Dundee

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

When Dundee thumped Motherwell 4-0 to leapfrog the visitors into fifth place in early December, the talk was about two sides from the City of Discovery finishing in the top six.

However, after a run of five straight league defeats for Tony Docherty's side, the fear of relegation blues have returned to the Dens Park side of Tannadice Street.

Now four points adrift of third-bottom Kilmarnock and only three clear of St Johnstone, Saturday's visit of the Premiership's bottom side could be season defining for Dundee.

Having only appointed Simo Valakari in October, Saints appear ready to stick with their Finnish manager even if relegated.

In contrast, pressure will mount on Docherty - from Dundee fans at least - should the improving Perth side secure a sixth win in their latest eight outings to draw level in what could then develop into a two-team dogfight to avoid the automatic relegation spot.

A victory for either would, of course, take them closer to one, if not two, of the teams immediately above, considering Kilmarnock visit Ross County.

To do so, Dundee must repeat the form they showed in beating United and Airdrieonians in the cup amid their run of six without a win in the league.

They did beat Saints 3-1 in their latest meeting, at McDiarmid Park in January.

It was the Perth side who prevailed 2-1 on their previous visit to Dens in October, but since then they have only won once in eight away games.

That was also their only win in eight meetings between the sides and St Johnstone have not won twice running at Dens in a single season since 1998-99.

Docherty will hope that trend continues.

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Defender Joe Shaughnessy is ready to spearhead Dundee's bid for survival. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

Sportscene pundits Michael Stewart and Richard Foster analyse a Dundee penalty shout for a potential handball by Motherwell's Stephen O'Donnell. (Available to UK users only)

We asked you for your thoughts on the 2-1 loss to Motherwell that leaves Dundee just three points off the bottom.

Here's what some of you said:

Gary: We only change set-up after we've conceded a weak goal, again. Why not start that way when you know you need to protect your defence? That's the way we can be competitive but Tony Docherty doesn't seem to know how to pick the right team that can play that way. He continually gets his tactics wrong and has to react when we're already up against it.

Pageauds Tache: I don't even know where to start, I'm getting so frustrated. Tony, stop making the same old excuses. We are in serious trouble, and no amount of "honest chats" or "home truths" will fix it. Ship up or ship out. Any good credit you banked from last season is now bankrupt.

Bob: Dundee are going down. Docherty lives in cloud cuckoo land. "If we perform like we did in the second half, we will be all right." Really?

Even after being destroyed in the first half, 45 minutes is all you need? Dundee are the rehab team. Motherwell is the latest. Can't win? Need to get your season back on track? Play Dundee!

Gary: How long are we going to suffer this? We don't set up to protect an obviously porous defence? No team fears us now. Tactically unaware, reactive rather than proactive. Clueless and pointless. At this rate something surely has to change. Docherty is only dragging us down now.

Raymond: The Dee are in freefall. I've sat through countless awful games with my grandson over the last couple of seasons and, when you hear Docherty's summary of these games, you wonder if you were at the same games that he refers to.

Ronnie: Unacceptable. This team is haunted. Utterly inept showing, no organisation, tactical awareness, fight or attitude. This rests with the manager. Lose on Saturday and Dundee are as good as down; then Docherty must go and it will be time to clear out his embarrassing, hopeless, lightweight team.

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• Dundee have lost their last five games in the Premiership, their last longer losing streak was from 4 December 2021 to 18 January 2022, a run of six matches.

• Motherwell attempted 14 shots in this match, higher than their season average of 9.8 in the Premiership.

• Simon Murray has scored 10 goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Dundee player.

• Motherwell have a record of W7, D2, L1 when leading at half-time in the Premiership this season.

• Dundee have conceded 13 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, only Ross County (16) and Hibernian (15) have conceded more in the Premiership this season.

Watch the best of the action as Motherwell beat Dundee in the Scottish Premiership.

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Defender Dan Casey scored twice as Motherwell won for the first time in eight matches to beat freefalling Dundee on new boss Michael Wimmer's home debut.

The visitors' fifth consecutive Scottish Premiership defeat leaves them four points from safety and just three points off bottom spot.

