Dundee

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty has been speaking to the media before Friday's Scottish Cup quarter-final against Hearts at Tynecastle.

Here are the best bits from his news conference:

• Says "there is an opportunity to go and make a wee bit of history" with Dundee aiming to reach their first Scottish Cup semi-final since 2006.

• Hearts beat Dundee 6-0 in the league last month and Docherty admits his side "didn't represent ourselves properly" in that game.

• He is seeking "redemption" and wants "to show the best version" of the team at Tynecastle.

• Docherty insists his side have "looked more like ourselves" in the past couple of games and is focused on the future despite an awful run of league results that has seen them Dundee drop to 11th in the Premiership table.

• On Hearts – Docherty says they are a good side, who have recruited well. He says he knows their strengths but also their weaknesses and wants "to exploit those weaknesses" come Friday.

• Team news: Scott Fraser is back on the training pitch but not ready for this game. Billy Koumetio, Clark Robertson, Antonio Potales and Seb Palmer-Houlden are also out.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Dundee manager Tony Docherty declared "we've stopped the rot" after the 1-1 draw with Premiership bottom club St Johnstone at Dens Park last weekend.

He is correct in terms of ending a run of five straight league defeats. But it remains to be seen if his side have turned a corner and can start to head in the right direction.

The Dark Blues remain second bottom, precariously placed just three points above Saints.

They also have a tough looking pre-split quartet of games – away dates at Dundee United and Hibs plus home games against Rangers and St Mirren.

So there is plenty of work to do, but one positive amid the gloom is the welcome return of skipper Joe Shaughnessy after a lengthy spell out injured.

The Irishman made his first start in 11 months against Saints and there is no doubt Dundee are more assured at the back with the 32-year-old on the pitch.

As well as his quality as a footballer, the leadership and organisational qualities he brings to the team on the park – as well as off it – are invaluable.

And those are the kind of characteristics needed when a side find themselves in a dogfight.

One player doesn't make a team, but maybe the return of Shaughnessy could be the catalyst Dundee need to spark them back to life and help banish relegation fears over the next few weeks.

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

After a frustrating loss at Motherwell in which Dundee were second best in every department, we stopped the rot of defeats with a draw against St Johnstone - but it was a massive missed opportunity.

St Johnstone will be relieved to keep Dundee within reach, but for us, the bigger concern is that if we can't beat the team at the bottom of the league at home, who can we beat?

Much like the Motherwell game I am annoyed at how little we gave Andy Fisher in the St Johnstone goal to do. After Simon Murray's equaliser, Fisher was tested just once more, with a volley down the middle in injury time.

As stressed many times this season, playing teams out of form is never an advantage for us and it's difficult to see where things will turn around for Dundee.

I am more than familiar with the patterns that emerge with relegated sides, and at the moment I feel very uneasy with what I am watching.

To make things worse St Johnstone will carry unbeaten momentum. With a favourable tie in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals I expect them to have a massive morale boost of a cup run to coincide with their league form.

Cesar Garza and Joe Shaughnessy are among the few players who can hold their head high with their displays on Saturday. Garza fought for everything and Shaughnessy's leadership has been dearly missed.

Meanwhile our next game is at Tynecastle in the Scottish Cup on Friday night.

I'd like to think form goes out the window when it comes to knockout football but I'm not convinced this team have what it takes to rise to the occasion.

There is talk from the players that they're eager to get one back on Hearts for the massacre at Dens last month. Yet I've spent all season listening to them declare they're ready to react to disappointing results and time and again those promises have amounted to nothing.

Lawrence Shankland loves scoring against Dundee - he has netted 10 in just 15 matches against us. While Shankland has scored just four goals in the league this season, three of them were against Dundee.

Coupled with our shambolic defensive record, I sense the outcome on Friday is very predictable.

Charlie Reilly is eager to prove his worth at Dundee. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Sportscene pundits Cammy Bell and Michael Stewart analyse Simon Murray's goal against St Johnstone and discuss his importance to the Dundee squad.

Watch all the action from Dundee and St Johnstone's 1-1 draw in the Scottish Premiership.

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Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee captain Joe Shaughnessy says he's feeling "stronger than ever" after making his first start for the club in 11 months.

The 32-year-old defender injured his knee against Rangers last April but made his full return in the 1-1 draw with St Johnstone on Saturday.

"To come through a game like that today, although I was cramping up after an hour, shows my fitness wasn't too far off it," Shaughnessy told BBC Scotland. "I didn't feel like I was out of place. I felt stronger than I've ever been because I've had eight months in the gym.

"That's been the main frustration over the last 10 months, watching from the side, not feeling you're able to help out as much. It's good to be back now and help the lads out as much as I can."

Shaughnessy started every game before the split last season, helping Dundee sneak into the split before rupturing his ACL.

