Dundee

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Aberdeen striker Kevin Nisbet returns while Dante Polvara will be back in the squad after the international break. Pape Habib Gueye (quad) remains out.

Dundee will be without Julien Vetro after he fainted in the dressing room before last weekend’s win over Kilmarnock. Although there have been no further problems, Dundee are waiting for tests before putting him back in the squad.

Trevor Carson and Scott Fraser will be back in training after the international break while Joe Shaughnessy is working his way back from a long-term knee injury.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Jordan McGhee is determined to build on his "massive" return from injury after crowning his rapid recovery with a goal.

The Dundee defender, who was sidelined for six weeks with a calf injury, made his comeback off the bench last weekend as Tony Docherty's side rallied from two down to claim a dramatic win over Kilmarnock.

As he prepares for Saturday's trip to face Aberdeen, McGhee said: "It was massive. At one point my scan result came back saying it might be three months out.

"But I felt no pain after a couple of weeks after and then the club got another scan and there was a bit better news so I have worked really hard with the physios and the staff behind the scenes.

"I have come back six or seven weeks early so the feeling of scoring was massive for me and can hopefully kick me on this season, scoring many more and propel the boys, fill them with confidence that we can go and pick up more points."

McGhee is one of a number of players out of contract at Dens Park next summer, but is focusing only on his fitness and football for now.

"When I got the news I was out for three months my head was all over the place, but now I am back I am just concentrating on trying to pick up as many points as I can for the club," he said.

"We will see what comes to fruition."

Niall McGinn, the 37-year-old winger on loan to Greenock Morton from Glentoran, has criticised former Dundee manager Gary Bowyer over his treatment of him at Dens Park, saying he was made to train with the youths for three months before he was forced out the club to free up wages. (Open Goal podcast), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty is looking to "sow seeds of doubt" at Pittodrie against an Aberdeen team whose unbeaten start to the season came to a shuddering halt last weekend.

Dundee, who are sixth, travel north full of confidence for Saturday night's game after coming from two down to beat Kilmarnock 3-2.

Aberdeen remain tied with Celtic at the top but suffered their first defeat under Jimmy Thelin with a 6-0 thrashing by Celtic in the League Cup semi-final.

"Aberdeen deserve enormous credit for what they have done this season so far in terms of their unbeaten run," said Docherty.

"But their unbeaten run in the cup is now finished, it is my job as Dundee manager to sow those seeds of doubt and try and make sure my team go up there and put in a level of performance that gives us every opportunity to win."

Dundee were unfortunate to lose 2-1 when the teams met at Dens Park at the end of September.

Docherty added: "We put in a really strong performance and probably should have come out with a positive result from that, but we didn't.

"But having analysed that match and the other games have both played since then, we need to take a lot of confidence from the way we played last time."

• Aberdeen are unbeaten in 15 home league games against Dundee (W10 D5) since a 2-1 reverse in May 2004 under Steve Paterson.

• Dundee have only had two wins in their last 29 league games against Aberdeen (D8 L19), the most recent of which was a 1-0 victory in March last season.

• Aberdeen are one of two sides, along with Celtic, to win nine of their opening 10 Scottish Premiership matches this season (D1). In the 21st century, only one team has reached 10 wins in as few as 11 matches from the start of a Scottish top-flight campaign and not gone on to win the title (Celtic in 2010-11).

• Dundee have only won one of their last eight away league games (D3 L4), a 1-0 victory at Motherwell in October.

• Aberdeen have scored 20 goals from 123 shots in the Scottish Premiership this season, with their conversion rate of 16.3% the highest of any side in 2024-25. The Dons have scored over six goals more than their expected goals (20 goals from 13.7 xG), the highest overperformance of any side in the competition this term.

Dundee's proposed new training ground can take the club to the next level, believes manager Tony Docherty. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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"We just want to make sure the boys are rewarded for what they have done at this football club."

Tony Docherty is hopeful the recent, "fantastic" news regarding the approval of their new Riverside training centre will help contribute to ongoing contract conversations with a number of players.

Reports suggest, external there are 13 players out of contract at the end of the season, but Docherty is comfortable with the situation and admits "talks are ongoing".

Should they stay, the players will be enjoy new facilities. The planning application for a new football training centre and community hub at the city's Riverside pitches, was approved earlier this week by Dundee City Council.

"These boys deserve it," Docherty said as he previewed Saturday's game against Aberdeen.

"We have good facilities here, but to get approval for going into your own training ground is fantastic news.

"It can contribute towards the ongoing talks and we just want to make sure the boys are rewarded for what they have done at this football club."

It's a "massive" move for the club, says Docherty who said he is "OK" with the situation surrounding many of his squad.

"It is important you look at each individual one, all the players are getting spoken to and it is important there is stability within the football club," he added.

"It was well documented when I came in there were only three signed players, so we have managed in that first season to build up a core of players.

"It is steady improvement every year and we are working very much on that basis to create that stability and that sustainability and that involves these contract extensions.

"These things are ongoing. We don't want to put ourselves out there and mention any more than we need to but talks are ongoing"

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty addressed the media before his side's Scottish Premiership match against Aberdeen on Saturday.