Casey's first came after 12 minutes when he bulleted in a header from an Andy Halliday corner.

The Irishman was left completely unmarked in the box and should have added a near identical goal just a few minutes later from another set-piece.

Tony Docherty's side struggled to compete in the first half, but a change of formation allowed them greater control in the second period.

They equalised with 11 minutes to play when Simon Murray tapped in his 15th goal of the season, but the game was not level for long.

Motherwell restored their lead six minutes later with centre back Casey volleying in from Harry Paton's cross to complete an unlikely double.

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty: "I thought we should've got at least a point. The performance in the second half was good enough.

"We had numerous chances. We were, by a long shot, the better team in the second half.

"If we continue to put in that level of performance then we'll be okay.

"We've lost a game that we should never lose, but maybe we'll pick up points in a game we shouldn't win.

"Once again, we've shot ourselves in the foot, it's self-inflicted. We need to learn from that.

"If I get that performance level in that second half going into any game, I'd be confident in my team winning. Bring on the challenge, we'll be ready for it."

Adam Binnie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Dundee are in trouble. They have been unlucky in some defeats recently but not in this one.

It took until Cameron's equaliser for the visitors register a shot on target and they never really looked to threaten Ellery Balcombe's goal.

There are goals in Dundee's attack - Murray has 15 this season and netted 23 last campaign; Lyall Cameron boasts 10 from midfield; and Seb Palmer-Holden has found the net nine times.

But providing service to these forward players seems to be the real issue.

With bottom club St Johnstone beating Ross County, Dundee must know they are in a relegation dogfight.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

This week is shaping up as one of the biggest in Dundee's season.

For all the good football they have played at times and for the undoubted quality they possess, Dundee are bang in bother.

They are second bottom of the table, with the second worst goal difference. It is four Premiership defeats on the spin for a Dark Blues side who have only mustered two wins in their past 12 league games.

The statistics make grim reading. Whether they can get themselves out of their current predicament will become clearer over the next few days.

First up is a trip to play Motherwell, who are one place and four points above them.

Then on Saturday Tony Docherty's men face a huge home meeting with St Johnstone, who currently sit six points adrift at the bottom.

A healthy haul of points from this crucial double-header could see things look a whole lot better for the Dark Blues. If they don't get the desired outcome then the alarm bells will really start to ring.

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• Motherwell have lost both of their two previous league games against Dundee in 2024-25, this after only losing one of their previous 14 league matches against them beforehand (W9 D4).

• Dundee's 1-0 win in October ended a seven-game winless run away to Motherwell in the league (D3 L4) since winning back-to-back visits in 2016-17.

• Motherwell have lost both of their last two home league games, last losing more on the spin in November 2022 (run of four).

• Dundee have lost each of their last five midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) away league games by an aggregate score of 22-3 since a 1-1 draw at Aberdeen in January 2024. The Dark Blues' last midweek away win in the Scottish Premiership was back in February 2022 at Hearts (2-1).

• Dundee's Lyall Cameron has scored five goals in his five Scottish Premiership appearances against Motherwell – the only opponent against which he has scored more than twice in the competition.

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Motherwell have lost Shane Blaney and Sam Nicholson to long-term knee injuries. Tony Watt is available again, while Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Marvin Kaleta are back in training but unlikely to feature.

Jack Vale (Achilles), Steve Seddon (ankle), Ross Callachan (hamstring), Paul McGinn (thigh), Zach Robinson (Achilles) and goalkeepers Archie Mair and Aston Oxborough (both hand) remain out.

Dundee suffered three fresh injuries in their defeat at Ross County, with key trio Antonio Portales (calf), Seb Palmer-Houlden (knee) and Clark Robertson (hamstring) joining join Billy Koumetio (ankle) and Scott Fraser (groin) on the sidelines.

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Tony Docherty is looking for Dundee make it three wins in a row over Motherwell on Wednesday to draw them closer to their fellow strugglers.

Michael Wimmer took over from Stuart Kettlewell as boss of the Fir Park side before their trip to Dundee United in the Premiership at the weekend but began his tenure with a 1-0 defeat to make it six successive losses.

