Dundee

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Tony Docherty hopes Dundee can tighten up now he finally has the full complement of defenders he has been "striving for all season".

Despite scoring eight goals in their last three games the Dark Blues have conceded nine and suffered two defeats.

That has been a recurring theme for the Premiership's leakiest team, who are currently 11th in the table, just five points off the bottom.

Speaking prior to Saturday's visit of St Mirren, Docherty revealed "we have had a real honest chat in training sessions this week" about sorting their defensive issues.

He added: "We are sitting top goalscorers in the league, as we were this time last year before the split, behind Celtic and Rangers.

"But we have been hampered a lot by injuries, particularly to experienced central defenders. The most pleasing thing for me now is, when I took training today everybody is back, all the defenders are back.

"Over the season I have missed Joe Shaughnessy for 31 appearances, Clark Robertson for 22, (Antonio) Portales for 11, (Billy) Koumetio for five, Jordan McGhee for 10. Trevor Carson comes into that and Ziyad Larkeche as well, so that hampers you, those injuries."

Dundee's season was summed up by their heartbreaking defeat at home to Rangers last weekend as they squandered a two-goal lead in the final 15 minutes to lose 4-3.

"I think you have seen all season, particularly in our last two league performances, how brave we are as a team, how front foot and attacking we are," said Docherty.

"But behind the ball is what has let us down, that is where we need to find further improvements.

"I always think the answers are in the building. They have been in the building but they have been in the treatment room, but now they are on the training pitch and that is where we hopefully can change really positive performances into positive results."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premiership visit of St Mirren.

Here are the key points:

• The management and players had "a real honest chat" this week to try to address the ongoing defensive issues but Docherty has been "really encouraged by our last two performances".

• He says they have been hampered this season by injuries, particularly to experienced centre-backs, but "all the defenders are back" now and Docherty has the "competition for places defensively that I have been striving for all season".

• The Dark Blues boss adds: "I always think the answers are in the building. They have been in the treatment room, but now they are on the training pitch."

• St Mirren will be a "difficult" opponent and are a team with "an identity" but Docherty says Dundee "are a good side with a real identity".

• Lyall Cameron and Scott Fraser are the only absentees this weekend.

• On league reconstruction being back on the agenda, Docherty is in favour of a bigger top flight and says Dundee owners John Nelms and Tim Keyes also back expansion "because that might allow the promotion of young footballers".

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Outscoring your opponent is the name of the game in football, but not in the way Dundee might need to go about doing it.

Only Celtic and Rangers have scored more league goals than Tony Docherty's men this term, but they still find themselves in the relegation play-off spot.

That is because they have conceded a whopping 67 goals, by far the most of any team in the division.

In fact, it is 10 more than bottom side St Johnstone, who have conceded the second most.

With just seven games of the top-flight season remaining, there is little to suggest anything drastic will change when it comes to the defensive side of Dundee's game, especially when you consider they have kept just one clean sheet all campaign.

As simple as it sounds, does that mean outscoring the opposition with a gung-ho approach is the best formula?

Dundee-based football writer George Cran, of The Courier and Evening Telegraph, says that is a hope to cling on to for Docherty and his team.

"What gives me hope is going forward they can outscore the opposition," he told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "I think that should see them safe in the end, but we'll have to see. It might be tough.

"It was an issue last season, they conceded too many goals even though they had a really good season and finished in the top six. A big issue is a lot of the players are learning their trade in terms of how to defend at this level.

"Also, we shouldn't forget, they lost Luke McCowan, who was their best player. The middle of the park has been an issue all season as well."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Dundee's defeat to Rangers summed up their season as they were left pondering another case of 'what if?'.

The Dark Blues succumbed to a stoppage-time Cyriel Dessers goal in a game they led by two in heading into the final 15 minutes.

It was a microcosm of what has gone wrong this term. Once again the defensive frailties that have dogged them were exposed - and they have now shipped nine goals in the past three games, which further emphasises the problem.