"It was eight minutes into the game against Rangers last April," the Irishman explained. "I stepped backwards, there was no one near me, and my knee just popped in the way. No pain, but I knew it was gone, it was ruptured.

"From then I got the scan, got the operation, and then the physio and sports scientist had a programme for me. It was just a case of following that and trying not to get too bogged down in how long it was going to take me."

The skipper found it especially hard not being able to add his voice on the training pitch, as manager Tony Docherty overhauled the squad in the summer.

"You've got all these new players coming in and I'm trying to have an influence around the place as the captain," Shaughnessy explained.

"They're coming in and none of them have seen me play. It's a bit unusual. I'm not maybe as vocal in the dressing room, but I am on the training pitch. That's where you see me, but they weren't seeing any of that. I was trying to find my place over the summer, that was tough."

We asked for your views on Dundee's 1-1 draw against St Johnstone.

Here's what some of you said:

Ronnie: Still not good enough, Dundee should be beating teams like St Johnstone at home. Dire defending for the first goal, nobody in midfield picking up the run that everyone in the stadium could see. On that showing, Dundee don't deserve to stay up, nor will they, and following relegation Tony Docherty needs to be replaced, no more excuses.

Innes: I fear for Dundee now in staying in the Premiership. That was a chance to put an unwanted run of form behind them. A point is indeed welcome but if we want to stay in this league we will have to put teams away when the chances are there like they were. Seriously dominant in second half but lack of killer instinct may prove decisive.

Mark: Worrying we could not put that game to bed. Another soft goal to give away. Tough run of fixtures before the split. Six points needed from the next four games. Fingers crossed that starts across the road in a couple of weeks.

Gary: It was the usual mix of frustration and elation. Conceded first again, but a quick reply had us right in it. Too often though the pass wasn't made or a shot didn't come off. We still don't take the good chances we're creating, we're waiting for a pass instead of going to meet it, pretty simple stuff. A draw was fair enough, but it doesn't do us much good. I'm so thankful for Simon Murray. He runs himself into the ground every week and spends so much of the games encouraging his teammates to match his effort, that they rarely do in enough numbers is why we're struggling right now. Great to see Charlie Reilly back in the squad but it's another game we should've got more from.

Stephen: Although we never lost and the second half performance was much better, I think that the heads are down and honestly I can't see where we may get points from as every team seems to have got stronger and stronger and getting results, whereas we may pick up a point here and there I think that will be all.

Iain: Anything less than three points in the game is unacceptable. A flat first half, yet more changes to the line-up. Why Docherty persists with Lyall Cameron is a mystery, he's already gone. Jordan McGhee too, it's bizarre. Play players who want to be at Dens, Docherty's time is up. If he stays, we'll be in the Championship next season. No more excuses.

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• Dundee have failed to win in their last eight games in the Premiership, their last longer winless streak was from 6 April 2024 to 4 August 2024, a run of nine games.

• Dundee have won 11 points from losing positions in the Premiership this season, only Kilmarnock (12) and Hibernian (13) have recovered more.

• St. Johnstone have scored in their last 9 games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 15 games from 5 April 2017 to 23 September 2017.

• St. Johnstone have lost 17 points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, only Dundee (20) and Hibernian (18) have lost more.

• Simon Murray has contributed to goals in his last three games in the Premiership (three goals, 0 assists).

Dundee missed out on the chance to move six points clear of bottom side St Johnstone after being held to a draw by their relegation rivals at Dens Park.

Tony Docherty's hosts had to come from behind to earn a point but passed up numerous opportunities to claim all three.

Saints striker Makenzie Kirk fired the visitors ahead after 40 minutes with his 10th goal of the season, but their lead did not last.

Simon Murray latched on to captain Joe Shaughnessy's flick-on to net his 16th of the campaign and equalise just before half time.

The hosts dominated the second period but failed to find a winner. Aaron Donnelly, Murray and Scott Tiffoney were all guilty of missing big chances as Dundee make it eight matches without a win.

The gap between the league's bottom two remains just three points.

Let us know your thoughts on the game here., external

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty: "It's bittersweet. First half I thought St Johnstone were better and I thought we were much better second half.

"I know the importance of the winning the game, but there's also an importance of not losing the game.

"We looked solid with Joe (Shaughnessy) in there organising, the biggest positive I can take is that my captain is back.

"We've stopped the rot and we've picked up a point, but it maybe should've been three.

"I didn't feel at any point in that second half that we'd lose the game, and it was really important that we didn't lose."

Adam Binnie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Dundee have not won since beating St Johnstone at the start of January.

At that point, there were four league places and 10 points between the sides.

This match presented the hosts an opportunity to put some distance between themselves and bottom spot, but they failed to take it.

