Dundee

Daniel Smith
Fan writer

In what was the biggest game of Dundee's season on Saturday, we came up short. St Mirren wanted this game more and bullied and pressured us all over the park.

Despite mathematically still being in the hunt for the last European spot, us Dundee fans will more likely be enjoying two weeks at a pool rather than cheering on our team on foreign soil.

The aim of the game was to survive this season. Early on, that changed as we asserted ourselves mid-table - and as that carried on with securing a top-six spot, we started to dream of European football.

The bar has regularly been set at avoiding relegation, but that's changed now for me.

Going forward, I want top-six football. I want us challenging for Europe. I don't want to accept mediocre targets any more.

The battle with St Mirren is not over and done with just yet, so we will still hold out the faint hope we can leapfrog them.

If we can overturn the points deficit, we should be using this season as a springboard for what will hopefully be an exciting future for this club.

Daniel Smith can be found on the Up Wi' The Bonnets Podcast., external

Dundee and Kilmarnock have targeted 25-year-old striker Bruce Anderson, who is poised to leave Livingston this summer at the end of his contract. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip

Captain Luke McCowan admits Dundee were "rubbish" in their 3-1 home loss to St Mirren on Saturday. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip

We asked for your thoughts after Dundee were beaten 3-1 by St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.

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

Brian: We were absolutely abysmal. Bullied off the park, outplayed and outfought. The worst game we have played all season. A top-six finish is great but this was a chance to go one higher and we blew it. Tony Docherty has to improve his management of games, at times it has cost us points.

Gary: Dundee were dire today. From kick-off St Mirren were right at it, we didn’t compete at all and there were no answers from the bench. All the usual flicks and breaks of the ball were absent for us too, it just didn’t click. To be disappointed (at what looks like) a sixth-place finish is something Dees would have gladly taken at the start so I’m not too sad!

Doug: Only one team appeared to want the win badly enough, and unfortunately it wasn’t Dundee. St Mirren out-thought and out-played Dundee for most of the game. Almost every time any of Dundee's flair players got on the ball they were immediately surrounded by three opposition players and promptly lost possession. All in all, it was a shocker.

Dundee boss Tony Docherty reacts to his side's "hugely disappointing" defeat to St Mirren.

Image source, SNS

Dundee boss Tony Docherty told BBC Scotland: "Hugely disappointing. I've got to give credit to St Mirren, they were excellent from minute one and they realised the importance of today.

"I can't be too critical of my players, because they've got us to this position, but there are regrets there because we didn't turn up today in what was a hugely important game. I can't level that at my players for most of this season, but today we didn't turn up.

"Today was an anomaly for me, because we had an edge all week. But St Mirren started in the right manner, and we never recovered from that. We've not had many of those days, but we were second best today.

"I've challenged them there - how do we react to that? St Mirren are celebrating already. There's five points in it with nine to play for. That's the challenge for the group."

What did you think of that, Dundee fans? After a really good season, are Tony Docherty's side starting to tire?

Tell us your thoughts here.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

Dundee have rightly received their fair share of plaudits for finishing in the top half, but this will be a performance that Tony Docherty will want to forget.

Luke McCowan and Lyall Cameron put in their usual shift, but couldn't trouble a solid St Mirren defence too much.

They really struggled at the back. With Joe Shaughnessy - their captain and defensive anchor - they looked lost, and it is worrying that he's out for the remainder of the campaign.

Their very narrow chances of Europe appear even slimmer, despite Docherty's determination to qualify for the first time in 20 years.

Dundee: McCracken, Portales, Lamie, Donnelly, McGhee, Sylla, Cameron, McCowan, Dodgson, Tiffoney, Bakayoko.

Substitutes: Sharp, Astley, Main, Mulligan, Robinson, Robertson, Boateng, Mellon, Costelloe.

St Mirren: Hemming, Bolton, Gogic, Fraser, Strain, O'Hara, Boyd-Munce, Tanser, Olusanya, Mandron, McMenamin.

