Dundee have a free weekend to regroup as they look to consolidate their top-six spot over the festive period.
But what is the one thing nobody is talking about in relation to Dundee - good or bad?
It might be the manager's tactics, a player's future, or a must-have signing. Whatever it is, let us know., external
Dundee attacker Scott Tiffoney, 26, is "still in discussion" with his club after being offered a new contract and his current deal expiring at the end of the season. (Courier - subscription), external
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
A lot of the Scottish football focus this season has been on the start fourth-place Dundee United have made - and rightly so.
Given that, it is easy to forget perhaps that their city neighbours Dundee are just five points behind in sixth.
It does make you wonder where the Dark Blues could actually be, or end up, if they can solve the one thing that has been their Achilles heel this term – inconsistency.
Dundee have failed to notch back-to-back league wins – a real source of frustration for a team that has the talent to put a run of victories together.
They may yet do so – and if they can, they will believe they can find themselves in the mix for a European place.
But talking about it and actually doing it are two very different things.
After a disappointing showing at Hearts last weekend, where they went down 2-0, a daunting trip to Ibrox to play Rangers a week on Saturday is next up for Tony Docherty's side.
After that, they have a run of games the Dens Park faithful will feel they are more than capable of winning.
They will be hoping it is a sequence where the consistency they crave could come to the fore.
And if it does, the sky could be the limit for a Dundee team looking to at least match last season's sixth-place finish.
Ethan Hampton
Fan writer
Dundee went from devastating to hugely disappointing in the space of three days.
Lasat Wednesday's demolition job on Motherwell was a statement of intent. When Dundee are at their best they can damage teams beyond repair. Three goals in seven minutes – it was a blitzkrieg!
Oluwaseun Adewumi's opening goal was magical - he made it out of nothing - and I hope the club are successful in extending his loan deal from Burnley until the end of the season.
He has a very high ceiling and while he's had some fabulous moments in glimpses, I believe the best is yet to come from the Austrian youth international.
That victory sent us back into the top six and into the capital on cloud nine before we were dragged back down to earth at Tynecastle.
We never looked like scoring, struggled to keep the ball for any more than two passes and never really competed with Hearts.
It was one of Dundee's most uncharacteristic and disappointing performances of the season. After the hour mark it felt like the players couldn't wait for the final whistle. At no point in the game did we look like we would amount to anything and that was seriously depressing.
Lyall Cameron made his 100th appearance for the club. This is the only positive I can take. It's great to see any player, but particularly one organically produced from our youth academy, hit that milestone.
Now we have a free week before our game against Rangers at Ibrox.
I expect to see Dundee find their competitive feet and give a better showing in Glasgow. If we play like we did at Tynecastle then it will be a massacre.
Sportscene analysis: 'If Dundee find consistency, fourth is achievable'
Watch highlights as Hearts win 2-0 against Dundee in the Scottish Premiership. (UK only)
We asked for your views on Dundee's 2-0 defeat against Hearts.
Here's what some of you said:
Phil: So tired of Tony Docherty saying the same thing after a defeat. Bottom line is they need a number of signings in January. That defence has to tighten things up. Can't depend on Joe Shaughnessy being ready, and please stop signing players who have a history of injuries. It doesn't work as we have seen.
Carl: Hearts deserved their victory, but we made it easy for them. Dropping Simon Murray "to freshen us up" is debatable, but as for Scott Tiffoney, it's unforgivable. Hearts had the freedom of the park attacking on their left and Craig Gordon could have been smoking a cigar wearing his slippers. Hope this game was only a blip.
Dudley: After listening to Docherty's post-match Interview, he did not watch the same Dundee tactical shambles as everyone on my supporters bus did. First time ever there was no player of the match because the players were so bad. We just can't defend for the second season running and again second worst goals against in our division. The team is still not learning, felt sorry for our supporters.
Steven: Docherty is single-handedly ruining this season with his personnel decision making. Why would you bring in an experienced left-back and play a central midfielder there? Granted we don't have a worthy right-back so it's understandable to play a central midfielder there, but to go away to Hearts with that set-up was ridiculous.
Brian: Docherty needs to hold his hands up, he got the team selection completely wrong, with no game next week there was no reason to leave out Murray or Tiffoney. Team looked really disinterested at times. Sadly Docherty needs to take a long hard look at himself.
Gary: Docherty challenges his players to stay in the top six, they have for now, but only just, then he makes changes to a winning team that weakens us, all in the name of a small squad and tired legs. We've got a fortnight off until our next game? Then we don't match up against Hearts and that brings on our downfall. A step backwards unfortunately.
Image source, SNSDundee failed to attempt a shot on target in this game, it's the first time they failed to attempt a shot on target in a game in the Premiership since facing St Mirren in February 2024.