Dundee's form has been equally poor, with a 3-1 loss at Ross County their fourth successive league defeat to leave them four points behind Motherwell in the relegation play-off spot with 11 fixtures remaining.

But Docherty is encouraged by two previous wins over Well this season.

"There's been a good reaction from the players," said the Dundee boss, who reported three "significant" injuries to Seb Palmer-Houlden, Antonio Portales and Clark Robertson.

"Obviously there was a disappointment there. I thought the opposition played the conditions better.

"I thought the pitch was really poor but they played that better than us, so we came away from that disappointed, because we're focusing on every game as a cup tie and trying to do all we can at this stage of the season to win it.

"Once we recover from that, analyse it, it's full focus on the game at Motherwell and we did well this season down at Fir Park.

"We won 1-0 down there and we did well at home with a 4-1 victory as well, so I'm hoping we can cap that off and make it three wins against them.

"You need to treat it as cup football and do everything you can to win the games and we will endeavour to do all we can to make sure that we execute a gameplan that gives us every opportunity to win the match."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty has been speaking to the media as his side prepare to face Motherwell on Wednesday night.

Here are the main points:

• Dundee have picked up "significant injuries" after Saturday's defeat at Ross County. Seb Palmer-Houlden is being sent for a scan on his knee, Antonio Portales has damaged his calf and Clark Robertson has an issue with his hamstring.

• Although disappointed, Docherty is looking at the positive that the injury problems "present opportunities for players in the squad I've got great faith in".

• On the weekend defeat, Docherty says County "played the conditions better" but stresses he has seen a "good reaction" from the squad in training.

• After a six-game winless run in the Premiership, including losing the past four games, Dundee are treating every match as a "cup final", starting with Motherwell on Wednesday night.

• Docherty says his side need to do better at "winning ugly" but he is pleased with the experience in the dressing room, particularly with Joe Shaughnessy back in full training.

• The manager is confident Dundee can overcome current "adversity" like they have in the past.

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

Dundee's slide continues. A fourth consecutive league defeat - this time at Ross County - leaves the Dark Blues second bottom of the Premiership.

The next two games could define Dundee's season. A trip to Motherwell on Wednesday will determine whether we remain within reach of the mid-table teams or if a daylight gap emerges.

Remarkably, Dundee were 10 points ahead of St Johnstone in January. By Saturday, we could replace them in bottom spot.

With Motherwell and St Johnstone being the teams directly above and below Dundee it adds heavier emphasis to the matches for a team that will be feeling the pressure.

This could very well be the biggest week of Tony Docherty's managerial career to date. Failure to pick up points could throw the manager and club into a very alarming situation.

On the other hand, a turnaround now would be perfect timing given the Scottish Cup quarter-final and Dundee derby at Tannadice on the horizon.

Football is a funny game - just now feels very doom and gloom but we could quickly be on cloud nine. It is up to to the players to prove they have the character to match their ambitions and rise up from their current wreckage of form.

Amid this chaos, I find myself reminiscing about how strong the team looked at the start of the season. I stated that if Dundee sold Luke McCowan for anything less than a club record fee, it would be a disaster. I argued that, to compete for Europe and make cup runs, keeping him was essential and his influence outweighed any short-term financial gain.

Was losing a captain in a team short of leaders, a matchwinner in a side lacking a talisman, and the heartbeat of the squad, worth just £1m?

Dundee have a history of underselling their best assets. And in every scenario I can think of it never ends with us competing where we want to be.

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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While his future team-mates at Ibrox are in turmoil with the loss of their manager, Lyall Cameron's job until joining Rangers in the summer is to help Dundee out of the relegation play-off spot.

Their visit to Motherwell is crucial considering Wednesday's hosts are one place and four points above, but it should be one for the 22-year-old midfielder to relish.

Cameron has scored five goals in his five Premiership appearances against the Steelmen - the only opponent against whom he has scored more than twice in the top flight.

He also has the added burden of having to impress a new manager given he thought he would be playing under the now-departed Clement at Ibrox come next season.

Cameron will be keen to make sure Michael Wimmer suffers a second successive defeat since taking over as Well manager - the side's sixth in a row overall and seventh without a win.