Substitutes: Urminsky, Taylor, Dunne, Brown, Flynn, Baccus, Kiltie, Jamieson, Scott.

Dundee have Lyall Cameron available after he missed the defeat by Celtic through injury, but Joe Shaughnessy (knee) and Owen Beck (groin) are out for the season.

St Mirren forward Jonah Ayunga had a (knee) operation on Thursday and midfielder Kwon Hyeok-kyu is also out for the season with a hamstring injury.

Elvis Bwomono (knee) and Greg Kiltie (ankle) are doubts and midfielder Evan Mooney has been drafted in from the youth team.

Image source, SNS

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Goalkeeper Jon McCracken says he "would be silly" to rule out the possibility of staying at Dundee beyond this season.

McCracken, who is on loan from Norwich City, is a free agent in the summer and admits he would be open to a return to Dens Park.

"There have been some talks so hopefully that can get resolved quite soon on where my future is, whether it is up in Scotland or down in England, so I am quite open to what is out there," said the 23-year-old.

"I think the club is going places, you would be silly to rule that out. It is definitely a club that is on the up, so it would be exciting to be a part of that.”

McCracken began the season at Dens Park before being recalled by his parent club. He then returned to Dundee in February.

"You could see it was a special group and it was going to be a really positive year for Dundee, I was in no doubts about that," he added.

"So I am very grateful for the gaffer bringing me back in for that and experiencing it because it is a great dressing room to come into.

"He only had a couple of players at the start of the season signed, so it is pretty much his own team and he has been able to put his own stamp on it."

Image source, SNS

Saturday's Scottish Premiership clash between Dundee and St Mirren shows the value of the split, according to former Motherwell defender Stephen Craigan.

There are just two points separating the sides as they battle it out for fifth place, with the meeting at Dens Park vital in the race for European football next season.

Dundee lost 2-1 to Celtic last weekend, while St Mirren were beaten 2-1 by Rangers. However, Craigan believes both teams will be buoyed by their displays against the Old Firm.

"That's what makes it more intriguing this weekend, they're both coming off the back of good performances, albeit disappointed with what they got from it," Craigan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Dundee have been the surprise package; St Mirren have been in the top six all season. Dundee win, and suddenly they're in the driving seat; St Mirren win, you would think they're almost into Europe.

"This is what I like about the top six and the bottom six, some people argue against it, but you get teams in the same area of the league going for something, whether that's Europe or relegation, so I think just adds to the spectacle."

Craigan anticipates a tight encounter given the importance of the fixture.

"It's all set up nicely," he said. "They're both evenly matched, I really couldn't call a winner at this stage.

"I think St Mirren would take a point, if they can leave Dens Park with a point, knowing they've got a couple of home games coming up, I think they would take that."

Dundee manager Tony Docherty says transfer talk has been put on the back burner until the end of the season. (The Courier), external

Rangers have demanded a five-figure compensation sum from Dundee over the two postponements at rain-hit Dens Park, the sum being the cost of their two pre-match stays in St Andrews - as well as their travel expenses. (Scottish Sun), external

Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.

We asked you who you think should be named Dundee's player of the year in a brilliant campaign.

Here are your picks:

Ben: Luke McCowan has been an absolute revelation this season since Tony Doc's come in and moved him into midfield. Always available, always gives 100% and gives us a touch of class in the middle of the park alongside Lyall Cameron. He's been massively important for us this season popping up with goals and assists, praying we can extend his contract!

Roberto: 1. McCowan. 2. Owen Beck. 3. Joe Shaughnessy. 4. Antonio Portales. 5. Trevor Carson.

Kevin: It has to be Lyall Cameron, he has come on leaps and bounds this season after a great breakthrough season last year and looks every inch a Premiership player.

Euan: Our player of the season is a hard one because all of our players have been playing well, but in terms of stats it has to be either Amadou Bakayoko or McCowan.