Here's what he had to say:

• Julien Vetro, who was taken to hospital after fainting in the dressing room just before last weekend's game with Kilmarnock, "is still with the medics at the moment," Docherty says. "They are still monitoring exactly what happened."

• The comeback against Killie feels like "a really big win for a whole host of reasons," he adds.

• Docherty says Aberdeen deserve enormous credit for what they have done this season, but says they are travelling to Pittodrie in confident mood and points to the strong performance they put in against the Dons at Dens Park earlier in the season, adding "we are in a good place".

• On the news that Dundee City Council have approved plans for a new football training centre and community hub in the city which the club will use, the manager says it is, "massive for the football club" and shows that "the club is going in a positive direction."

• Trevor Carson and Scott Fraser remain out, but Docherty is hopeful they will be back in the squad after the international break.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Sometimes it can take just a little thing to ignite a team's season.

A key decision going your way, a lucky goal, a match-defining moment of magic.

Could Ziyad Larkeche’s 94th-minute winner against Kilmarnock on Sunday be one of those catalyst moments for Dundee?

Prior to that game, the Dark Blues were on a disappointing run of just one win in eight Premiership games.

Manager Tony Docherty pointed to a number of things that had contributed to that sequence, including individual errors and decisions going against them.

Despite that, he was adamant he was happy with the performance levels and insisted if such levels were maintained, results would come.

His theory was backed up by their comeback at Dens. At 2-0 down, they could have been forgiven for thinking it was going to be another one of those days.

But his side dug deep to turn the game round and get the three points.

A lot of the positive traits we have come to associate with Docherty’s Dundee were on display. Gutsiness, desire and bodies on the line. But also real quality too. His side appear to have their swagger well and truly back.

Now one swallow doesn’t make a summer, but there was enough evidence in that pulsating game to suggest that Dundee are certainly more than capable of finding their place back in the winner’s enclosure on a more regular basis.

While that all remains to be seen, one thing that now appears certain is that Dundee will take plenty of confidence and style in to their next game – a stern test against on form Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Saturday night.

Despite manager Tony Docherty intimating that work on contract extensions has begun, Dundee have not completing any with the 13 players moving towards the final six months of their current deals. (The Courier), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

Dundee v Kilmarnock has quietly become one of the most thrilling fixtures in the Scottish Premiership. In the last six league meetings there have been 24 goals, five stoppage-time deciders, and three red cards. The TV broadcasters are missing out on a great advert for our league.

With 40 minutes gone on Sunday I was thinking how I'll need to write about another disastrous result littered with schoolboy errors, but by full-time we had catapulted ourselves into the top six.

The resilience and determination to fight back from two goals down were exactly what Dundee needed right now. Tony Docherty's half-time substitutions were spot-on, especially the bold call to sub Lyall Cameron. Josh Mulligan, who has been pushing for a bigger role, seized the opportunity, delivering a game-winning assist after a trademark midfield sprint into the box.

Mulligan and Scott Tiffoney are always trusted to come off the bench and aid the team when we're losing and chasing a game. For me they have to be in the starting line-up.

Ziyad Larkeche has the spotlight at the moment. Filling Owen Beck's boots was never going to be an easy task but the QPR loanee is a standout every week in dark blue, much like his predecessor.

My hero of the week goes to Mo Sylla though, who travelled to Paris and back to witness the birth of his newborn son before playing for Dundee the following day, delivering a vintage performance in the middle of the park.

It would have been easy for the players to go hiding when they fell two goals behind, but their mentality and desire to win pulled through and now they have a foundation to build on and get the season back on track.

We go away to high-flying Aberdeen next, who were beaten 6-0 by Celtic in the League Cup last time out. Momentum is massive in football and this may just be the ideal time to visit Pittodrie.

Plans for a new Dundee training complex on the banks have been approved by the council. (The Courier, external - subscription)

Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.

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Dundee goalscorer Ziyad Larkeche praised his side's mentality after they came back from 2-0 down to beat Kilmarnock at Dens Park.

Larkeche, 22, also scored against Kilmarnock earlier in the season when Dundee themselves were 2-0 up before going on to lose 3-2.

"It was a great mentality from the team to come from 2-0 down to comeback in this way, I think we can be really proud for us, for the fans and for the club," he told BBC Scotland.

"I think we have been playing good football, we have been showing a good attitude and mindset but it is important to take points and what we have done today is exactly that so I am really happy with the performance of the team and myself as well."

The on-loan QPR left-back went on a lung-bursting run to get into the box and get on the end of Josh Mulligan's cut back, firing home from close range to send Dens Park into delirium.

"It is the way I am," he said. "I was not happy with 2-2 so I said to myself ‘now you need to chase the last one’ and I didn't think too much, I just thought ‘I need to chase for this goal’ and it came to me and I managed to score so I am really happy."

The result is only Dundee's third win of the season, and came after a run of one win and four defeats in their last five games.

"It is what we want, it is important to have momentum in football, and we take game after game. Today we are really happy and we are going to have a day off tomorrow and after that come back and directly focus for next Saturday."