Hearts have scored in each of their last three games in the Premiership, scoring four goals in that run.
Lawrence Shankland attempted nine shots in this game, the highest total for a player in the Premiership this season.
Hearts moved off the bottom of the Scottish Premiership with their first win in six games as Lawrence Shankland ended his goalscoring drought.
The Tynecastle side leapfrog Edinburgh rivals Hibernian to rise up to 11th, while Dundee drop to sixth.
What did you think of that, Dundee fans? What went so wrong in Edinburgh?
Image source, SNSDundee manager Tony Docherty: "The overriding feeling is one of frustration, because for whatever reason I just think we weren't at it at all in the first half, we didn't compete," he said. "I thought we did in the second half when we addressed it.
"Whether Wednesday night's exertions [against Motherwell] come into that because Hearts haven't had a game, but some of our decision-making was poor, and sometimes mentally when you're fatigued you make poor decisions.
"Collectively in that first half we made too many poor decisions and allowed Hearts to gain a foothold and get an ascendancy in the game."
Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSDocherty's side were brilliantly clinical against Motherwell through the week and the manager admitted the changes he made - dropping captain Simon Murray and winger Scott Tiffoney - were purely to bring "energy and freshness".
That didn't work. They rarely troubled Craig Gordon and squandered their best chance - an 87th-minute Portales header that would have set up a tense finale.
Perhaps they didn't expect Shankland to show such a cutting edge given his season so far, but they conceded too many chances and Hearts made them pay.
It was a disappointing showing given the strength they've shown at Dens Park this season and their performances on the road - given they've got trips to Ibrox and Paisley this month - must improve.
Image source, SNSHearts defender Stephen Kingsley is facing a lengthy lay-off with a hamstring injury sustained against Aberdeen last weekend but Frankie Kent could be fit after being forced off in that match with a quad problem.
James Penrice returns from suspension and Yutaro Oda is available after injury and illness but Beni Baningime (knee) is a doubt and Calem Nieuwenhof (hamstring) is still out.
Dundee boss Tony Docherty has no fresh injuries. Ziyad Larkeche (hamstring), Scott Fraser (groin), Joe Shaughnessy (knee) and Clark Robertson (thigh) remain out.
Image source, SNSTony Docherty say Dundee's mentality is a "real strength" as he urged his side to thrive at "intimidating" Tynecastle on Saturday.
Dundee are up to fifth in the table after just one defeat in the past five games, while Neil Critchley's Hearts languish bottom.
"It is important, the real challenge to players was to get themselves winning games to get themselves in that top six," said manager Docherty.
"And I feel they're a strong, strong squad together. There's a good mentality. Watch the way they celebrate goals, it's everybody together.
"So I can feel a real kind of strength within the squad and a real resolve and a real willingness, that that mentality will take us forward, and they've got themselves in a good position now."
When the sides met at Dens Park in August, Dundee won 3-1, but Docherty insists new boss Critchley has improved Hearts despite their continued struggles.
"Neil's been in now for 10 games and you can see from watching the recent matches he's putting his stamp, and he's formulating the gameplan, the system that he wants to play," he added.
"But very much, it's about my full focus being on our team. We're in a good place at the moment in terms of the form guide. We're sitting, over the last six games, third, behind Celtic and Rangers.
"Hearts have got a lot of really good players. It's a kind of an intimidating stadium, but I think it can be a really good stadium to play in as the away team."
Image source, SNSHearts have won both of their last two Scottish Premiership home games against Dundee, this after losing two of their previous three beforehand (D1).
Dundee have won three of their last six top-flight league games against Hearts (L3), as many as their previous 14 beforehand (W3 D3 L8).
No side has earned fewer points at home in the Scottish Premiership this season than Hearts (6). Hearts have won just one of their last eight home games in the competition (D4 L3).
Dundee have won three of their last five league games (D1 L1), more than they had in their previous 18 (W2 D6 L10). They're looking to pick up back-to-back league victories for the first time since March.
Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland has had more shots than any other player in the Scottish Premiership this season (48). However, he's found the net with just one of these shots, giving him a conversion rate of just 2%.
Image source, SNSThe derby between Dundee and Dundee United at Dens Park in the Scottish Cup fourth round will take place on Monday, 20 January.
The game kicks off at 20:00 GMT and will be broadcast live on Premier Sports.
Image source, SNSAdewumi, right, is relishing his Dundee loan spell
On-loan Burnley midfielder Oluwaseun Adewumi is refusing to worry about his future as he focuses on grabbing his opportunity to shine at Dundee.
The 19-year-old crowned a man-of-the-match performance with his second goal for the Dark Blues in their 4-1 win over Motherwell on Wednesday.
"I think things are going really good for now, it was a huge step for me [moving to Dundee], but I think I've managed it quite good," said Adewumi.
