Dundee

Midfielder Ryan Howley returns to the Dundee squad after missing the weekend’s game against Motherwell while goalkeeper Trevor Carson has trained following a knee complaint.

Striker Curtis Main and midfielder Josh Mulligan (hamstring) are closer to fitness and will be assessed before the game while defenders Owen Beck (groin) and Lee Ashcroft (hamstring) and forward Diego Pineda (thigh) are still sidelined.

Rangers left-back Ridvan Yilmaz remains out and midfielder Ryan Jack has had a setback in his recovery from a calf problem. Forward Danilo (knee) and winger Oscar Cortes, who had surgery on a muscle injury, are likely to miss the rest of the season.

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Dundee midfielder Lyall Cameron says the Dens Park pitch suits neither side ahead of Rangers trip on Wednesday, but admits it's probably less suitable for the Ibrox side.

"It's clear that the pitch obviously isn't good enough of this level of football. It doesn't do Rangers any favours, but at the same time, I think we have good enough players in our team who would prefer to play on a better pitch.

"It doesn't totally suit us, but it probably suits Rangers a wee bit less. I'd rather take them on a nice pitch any day.

Victory on Wednesday - should the game go ahead - would seal Dundee's place in the top six, though Cameron says it's not win or bust .

"I wouldn't say it's all or nothing yet," the 21-year-old. "If we get a draw at home to Rangers, I don't think there'd be too many complaints. I would benefit us a wee bit if Motherwell and Hibs were to draw.

"At the end of the day, we're just focusing on ourselves. If we get three points, top six is ours."

Dundee dropped points from a winning position and conceded late goals again, as Motherwell came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Dens Park.

It's a story that's haunted us all season.

At one stage, we looked like we would secure a top-six finish with two games to spare and also close the gap on St Mirren in fifth place.

Instead, Saturday became a total washout for the Dee, even if our pitch did survive the onslaught of rain on the city.

Even Luke McCowan scoring straight from a corner kick will not be spoken about the way it would have, had we won.

In a nutshell, it was a dire result, which leaves us on the ropes as we try to claim the last top-six spot.

With Rangers visiting Dens Park on Wednesday and an away trip to Aberdeen at the weekend, it looks a daunting task for the club to secure the league position they deserve.

You can find Daniel Smith on the Up Wi' the Bonnets podcast, external.

Dundee host Rangers in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday, looking to bounce back from their disappointing defeat to Motherwell and secure a top-six finish.

Who would you like to see start for Tony Docherty's side?

Put yourself in the manager's shoes and pick your Dundee XI here.

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Tony Docherty says Dundee know the scale of the task that awaits them against Rangers on Wednesday, but thinks the prospect of a top-six spot will spur his players on.

The Dark Blues need to win one of their two remaining games before the split to guarantee a top-half finish, having missed the chance to do so against Motherwell on Saturday.

"Rangers are a fantastic team," he said. "We're under no illusions, but on the night it's us against them, and it's about us identifying the real strengths they have, and if there's any weaknesses, we'll see if we can exploit any of them.

“We know the enormity of the task ahead of us. Both teams are going in with different motivations but who’s to say whose motivation is stronger? We’re looking forward to it.”

Docherty was also keen to praise the standard on show during Rangers' 3-3 draw with Celtic on Sunday, and believes it showcased the quality within Scottish football.

“What a brilliant game that was, just a fantastic advert for our national sport,” he said. “It blew me away, the quality, the tempo, the competitiveness.

“Rangers coming up here on the back of that, I was nothing but impressed with particularly their second-half performance."

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty has been talking to the media before his side's Scottish Premiership clash with Rangers on Wednesday.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Dedicated his manager of the month award for March to his players and staff. Full of praise for the way they responded to February's chastening 7-1 loss at Celtic Park.

• Says Dundee were "comfortable" during Saturday's 3-2 defeat to Motherwell, which they led 2-0, but says they are "really focused" on achieving a top-six finish in their next two games. Stressed Dundee are "the masters of our own destiny".

• Docherty is preparing the team as normal for Wednesday's game despite the poor weather forecast, and says he won't comment on the Dens Park pitch as he is "not qualified to".

• Would never describe any game as a "free hit", and goes into every game believing they can win. Says Rangers are a "fantastic" team, but thinks there are areas his side can target.

• Trevor Carson is back training and in contention for Wednesday, Ryan Howley is also back, while Curtis Main and Josh Mulligan will be assessed before the game.

• Thought the Old Firm game on Sunday was a great showcase for Scottish Football.

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty has been named as Scottish Premiership manager of the month for March.

The Dark Blues took seven points from their three league games, as they drew to Kilmarnock before beating Aberdeen and St Johnstone.

“It feels very humbling and I am very grateful to receive this award," Docherty said.

"Although this has been awarded to me, I would attribute this award to the hard-working coaching staff that I’ve got here at the club.

"They work hard every day to allow me to manage the way I want to manage and I am thankful to all of them for their help.