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"Proud is a strong word and that is what I am."

Tony Docherty was like a proud dad on Sunday. Not only after witnessing a heroic comeback from his side, but for one player in particular's mentality.

Mo Sylla spent Saturday in Paris, celebrating the birth of his son, but was back in Dundee come Sunday to take his place in the starting xi.

"We dedicated that win to Mo Sylla’s baby boy, who was born yesterday,” Docherty said following the win.

"He was in Paris yesterday and he made sure he was on a flight back last night.

"I gave him the opportunity. It's so important, the birth of a child, but he made sure he was back and ready for the game.

"That shows the real team mentality we've got, and the mentality of Mo, to be honest. Brilliant. Proud is a strong word and that is what I am.”

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Ziyed Larkeche is an important player for Dundee on the left, and he popped up with the winning goal as the Dark Blues staged a superb comeback against Killie.

There was a brilliant display from Oluwaseun Adewumi, too. He was a lively presence in attack for Dundee all afternoon and provided an assist for their first goal as they hit the comeback trail.

We asked for your views on Dundee’s 3-2 win against Kilmarnock.

Here's what some of you said:

Flynn: Huge win for us, really glad Tony Docherty made changes in attack - they made a great difference, as did bringing on Josh Mulligan and Jordan McGhee at half-time. Hoping that Trevor Carson is available for next week as Jon McCracken was poor again.

Brian: We finally get a winning last minute goal, instead of losing one. Sadly we are in dire need of a decent goalkeeper - McCracken shows yet again why he is never a number one. Our midfield (apart from Mo Sylla) were bullied off the park. Some of the loan players need to be sent on their way. Docherty really needs to open his eyes and see the failures.

Gary: With that starting line-up, I thought we’d be comfortable in this game, but again errors cost us. I’ve been critical of Docherty for belabouring or just not making necessary changes but the ones he made at half-time won us this game. Mulligan gave us aggression over guile while McGhee just has a more seasoned head than Ethan Ingram. Well done Doc!

Derick: A big win to get us back on track after a few unlucky defeats. We look like we score every time we go forward. We can go on from here with the amount of ability in the squad.

Rod: Top six! Dundee fans are always too expectant but we have to remember that we have been a yo-yo team for the last decade, so to reach the top six last year and to be there now is a great achievement - especially as the team is exciting to watch and full of youngsters. Once Shaughnessy is back our defensive issues will be sorted.

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• Dundee attempted 17 shots in this match - higher than their season average of 10.6 in the league.

• The hosts have scored in their last nine Premiership home games.

• Tony Docherty's side have scored 11 first-half goals in 11 games, only Celtic (14) have scored more in the Premiership this season. However, they've also conceded 11 first-half goals in 11 games - no team has conceded more.

• Dundee have won six points from losing positions in the Premiership this season, only Kilmarnock (nine) have recovered more.

• Before this game, Dundee had failed to win any of their last 11 matches when conceding first in the Premiership, since a victory over St. Johnstone on 11 February 2024.

Watch the best of the action from Dens Park as Dundee stage an incredible comeback against Kilmarnock to win a five-goal thriller.

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Dundee fought back from two goals down to stun Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership and exact revenge with a complete reversal of their 3-2 defeat by the same opponent a month ago.

How big a victory is that for Dundee? What did you make of the performance?

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty confirmed substitute Julien Vetro fainted in the dressing room before kick-off.

"He just fainted and was unconscious for quite a bit," the Dundee boss says.

"It was a real concern for the players, witnessing that. It was pretty worrying for a spell but he's been to hospital and they've done checks on him and he's back in the dressing room celebrating with his team-mates.

"I want the players to get full credit for their performance and their resilience for not lying down. If you look at Ziyad Larkeche's run to get that goal from the halfway line that is just desire to win the match with 20 seconds left to go.

"For the team to go 2-0 down at home and with the run we've been on, to show that character and mentality, I'm delighted. They deserve everything they get.

"We've done a lot of work on stuff in this little run and it all came out there on the pitch. They're a hard-working bunch and they got their rewards today."

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

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After a top-six finish on their Premiership return last term Dundee have found life tough this season with the departure of captain Luke McCowan to Celtic and another young group assembled to go again.

Docherty has made it clear that means there will be bumps in the road, but the marker for him is whether his team is learning, particularly when it comes to defending and not throwing games away.

However, this was evidence the group is learning after their collapse against Kilmarnock a month ago.

This time they were the side 2-0 down and dug deep to get themselves out of a tough spot, particularly as their form of one win in their last eight league games does not suggest a team full of confidence.

Docherty himself deserves immense credit for bringing on Jordan McGhee and Josh Mulligan at half-time to capitalise on the momentum they built at the end of the first half.

That will satisfy the Dundee boss, as will his first win as a manager against Derek McInnes, the man he assisted for over a decade.

It was all the more impressive from Dundee's players given their team-mate Julien Vetro fainted in the dressing room before the match, delaying kick-off by 15 minutes.

However, the Frenchman went to hospital for checks and returned to Dens Park in time to celebrate an epic win with his team-mates.