Dundee themselves have only won once in five, losing the other four, but will be aiming for a hat-trick of wins over Motherwell this season.

That includes October's win at Fir Park, where - you've guessed it - Cameron scored the only goal of the game before a double in their 4-1 at Dens Park in December.

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Dundee boss Tony Docherty believes his side need to "take stock" as they made it four league defeats in a row following the loss to Ross County.

The Dark Blues sit in 11th place in the league - the relegation play-off spot - and are four adrift from tenth-placed Motherwell.

"We've got another game coming right away on Wednesday," Docherty said. "It's important.

"It really is self-inflicted. I feel as if I'm saying the same things just now, but we really need to take stock and make sure that the situation we've found ourselves in, we need to make sure we work hard to get ourselves out of it."

His side went ahead against Ross County thanks to an early Simon Murray goal but a second-half collapse consigned them to yet another defeat.

"We had defensive injuries today that didn't help us, but there's a group of players in there, a group of staff that, as a collective, we're the only ones that can do something about that. We need to do something about it.

"We need to get to the root of the problem, try and eliminate the individual mistakes that we're making and give ourselves more of an opportunity to try and win football matches."

Watch highlights as Ross County win 3-1 against Dundee in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Dundee's 3-1 defeat against Ross County.

Here's what some of you said:

Jake: They have been very poor recently and it is time for Tony Docherty to change to a back four and bring Joe Shaughnessy back in. I still cannot fathom why he let a striker go without bringing another in, leaving us with only one signed striker and a loan striker. What is going on behind the scenes?

Adam: Sleepwalking to relegation. Need to change the system and formation before it buries us. I've defended Docherty all season, however this stubborn refusal to adapt to a system that suits the squad we have will definitely see us going down.

Danny: Unfortunately Docherty has shown on a regular basis that he cannot pick the right team, set out the right tactics or affect the game positively in play. If the owners think that 17 wins from 65 league games is acceptable then we really are in big trouble. Sorry, but it's time for the manager to go.

Mike: The next two games are crucial. Six points would ease the blood pressure and let me get a good nights kip. I'd sacrifice a Cup run for league safety.

Garry: Enough is enough, Docherty must go. League position flattered us last season, and the lack of any real plan, tactics or formation has been clear this season. It's the second half of the season and he's still tinkering with the starting line-up every week. He has had more than enough time and opportunity, get someone in that can save us before it's too late!

Alan: Another dire, shameful performance and we are sinking like the proverbial stone. No organisation, penetration, fluency or tempo and a lack of fight from too many players. A club of Dundee's stature should be in the Premiership top eight every season but we are heading for our third relegation in six or seven years. Our chief executive should be offering an explanation!

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• Ross County have won after conceding the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 26 October 2024 against Kilmarnock.

• Ross County have won 10 points from losing positions in the Premiership this season, only Dundee United (11) and Kilmarnock (12) have recovered more.

• Ross County have scored eight goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half, only Celtic (13) and Aberdeen (9) have scored more in the Premiership this season.

• Dundee have lost 20 points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, more than any other team.

• Dundee have lost their last four games in the Premiership, their last joint longest losing streak was from 28 April 2024 to 14 May 2024.

• The Dee have conceded 25 first-half goals in 27 games, more than any other in the Premiership this season.

• Simon Murray has scored nine goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Dundee player.

• Dundee have conceded 11 goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half, no team has conceded more in the Premiership this season.

Dundee fans, after another league defeat, how do you reflect on your team's downturn in form>

Have your say here., external

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On his 24th birthday, Noah Chilvers was an imperious performer in County ranks. Never hurried in possession, his close control and distribution were key tenets of the home side's long-awaited Dingwall triumph, and he landed a telling blow with a cute first-time finish for his side's third goal.

George Harmon, too, impressed on the left flank, with two of his excellent deliveries leading to goals, and a third narrowly missed by fellow wing-back Akil Wright, another goalscorer and stand-out for Don Cowie's men.

Simon Murray, as ever, ploughed a deep furrow up front for Dundee and Josh Mulligan was a menace with his penetrative runs and crosses from the right.