An inability to see a match out was also highlighted again, with Docherty stressing the "need to manage the game" in his post-match comments.

His side have lost 23 points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, more than any other team.

If you were to add those 23 points on to their current tally, they would be comfortably in the top six and pushing for their Europe instead of languishing in second bottom.

They have pace, they have strength, they have goals - qualities most teams in the bottom six are crying out for.

But the benefits of those positive attributes are being neutralised by their defensive frailties outlined above.

All is not lost - the manager has seen enough to know his team, when they are on it, can be more than a match for anyone in the division.

He just needs to find a way of getting it all working together on a more regular basis between now and the end of the season.

If he can, you get a sense all will be well. If he can't, then the Dundee fans should prepare for a relegation scrap.

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Is the Scottish Premiership in need of a shake-up? If so, how do you go about it?

News emerged on Tuesday that the SPFL is considering changing Scotland's top flight to a 10, 14 or 16-team division in an attempt to help reduce fixture congestion.

In its current 12-team form, the clubs split into a top and bottom six after 33 rounds of matches, with 38 rounds played altogether.

That format has been in place since 2000-01 and retaining that model is also an option, but reports have also suggested the split could be scrapped.

For any fresh structure to pass, it needs the backing of 11 of the 12 Premiership clubs, and eight out of 10 from the Championship plus 75% of League One and League Two combined.

And judging by the fan reaction to the mere thought of reducing the league to a 10-team division, you would have to assume that idea is already unlikely.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, former Premiership players Cammy Bell and Cillian Sheridan provided their views on a potential restructure.

Expansion is the only option for former Rangers and Kilmarnock goalkeeper Bell, while ex-Celtic striker Sheridan would like to see the split retained.

"I think we need a little bit of freshness about our game," Bell said. "So, if we can expand that league, then absolutely do it. We've got big enough clubs now that can generate good crowds.

"We're at a time just now where we've got the potential of trying to change it and certainly for me it's got to be expansion."

"The split works now," Sheridan added. "When I first came over and saw the whole split thing, I just never really got it. But in the past few years it has been quite interesting.

"If the league is wrapped up, if relegation is wrapped up, it does add a little bit of excitement to things in terms of teams getting into the top six and having to get European football."

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

It's good to see teams have a go at the Old Firm and refreshing to avoid a full-blown low block/parking the bus.

This season I've been pleased with Dundee's efforts against Celtic and Rangers at Dens. It's incredible that across the three games we've scored seven goals, arguably been the better team in each meeting and haven't won any of them.

We aren't expected to win these games so the fact we come out frustrated is a sign we're doing something right.

On Saturday night it was like we picked up where we left off in the Dundee derby and we looked like scoring every time we went forward. We were well worth the 2-0 lead and going in at half-time at just 2-1 really flattered Rangers.

At 3-1 up I thought Dundee were going to hit Rangers for five! It very well could have been the case if Dundee were more clinical – we were made to rue a handful of big chances wasted including two efforts that battered the post.

The main worry, though, is the failure to manage a game until the end. This was another trademark Dundee defeat complete with throwing away a comfortable lead and conceding the winner in stoppage time.

This has plagued Dundee for the second season running and it's difficult to see when it will be fixed.

Last season we dropped 25 points from winning positions, more than any other team in the division. At present we are top of that chart again having dropped 23 points from winning positions with six games left to play.

A slight improvement in game management last season could have been the difference in securing a European place. This season our failure to remediate this has condemned us to the bottom six and a relegation battle.

This is the youngest team in the league, but the fans need to see improvement in results on a more consistent basis. That is the only way they'll be convinced the project is going in the right direction.

St Mirren at home next, this is our chance to make amends for the collapse against Rangers and look to pull away from the play-off zone.

Watch all the highlights as Rangers came from behind to beat Dundee 4-3 at Dens Park in the Scottish Premiership.

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Tony Docherty acknowledged Dundee need to get better at managing games, as they gave away another lead in their dramatic 4-3 loss to Rangers.

Docherty's side have lost 23 points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, more than any other team.