"It’s also extremely important to highlight the players. March started just after we had lost heavily to Celtic away from home but I said we wouldn’t be defined by that result and that what we needed was a reaction and the players reacted brilliantly in March.

"It’s a great testament to the players for the resilience they have shown and the performances they have put in.

"I also want to say thank you to Gordan Strachan for his technical support and John Nelms for his support as well.”

On today's episode of the Scottish Football Podcast, Liam McLeod is joined by Kenny Miller and Alan Stubbs.

They discuss Sunday's Old Firm thriller and look back on an action-packed Saturday in the Scottish Premiership.

Listen to the episode in full here.

We asked for your thoughts after Dundee's dramatic defeat to Motherwell at Dens Park.

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

Iain: It's shambolic to be quite honest. How can a team lose from being in a two-goal lead so many times in a season? Tony's surely got to be drilling that into the players about the importance of holding on to a comfortable lead.

Carl: Losing points from being in a winning position is nothing new this season and needs sorting out as soon as. However, all is not lost. We need to vocally back the team in the two games left before the split. Onwards and upwards.

Doug: The defensive fragility shown by the Dee this season is not the hallmark of a team deserving of a top-six finish. If - and it’s a big if - the Dees manage to get three points from the next two games and secure a top-six finish they can consider themselves to have been extremely fortunate. Forget the Rangers game, give it their all against Aberdeen.

Anon: I cannot believe Docherty's statement that he can't criticise the players. What, 11 minutes to go and we lose the match. What as a team must they do to attract criticism? Maybe the Rangers match will be the trigger.

Kevin: Yet again games are being refereed outside of the ground, we are now getting to the point where we don't need on field officials, nobody on the field or in the stadium claimed for a penalty and were completely bamboozled when the game was held up - get rid now.

Roberto: Dreadful decision to award a penalty today. Turned the game completely. Looked inexplicable at the time and doesn't look any better now that I've seen the highlights on BBC.

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• Motherwell have won 18 points from losing positions in the Scottish Premiership this season, more than any other team.

• Dundee have lost 22 points from winning positions in the Scottish Premiership this season, more than any other team.

• Motherwell won after trailing by two or more goals in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since the start of the 2013/2014 season.

• Luke McCowan has contributed to goals in his last 4 games in the Scottish Premiership (three goals, one assist).

• Jack Vale attempted six shots in this game, the joint-highest total for a Motherwell player in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Dundee have conceded 19 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, more than any other team in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Motherwell have scored 18 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, only Celtic (22) have scored more in the Scottish Premiership this season.

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty tells BBC Scotland: "I'm really hurting, as are the players in the dressing room. We had 17 minutes to see the game out, but we have another opportunity to do this. I can't be critical of the boys, they've given me absolutely everything.

"Yes, it's a setback. But it's important we reset, that there's no hangover, and that we have a positive reaction from this disappointment.

"Evidence suggests we always bounce back. We've got that bounce-backability. The group I've got, it's important we all stay together. We're hurting because we realise the enormity of what happened. I trust my players to see it out, but it never happened. I still trust them.

"Goals change games. We look comfortable after the second goal. Motherwell didn't trouble us, but the goal changes a lot."

What did you make of that then, Dundee fans? Were you confident you had the three points wrapped up?

Why does this keep happening? Why do Dundee keep dropping points?

Let us know here.

Andrew Petrie, BBC Sport Scotland

At 2-0, Dundee seemed pretty comfortable without ever really impressing all that much.

They'd been a little more clinical, even if the second goal was a complete fluke, and they'd stopped Motherwell creating too many clear cut opportunities.

Yet, only those with short memories would have sat comfortably at Dens. That's because Dundee have lost 22 points from winning positions in the league this season, more than any other team.

As soon as the first goal was eventually given, they folded in on themselves, and Motherwell could have found their winner long before the 93rd minute.

Dundee: McCracken, McGhee, Portales, Shaughnessy, Donnelly, Costelloe, Sylla, McCowan, Cameron, Tiffoney, Bakayoko.

Substitutes: Sharp, Legzdins, Dodgson, AStley, Robinson, Boateng, Mellon, Mutale.

Motherwell: Kelly, Devine, McGinn, Casey, Blaney, Gent, Halliday, Zdravkovski, Spittal, Vale, Bair.

Substitutes: Oxborough, O'Donnell, Mugabi, Shaw, Nicholson, Moses, Miller, Ross, Butcher.

Dundee goalkeeper Trevor Carson has an issue with a tweak on his knee but is in contention. Curtis Main and Josh Mulligan (hamstring) are closer to fitness and will be assessed. Owen Beck (groin), Lee Ashcroft (hamstring) and Diego Pineda (thigh) remain sidelined.

Stephen O’Donnell is a slight doubt for Motherwell after taking a knock against St Mirren last week. Callum Slattery (knee), Harry Paton (ankle), Barry Maguire (chest) and Adam Montgomery (hamstring) remain out.

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