"For me, it's just about keeping my form and when I get the chance to play, just give my best and show my quality. I'm just pushing myself every day and hopefully things will go well."
Adewumi's loan runs until January and the Austrian insisted he has not given much thought to whether he will remain at Dundee beyond next month.
"Not really, my main goal is just to develop myself and gain experience every day, so I don't really worry about stuff going behind the scenes," he said.
"Burnley are in contact every week and they always make sure that everything is going good, and for now things are going really well for me.
"It's a huge step moving from Austria to Scotland, but the players here are really kind to me and they're also trying to push me. It's really good here.
"We score a lot of goals so it's also a benefit for me. I love to play with the players, we have a good chemistry in the squad."
Sportscene pundits Steven Naismith and Marvin Bartley analyse Dundee's performance in their 4-1 Scottish Premiership win against Motherwell.
We asked for your views on Dundee's 4-1 win against Motherwell.
Here's what some of you said:
Jay: Good performances all round. Ball retention was better. Pace all over the park. Scott Tiffoney did well out of position but doubt that will be a long term change. Thought we actually looked more solid in defence once Jordan McGhee dropped back.
Iain: Lyall Cameron was fantastic in the second half! Simon Murray's work rate is frightening, probably the only player in the league that goes and chases that ball off the defender. Oluwaseun Adewumi goal was "Greg Stewart-esque". Jon McCracken does brilliant and was unlucky for the goal. Tiffoney and Antonio Portales' link up was class, all round brilliant Wednesday night!
Murray: The team had lots of attacking flair, took their goals well and the defence stood up to frequent Motherwell attacks with good goalkeeping in the second half. Happy with the performance on my first visit to see Dundee this season.
Mark: Best result of the season in awful conditions. If we can keep winning our home games and picking up positive results on the road, this could be a very good season. Hopefully we can get Adewumi tied down until the end of the season.
Ali: Very good from the whole team. McCracken's regained his confidence. Murray was inspirational, three assists and he runs and runs. Simon never gives defenders peace. Players too often lie down holding their head to stop play and at Dens, we saw the exact situation players use it,- lose possession from a corner, go down to stop the breakaway. Well done referee.
Ronnie: Convincing result however Dundee looked shaky until their second goal, again, conceding a weak goal which should never have happened after going in front. That simply has to stop. Otherwise, we took our chances well against a poor Motherwell team..
Gary: After scoring then conceding so soon it looked like being a frustrating night. As the second half started though it was clear Dundee had stepped it up and went on to show what they're capable of against a team that's a near rival. Great performances all over the park gave us a resounding win against a side who offered little. Great display by the Dee.
Gemma: What a night under the lights despite the rain, Dundee were by far the better team all evening, outstanding goals for our three scorers and Murray's build up to the fourth was impeccable.
Image source, SNSLyall Cameron has scored 4 goals in the Premiership this season (2 in this game), no Dundee player has more.
Motherwell have lost their last 3 games in the Premiership, their last longer losing streak was from 16th September 2023 to 7th October 2023, a run of 4 games.
Dundee are undefeated in their last 3 games in the Premiership, their last longer unbeaten streak was from 18th May 2024 to 31st August 2024, a run of 5 games.
Motherwell have attempted 24 shots in this game, their highest total in a single match in the Premiership this season.
Dundee have scored in each of their last 5 games in the Premiership, scoring 13 goals in that run.
Highlights: Dundee 4-1 Motherwell
Watch the best of the action as Dundee put four goals past Motherwell to move up to fifth in the Scottish Premiership. (UK only)
Match report: Dundee 4-1 Motherwell
Dundee thrashed miserable Motherwell to record their second 4-1 victory in a row at home and rise to fifth in the Scottish Premiership.
Oluwaseun Adewumi had the hosts ahead after 13 minutes with a fine curled finish before Apostolos Stamatelopoulos fired in an instant equaliser.
Three second-half goals eased Dundee to victory though, with Scott Tiffoney's goal on the counter putting Tony Docherty's side back in front before a Lyall Cameron double had them out of sight.
What did you make of that, Dundee fans? What went right against Motherwell?
And what continues to go right for Tony Docherty? Is top six now the aim?
Image source, SNSDundee manager Tony Docherty told BBC Scotland: "Once again a fabulous win at home. I think it's really important we string our home performances together and that's three on the bounce we've won.
"I'm delighted with the first goal, wasn't too pleased with the equaliser but I had a chat with them at half-time, settled them down and made sure they played with that bravery and they did that in the second half. A fully merited second half performance.
"Motherwell will always go right to the death, they've done that to us previously but that's the development of my team is that we're seeing that through and we're making sure we defend properly, make good decisions in the final third, keep possession and I think there's a real maturity in my team now.
"I'm pleased for the home fans tonight, they played a massive part in a big win that takes us into the top six again."