"It does show you that [we have the quality]," Docherty said after the match. "That's the thing, when the dust settles, we need to focus on that we've got enough in the team to make sure that we win games, we see games out.

"We're getting towards the end of the season, we've got seven games now, it's important that – and it was a learning curve on Saturday – when we get in that position again, we need to see games out.

"We do need to manage the game."

Dundee were 3-1 up against Rangers after Scott Tiffoney's goal but they were soon pegged back before Cyriel Dessers' added-time winner.

"I've said that all season, we've had experience on the pitch and the personalities on the pitch need to make sure we see that out and we didn't do that.

"And that's the reason why we are having this aftermath at the moment. That feeling won't go away until we go into training and until we get set and get ready for St Mirren coming here. We need to make sure we put that right that."

Equally as impressive as Dundee's capacity for capitulation is their goalscoring feats. The Dark Blues have scored 28 first-half goals in 31 games, only Celtic (42) and Rangers (29) have scored more in the Premiership this season.

"The goal scoring, we keep that going, keep that positive, but the concession of goals, we need address and make that better," Docherty said.

Dundee fans, we asked for your views on the painful 4-3 defeat to Rangers at Dens Park. Here's a taste of what you had to say...

Eddie: Same old story. Dreadful defending again and the bottom line is our entire defence are simply not good enough. Our management team should have addressed this months ago, but did nothing. A play off spot is all we can now hope for.

Gary: I wish the manager would take some accountability for his lack of game management. At the end of the first half, and for most of the second, Rangers were on top but still Docherty did nothing from the bench. All the hard work of the first half hour faded.

Andrew: A familiar tale to anyone with even a passing interest in Dundee's season. No matter the opposition, and no matter how favourable the situation in terms of the scoreline, we can always find a way to end the game with zero points.

While we have demonstrated that we can put three goals past any team in the league, we have also provided ample evidence that on their day any team coming to Dens Park can score five if they're in the mood.

Stefan: So disappointing to see Dundee throwing much-needed points away again to the Old Firm at home. Tony Docherty needs to start coming up with some better defensive tactics and stop saying "we need to learn from this" etc. It's getting a bit late in the season for learning, Doc!

Ross: Same old, same old since Docherty came in. Far too often over the last two seasons we have had a two-goal lead in a match, and ended up losing.

Is it a psychological thing, is it naivety or is it poor tactics? Probably a bit of all three. I really fear for us this year. If we are in the same position - only four ahead of St Johnstone-at the split, we are down. At least the neutral certainly gets value for money when play.

Jim: Gutted doesn't describe it. Going forward we can give anyone problems, but we're still shipping too many goals. Again, we should have scored more from the chances we had but we were also unlucky a couple of times. A very good performance overall with nothing to show for it.

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• Dundee have lost 23 points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, more than any other team.

• Dundee have conceded 14 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, only Ross County (17) and Hibernian (16) have conceded more in the Premiership this season.

• Simon Murray has scored five goals in his last five games in the Premiership, scoring 13 league goals this season.

• Dundee have scored 28 first-half goals in 31 games, only Celtic (42) and Rangers (29) have scored more in the Premiership this season.

• Rangers have won 12 points from losing positions in the Premiership this season, only Kilmarnock (13) and Hibernian (13) have recovered more.

• Cyriel Dessers scored his 12th goal of the Premiership this season, more than any other Rangers player.

• The striker attempted 12 shots, the highest total for a single player a match in the Premiership this season.

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty to Sky Sports: "The emotion in the moment is real disappointment. We've done more than enough to take something from the game.

"It's something we need to learn from. Three goals should be enough to win a game. We've had more than enough opportunities. There's so much more we can do to prevent those Rangers goals.

"It was two teams trying to win the game, maybe that shows a bit of naivety [from us] on the pitch.

"It's a straight ball and Cyriel Dessers gets in. Hugely disappointing to lose a game in that manner. But I've got to reflect on my team's performance in a positive sense."

