assistants claimed Dundee forward Charlie Reilly had initiated contact with Danny Wilson after the centre-half initially put his boot out then planted it.

"We can fully support the penalty," told the Scottish FA's VAR Review Show. "What we don't want in this exact scenario is a referee brought to the monitor.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Whether it is in the stands or on social media, Dundee fans are getting restless.

The surprise appointment of Steven Pressley in June didn't go down well with a large portion of the support and it felt like he had to hit the ground running to win them over.

Crashing out of the Premier Sports Cup in the group stages didn't help, and neither has a stop-start opening to the league campaign.

Pressley's side are second bottom having won just won of their eight games.

They sit two points above Aberdeen – who battered them by four (going on many more) at Pittodrie at the weekend – having played a game more.

That thrashing in the Granite City to a side who until then had failed to win or score in the league has ramped up the pressure.

The worrying thing for Dundee is a bruising run of upcoming fixtures suggests it could get a lot worse before it gets better.

Three of their next five games are away from home – at Falkirk, Hearts and Hibs – with home matches against Celtic and Rangers also looming.

It is difficult to see where the points will be coming from on current form.

It is also a very young Dundee squad and with that often comes inconsistency, which may make a positive run all the harder.

Talismanic striker and captain Simon Murray cut a frustrated figure as he was substituted midway through the second half at Pittodrie.

That perhaps summed up where this Dundee side are at the moment.

Pressley has plenty to ponder, and lots to work on, during the international break as he tries to find a way of turning things round.

If he can't do that, and fast, the pressure and outside noise is going to intensify even more.

Livingston defender Cammy Kerr says leaving Dundee earlier this year was the hardest thing he has ever done. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

After eight league games Dundee sit second bottom of the table without a constructive style.

What has been consistent is the stand-off approach: sitting deep, playing on the back foot and waiting for chances that never come.

This strategy is understandable if there's quick counter-attacking football as the pay-off, but right now Dundee are absorbing pressure with all the consequences and none of the rewards.

At Pittodrie - where Dundee once again revived fragile opponents - we stood off Aberdeen, letting them dictate tempo, grow in confidence, and pass freely under little to no pressure. It's not sustainable.

The fix isn't complex - Dundee need to be tenacious, press high, force mistakes and take the initiative. This reductive style is actively draining belief from the stands. The tactics must change.

Dundee have been beaten in half of their league games and are averaging just two shots on target per match while scoring once in every eight attempts. This makes grim reading for neutrals and an abysmal one for season-ticket holders.

After the international break we host Celtic and face the prospect of dropping to the foot of the table.

The onus is on the players and Steven Pressley to eradicate the sense of impending doom among supporters and inspire some faith. The worry comes from the performances more so than the results.

Watch all the highlights as Aberdeen recorded their first Premiership win of the season and put four goals past Dundee.

(Available to UK users only)

We asked for your views on Dundee's 4-0 defeat against Aberdeen.

Here's what some of you said:

Albert: Obviously disappointed today with the scoreline. I think the international break will help us through. Steven Pressley can get the players fully fit and implement his plans as we haven't been too bad.

John: The team is only heading in one direction - the Championship.

Alan: A shameful and gutless display from a dreadfully poor Dundee eleven. This is the inevitable result of putting someone who hadn't managed for six years in the hot seat. It's only early October but we already look like we're on for relegation. The next home game is against Celtic and I very much suspect there will be less than 3,000 home fans in attendance.

Niall: Awful performance. Need to dump the manager, he is clueless. There is no attacking intent. We are looking to draw every game and 4-0 against a less than average Aberdeen is embarrassing.

John: Writing is on the wall. Considering Pressley was a defender, his tactics passed onto our defence or what they're working on is shocking. A half decent defence and none of the Aberdeen goals, with the exception of the penalty, would have happened. The buck stops with Pressley. If he stays, Championship here we come.

Dudley: I was Pressley to succeed but sadly we are going down. None of the summer signings are near Premiership standard and I've never seen so many passive displays from players with zero effort and commitment.

Brian: One of the worst performances I've ever seen from a Dundee side. No passion, no fight and no class whatsoever. Really abysmal. The manager does not have a clue.

Danny: Absolutely shocking performance. I know Pressley has a difficult job on his hands but most of his signings have been a huge disappointment and are just not up to playing in this league. Yan Dhanda and Fin Robertson are just too lightweight in midfield and there is no pace or cohesion in the link up play from defence to midfield or further forward.

Neil: Schoolboy defending. Can't blame a manager when his players can't even kick or control and block the ball properly.