Just as they did against Motherwell on Wednesday, Dundee saved their best for the second half, but their best was not enough.

This team has no issue controlling matches, they just cannot seem to knit things together in the final third and that is why they are still in a relegation battle.

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Dundee remain without Antonio Portales (calf), Seb Palmer-Houlden (knee), Clark Robertson (hamstring), Billy Koumetio (ankle) and Scott Fraser (groin).

St Johnstone lost Bozo Mikulic to a long-term knee injury in midweek. Benji Kimpioka and Victor Griffith are close to a return but Uche Ikpeazu (knee) and Sam McClelland (Achilles) are out long term while Andre Raymond has joined Dunfermline on loan.

Daldeep Kaur
BBC Sport Scotland

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Tony Docherty insists Dundee have the resilience to salvage survival in a season "blighted by injuries".

After suffering a fifth successive league defeat at Motherwell on Wednesday night, Docherty's side will drop to the bottom of the table if they lose by two or more goals at home to relegation rivals St Johnstone on Saturday.

Asked if that was a concern, Docherty said: "At this stage, no. There's no league standings in February, there's no prizes given out in February.

"It's a big game, they're all big games at this stage of the season. I don't put any more emphasis on this game than any other one.

"There's 10 games to go, there's five games until the split, it's important that although we want to stop the bad run we're on at the moment, we're still working hard towards that.

"What really encourages me as manager, all I want to see is that level of performance but a little bit more consistently.

"I thought the level of performance we got on Wednesday night against Motherwell certainly merited getting something from the game.

"You need to be buoyed and encouraged by that and make sure we're positive with the players."

Dundee are without five players through injury this weekend and Docherty says such problems are symptomatic of their season.

"We've proven that over the season, it wasn't even that long ago, we have been really blighted by injuries," he added.

"It's over 100 appearances, particularly senior players, that we've missed this season. Just recently when we had the episode with real significant injuries and we went into fixtures and we had the good performance results against Rangers and Celtic, we beat Dundee United in the cup, that was real mental toughness by the group.

"That was real resilience and now I'm looking for that at this stage of the season as well."

Daldeep Kaur
BBC Sport Scotland

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Tony Docherty has been speaking to the media before Dundee's game against St Johnstone on Saturday.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• Docherty doesn't "put more emphasis on this game" than any other and has "no" concerns about potentially being bottom of the table this weekend because "there's no prizes given out in February".

• With Dundee winless in seven league games, losing the past five, Docherty says they need to stay "focused and strong" in a bid to "stop the bad run". He believes it was an encouraging performance at Motherwell in midweek despite the defeat.

• "We have been really blighted by injuries," the Dark Blues boss says, but emphasised there is "real mental toughness" in the squad.

• He insists the players and staff are working hard to "turn this round and it is encouraging that you see a dressing room that are fully together".

• Antonio Portales, Clark Robertson and Seb Palmer-Houlden are out for "four to six weeks" and and while it is "really frustrating" to have key players missing, Docherty was "delighted" with Charlie Reilly's performance at Fir Park and is hopeful Scott Fraser will be back with the squad next week.

• He urged the fans to stick with them and understands their discontent following recent results but says "we've got that youth, energy, bravery and sometimes that can bring the inconsistency".

• Docherty insists fit-again skipper Joe Shaughnessy is "really important" in influencing young team-mates.

• On St Johnstone: "They are a good, possession-based team, you can see that the manager's been working a lot on them in terms of their system."

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Former Dundee striker Cillian Sheridan believes the atmosphere could turn toxic at Dens Park in Saturday's crucial relegation showdown with St Johnstone.

After five straight league defeats Tony Docherty's second-bottom side go into the game just three points above the visitors.

"St Johnstone are the team with momentum, they've got a bit more hope with them than Dundee have," said Sheridan on the BBC's Scottish Football podcast.

"Dundee maybe have a little bit of worry their confidence will be hit.

"Dens Park is not an easy place to play when the crowd are on top of you and they'll almost be going in expecting and waiting to get their booing started. I've experienced this.

"The way it's landed is brilliant in terms of excitement and something happening down the bottom end of the table."

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• Dundee have won three of their last four league meetings with St Johnstone (L1), more than their previous 11 beforehand (W2 D3 L6).

• After their 2-1 win in October, St Johnstone could win away to Dundee twice within a single top-fight season for the first time since 1998-99.

• Dundee have lost their past five league games, their longest such run in the Scottish Premiership since January 2022 (six).

• St Johnstone have won three of their past five league games (L2), as many as their previous 21 beforehand (W3 D3 L15).

• Makenzie Kirk has scored six goals for St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership this season, the most by a player aged 21 or younger for the club in a single league campaign since Stevie May in 2013-14 (20).

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.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks

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.