Were you at Dens Park or following the match elsewhere?

Either way, we want your views on the game - have your say here.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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When you watch Dundee, you know you are going to be entertained. Sadly for manager Tony Docherty, that is not a positive thing for him most of the time.

Only Celtic and Rangers have scored more Premiership goals than Dundee this term, but they have shipped a league high of 67. Bottom side St Johnstone have conceded 10 fewer.

The front three of Simon Murray, Scott Tiffoney and Oluwaseun Adewumi are good enough to have Dundee comfortably in the top half, but defensive issues continue to plague Docherty's men.

If that is not addressed in the final stretch of league games, the Dens Park side could find themselves in real trouble.

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Dundee's Ibrox-bound midfielder Lyall Cameron is an injury doubt, while Scott Fraser (groin), Antonio Portales (calf), Seb Palmer-Houlden (knee) and Clark Robertson (hamstring) are still out. Billy Koumetio is back in contention after three months out.

Rangers are set to remain without Neraysho Kasanwirjo (knee) and have "one or two" unnamed injury doubts.

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Neil McCann is hoping he'll remain as the last Dundee manager to beat Rangers when the sides meet at Dens Park on Saturday.

McCann, now part of the coaching staff at Ibrox, steered the Dark Blues to a 2-1 victory over Rangers back in 2017 on an emotional and "bittersweet" night for the former winger.

"I hope that'll be the same stat by the end of the game on Saturday night," McCann told Sky Sports.

"It was a funny one because my father had taken really unwell that day and I didn't think I was going to get to the game but my dad gave me the old 'Get to your work' stuff.

"It was bittersweet because he got to see me manage against Rangers, who I spent a great number of years with and he knew how much I loved them, but he knew how much I wanted to beat them as Dundee manager.

"It was brilliant to do that and go back and see him. That was probably the last night I got to spend with him, which is the bittersweet part.

"I hope [the record] it does last longer and I can hopefully play a part in that."

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Tony Docherty "absolutely" expects a different Rangers side this weekend from the one Dundee have faced three times already this season.

Rangers knocked Dundee out of the League Cup in early December, followed by a home win at Ibrox and a draw at Dens Park - all under Philippe Clement - but Docherty says the Ibrox club's style is now much changed since Barry Ferguson took interim charge.

"Yeah, I do, absolutely [expect a different challenge from Rangers]," said the Dark Blues manager.

"I think they've done really well since Barry's been in. As every interim manager would do, they change things.

"They do the opposite of what the previous regime was and they've changed the shape of the team, they've changed the formation of the team, they've changed a wee bit of their training regime.

"They've got a reaction from the players, which is down to Barry getting in there. He's got good experience there as well with [Billy] Dodds and Neil [McCann]. They've gone in and changed things and, yes, there has been a reaction."

Midfielder Josh Mulligan has called for Dundee to replicate the performance they delivered in the derby win over Dundee United as they attempt to rise out of the relegation play-off spot.

"It's obviously more difficult [playing against Rangers and Celtic], there a lot more good players but it's the same mentality going into the game, similar to the last performance, just on the front foot," said Mulligan.

"If we can put it in that similar level then I think we'll get a result."

Jack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty has been speaking to the media before his side's match with Rangers on Saturday evening.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Lyall Cameron, who is Rangers bound this summer, is a "slight injury concern" and is "awaiting scan results" before being assessed further.

• On Cameron's absence Docherty says it is "always a blow when your best players are not available" but "players are ready to take the opportunity" if the midfielder is ruled out.

• Docherty thinks his side have had "good games against Rangers" this season and says both sides will be "buoyed" by their respective derby wins before the international break.

• He "absolutely" expects a different Rangers side to the team they faced before Barry Ferguson arrived, adding the former Ibrox skipper has good experience on his coaching staff.

• Docherty is eager to to make Dens Park as intimidating a place for visiting teams as possible.

• Dundee come into the game "feeling good about themselves" after their derby win, with Docherty adding there is a "real buzz and real good feeling" around the squad in the build-up to facing Rangers.