Ian: Shocking result. The lack of ambition shown by Pressley's appointment was obvious to all at the time. Disappointed doesn't begin to cover it. No one should be getting rolled over 4-0.

A Jesper Karlsson-inspired Aberdeen ended their Scottish Premiership goal drought and romped to their first win of the Scottish Premiership season by putting four past Dundee at Pittodrie.

Read the full match report here.

Tell us your thoughts here.

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Dundee head coach Steven Pressley told BBC Scotland: "A really disappointing afternoon. It wasn't for a lack of effort, they ran hard and worked extremely hard out of possession.

"But we just didn't get things right and that's on me. The distances weren't right. We jumped to press at the wrong time and opened ourselves up.

"At times, the gaps between us were enormous and Aberdeen exploited that. Ultimately, as manager, I'm responsible for that.

"Whether it's tactics or the execution, it's on me. That's the reality of it. The players' attitude was good, but we didn't execute what we'd worked towards.

"There were too many things we didn't get right today and on reflection, we were lucky it was only 4-0.

"We must improve, as coaches and players, and keep working towards a Dundee side that makes our supporters proud.

"We're caught in between just now. We probably haven't quite nailed down the system at this moment in time. We're trying to find solutions, but we've not managed to find that."

Image source, SNS

Head coach Steven Pressley says Dundee will aim to use the pressure facing Aberdeen to their advantage on Sunday.

The Dens Park club travel to Pittodrie with a win, three losses and three draws in the league, compared to the Dons' five losses and one draw.

Despite being winless in 16 league visits at Pittodrie, Pressley remains hopeful his team will earn a positive result.

"If we start aggressively, if we score the first goal, then of course playing for Aberdeen is a high-pressured position," Pressley said.

"With that high pressure comes the demands of the supporters, so that's something we have to try to use to our advantage.

"I think it's a great stage for us. We have shown certain signs of improvement."

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Aberdeen full-back Alexander Jensen is available after missing Thursday's Conference League defeat by Shakhtar Donetsk through suspension but defender Kristers Tobers (knee) is out long term.

Dundee have Simon Murray, Paul Digby and Yan Dhanda back in their squad but have fitness doubts over Callum Jones and Billy Koumetio. Cesar Garza is still away with Mexico Under-20s.

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Cameron Congreve is determined to keep his place in the Dundee team and build on his burgeoning creative impact.

The 21-year-old Swansea loanee has provided three Premiership assists - two more than any other Dundee player - and has started the past two games after his first three appearances were all off the bench.

As Dundee target victory at Aberdeen on Saturday, Congreve said: "Every player wants to be the first name on the teamsheet.

"Hopefully I can keep performing, keep adding impact to the game, the goals and assists and stay in the starting XI.

"There was a lot of new players coming in the building, but we're all gelling together really well.

"We're working on stuff on the pitch every day and progressing really well, hopefully the next few weeks we can pick up some really good results.

"I'm settling in really well, the lads from day one helped me, they're a really good bunch.

"It's 100% the right decision, I felt that straight away as soon as I came here."

Dundee have picked up just one win in their first seven league fixtures, but Congreve says the squad are full of belief for the trip to bottom club Aberdeen, whose winless run continued with Conference League defeat by Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday night.

"We're all really confident going into it," added the Welshman.

"Playing a few days before that, they probably will be a little bit more tired and it's quite tense up there at the moment but they're a good team. They showed that last year in the first half of the season.

"We've just got to go into the game confident and go and attack it."

Image source, SNS

• Aberdeen have won their past three league meetings with Dundee, after having only won two of their previous seven beforehand (D3 L2).

• Dundee are winless in 16 league visits to Aberdeen (D5 L11) since a 2-1 victory in May 2004 under Jim Duffy.

• Aberdeen have become the first side to fail to score in each of their opening six matches of a top-flight season since Aberdeen themselves in 1999-00. The last side to go seven games without a goal at any stage of a Scottish Premiership campaign were Livingston from October to December 2023.

• Dundee have won just one of their seven league games this season (D3 L3) and are winless away from home in the Scottish Premiership this term (D2 L1).

• Dundee have both had the fewest shots (50) and faced the joint-most shots (95, level with Dundee United) of any side in the Scottish Premiership this season.