Image source, BBC/SNS

• Dundee’s 4-0 win over St Mirren in their last home league game against the Buddies in November remains their biggest win in the Scottish Premiership since December 2018 against Hamilton (also 4-0).

• St Mirren have won four of their last five league games against Dundee (L1), keeping three clean sheets in the process.

• Dundee have failed to win each of their last four league matches (D2 L2) and could go five matches without a win for the second time this season, after doing so between September and October (D4 L1).

• St Mirren have lost their last three league matches, conceding 2+ goals in all three defeats. The Buddies haven’t lost four on the trot in the top flight since April 2022.

• Dundee’s Luke McCowan has won possession for his side 310 times this season, at least 66 more times than any other player in the competition. In fact, McCowan won possession 15 times against Rangers last month, which is the joint-most by any player in a single Scottish Premiership match this season.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Dundee manager Tony Docherty admits Saturday’s Premiership visit of St Mirren is "huge", with both sides chasing down a place in European football.

The Dens Park side are currently sixth in the table, just two points behind the Paisley outfit.

Kilmarnock look likely to seal fourth, leaving Dundee and St Mirren to duke it out for the final European spot.

"Obviously St Mirren are in that position at the moment, but we know everything is going to be so difficult, we are going to need to work really hard and execute a game-plan to win," Docherty said.

"If we were to get over the line and be successful with that, it would put us in a good position, but nothing will be decided on Saturday.

"It is a product of how well both clubs have done all season we have got ourselves into that top six, which you could argue maybe both clubs are maybe punching above their weight.

"But we are now in that arena and we are going to be facing each other on Saturday with a fantastic motivation, the opportunity to get and experience European football, which both clubs have not experienced for a number of years."

Dundee's quest for a European spot continues as they welcome fifth-placed St Mirren to Dens Park.

The winner of Saturday's contest end the weekend in that final Euro spot.

But who should be in Tony Docherty's starting line-up? Put yourself in the manager's shoes and pick your XI here.

It's been an impressive season for Dundee. They have secured a top-six finish in their first season back in the top flight and are still fighting to potentially secure European football next season.

Who do you think has been the most impressive performer for Tony Docherty's side? Give us your thoughts here.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland

Image source, SNS

Dundee boss Tony Docherty says he is "honoured" to be in the running for the PFA manager of the year award.

Kilmarnock's Derek McInnes, who Docherty worked under, and Falkirk manager John McGlynn make up a three-man shortlist for the prize.

Since taking charge of the Premiership newcomers last summer in what is his first managerial job, Docherty has steered Dundee into the top six, where they are fighting it out with St Mirren for the one remaining European spot.

"When I got the call, there was an element of surprise," Docherty said of his achievement.

"When it is your first year in management, I set out to do what I want to do, and to get recognition from your peers is a massive thing for me.

"People that are in the job know the difficulties, how hard and how challenging it can be to be a football manager.

"I came in with all the energy as a new manager and tried to combine that and the experience [I had as an assistant].

"[To be nominated] is overwhelming. It is a brilliant feeling, I'm really, really thrilled."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland

Image source, SNS

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

Here are the key lines:

• On being nominated for the PFA manager of the year, Docherty says it is "overwhelming" and "to get recognition from your peers is a massive thing for me".

• Docherty is also "thrilled" for Lyall Cameron, who has been nominated for PFA young player of year.

• When asked if the progress of Cameron, who is available for the weekend, could interest other clubs, Docherty adds: "If you are doing well you are going to attract suitors".

• Docherty says Saturday’s game with St Mirren is "huge" for both clubs but adds that "nothing will be decided" in the battle for the one remaining European spot.

• On plans to upgrade the Dens Park pitch this summer, Docherty says he's "greatly relieved to hear that we will be playing on a really good surface next year and it is something that will help our playing style".

• With Cameron returning, Joe Shaughnessy is Docherty's only major absentee.