• With experienced players coming back into the side it helps the younger players in the squad, and the Dens boss is now seeing a "consistency in performance" due to that blend.

• He says it is imperative that Dundee, who currently occupy second-bottom spot, "prepare as well as we can to take as many points as we can to improve things" between now and the end of the season.

• Dundee are winless in their past 16 meetings with Rangers across all competitions (D3 L13) since a 2-1 league victory in November 2017 under Neil McCann.

• After winning four successive visits to Dundee in all competitions from 2021 to 2023, Rangers have since drawn both of their past two away games against the Dark Blues (0-0 in April 2024, 1-1 in January 2025).

• Dundee have failed to win any of their past seven home league games (D3 L4), this after winning three in a row beforehand.

• Having only won three of their first 11 away league games of the season (D4 L4), Rangers have won each of their past four matches on the road in the Scottish Premiership.

• Rangers have conceded 2+ goals in four successive league games for the first time since December 2005. They haven't do so in five league matches in a row since April 1986 under Walter Smith – a run that included a 2-1 loss at Dundee.

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Captain Simon Murray says Dundee's derby victory has generated a "real buzz" within the squad as they aim to build on their long-awaited win at Tannadice.

The striker scored a 90th-minute penalty to seal a thrilling 4-2 triumph over rivals Dundee United in their last outing, their first victory in six matches in all competitions.

Murray and his team-mates welcome Rangers on Saturday evening and Barry Ferguson's side will also be buoyant after securing their own derby win at Celtic.

But the Dens Park forward says Dundee can take further confidence from the 1-1 draw against Saturday's opponents in January.

"As much as it's not been the best of seasons for us so far, we've shown in real moments what a team we can be," Murray told Sky Sports.

"So I think it's a great game, going in against Rangers. There's a real buzz about the place and we just need to make sure from now until the game, we're doing everything we can to get ready for it."

Despite the win over neighbours United, Dundee are in the relegation play-off spot, five points ahead of bottom side St Johnstone with eight fixtures remaining.

"Winning that last game really helps," Murray added. "When you're winning games and getting good moments, that brings you closer together as a team.

"So it's just about learning from any disappointments, putting it to one side and kicking on."

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

What if the Scottish Premiership was decided on overperforming your expected goals (xG) rating?

You're rolling your eyes, aren't you? Fair enough, but the above graphic still paints an interesting picture.

In the second column you will see each team's current xG tally after 30 games, but the table is sorted based on the third column, which shows how much each side has overperformed or underperformed by.

For example, the chances leaders Celtic have created throughout the season suggests they should have scored around 77 goals, but Brendan Rodgers' side have surpassed that tally with an overperformance of almost 12 goals.

Remarkably, Dundee have overperformed their xG total of 34 by 11 goals. If Tony Docherty's side could sort out their defensive issues, it's safe to assume they wouldn't be fighting for survival.

It's the opposite for Kilmarnock, with their underperformance of 5.5 showing they have struggled to take their chances. Addressing that is key if Derek McInnes wants to pull his side away from the bottom.

Other underperformers include Hibernian, Dundee United and Ross County, while the remainder of the teams in the division appear to be fairly steady.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Having ended an eight-game winless run and given their survival hopes a huge boost, Dundee will have been desperate to get back on the pitch as soon as possible after their impressive derby victory at Tannadice.

Instead, they have had a fortnight to kick their heels and mull it all over.

With his second-bottom side now five points above St Johnstone (and just one behind 10th-placed Kilmarnock), Tony Docherty will perhaps be breathing a little easier.

But his side still have plenty of work to do – starting with this weekend's visit of Rangers.

Docherty will be hoping the wave of positivity generated from the victory at Tannadice hasn't ebbed away during the enforced lay-off as he looks to harness it when the Ibrox side head to the Dens Park.

And might the break even work to Dundee's advantage? It has given Docherty more time to get some of his injured players back – and he will need as many of them as possible available and firing for a crucial couple of months.