Steven Pressley says Trevor Carson was allowed to join Ross County on loan because the 38-year-old goalkeeper did not want to sit on the bench at his stage of career after the Dundee head coach decided Jon McCracken would be his number one this season. (The Courier), external

Hibernian head coach David Gray has revealed that a barnstorming Tynecastle performance by Josh Mulligan for Dundee against Heart of Midlothian helped seal the midfielder's summer move to Easter Road and hopes for a repeat by the 22-year-old in Saturday's derby. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Police fear Dundee's plan to manage traffic at their proposed new, 12,500-seat Camperdown Stadium could compromise road safety. (The Courier), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

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Steven Pressley wants his side to capitalise on any fatigue in Aberdeen's ranks as Dundee seek to win at Pittodrie for the first time in 21 years.

Aberdeen - bottom of the Premiership with just one point from six matches - host Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday in the Conference League before welcoming Dundee to Pittodrie this weekend.

And Pressley believes that schedule could benefit Dundee, who last played on Saturday when they lost 1-0 at St Mirren.

"The exertions of European games certainly take their toll and hopefully it does impact them on Sunday," he said.

"First and foremost, we have to make sure we're at it and going there with real energy. If we do that, I think we can get something."

Aberdeen also lost their last outing - against Motherwell - but Pressley is under no illusions about the scale of the task, despite Jimmy Thelin's side's struggles.

"It's a very important game for ourselves. They have got some really good players and we are aware we haven't won up there since 2004, before Tony Yogane was actually born.

"That tells you the size of the challenge, but we've trained well this week. We look hungry, we look ready and we've got players returning from injury and suspension."

George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Dundee manager Steven Pressley has been talking to the media before his side's Scottish Premiership trip to Aberdeen on Sunday.

Here are the best bits from his press conference:

• Pressley expects a tough challenge and says Premiership bottom club Aberdeen were "much improved" last weekend despite defeat at Motherwell. He points to the fact Dundee haven't won at Pittodrie since 2004, which is before Dark Blues winger Tony Yogane was born.

• The Dundee boss thinks it is a "great stage" for his team to prove themselves, having been competitive in recent matches.

• Pressley believes the "exertions" of European competition will "take its toll" on Aberdeen and hopes that will benefit his side on Sunday.

• It will take "a number of windows" before Dundee are where Pressley wants they to be.

• The 51-year-old insists he is loving his time at the club and praised the work ethic of his players.

• Simon Murray - who Pressley describes as "invaluable" - returned to team training on Tuesday, while Paul Digby has trained all week and is available. Callum Jones and Billy Koumetio are doubts for the game.

Head coach Steven Pressley is already planning to strengthen his Dundee squad in the January transfer window, saying "we're not near where we need to be". (The Courier), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

It sums up Dundee's season that a week after talismanic striker Simon Murray gets his first league goal of the campaign - in a 3-2 win over Livingston - he then misses the next game through illness and they lose at St Mirren.

It shows not just the importance of Murray, but also the stop-start nature of Dundee's campaign so far.

It was hoped the win over Livingston - their first in the league under Steven Pressley - would be a turning point for the head coach and his new-look side.

But it became one step forward, two steps back for a team craving consistency of result and performance.

That is going to be very difficult to achieve with an incredibly challenging block of fixtures coming up.

Four of the Dark Blues' next six games are on the road – starting with Aberdeen on Sunday before trips to Falkirk, Hearts and Hibs.

In among those matches they have home dates with Celtic and Rangers.

So we will certainly learn a lot about this Dundee side over the next half dozen games. How they fare could have a big say in shaping the narrative of their season.

Ethan Hamilton has brought an old fashion Manchester United-like approach to Dundee, says manager Steven Pressley. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

Saturday in Paisley felt like a match played in treacle - slow, sticky and short on quality.

Chance creation was once again a problem. Although credit must go to the Buddies' organisation - their zonal marking cut off supply lines - the lack of imagination in our play was worrying.

By the end, we were almost playing exclusively for set-pieces, only to see the deliveries fall flat and waste the little momentum we built.

Our main source for shots on target came via two long-range strikes from Ethan Hamilton. Neither troubled the net, but one of these weeks he's going to rattle one into the top corner and add another screamer to his collection.

With a trip to Pittodrie up next on Sunday, there's at least hope the return of Simon Murray and Yan Dhanda could give Dundee the spark we need.

Murray's absence in Paisley was glaring. He's the one player in this squad who presses, forcing defenders into mistakes and setting the tone from the front.

If Dundee can bring that edge back - and finally create some clear-cut opportunities - they'll be on the right path to racking up points.

Last season we were predictably the side that lifted Aberdeen out of their rut. Avoiding the same scenario this time would be a signal that Steven Pressley's team is developing a stronger mentality.

Manager Steven Pressley expects Dundee captain Simon Murray to return to training today after missing the weekend defeat to St Mirren through illness. (The Courier, subscription required), external