Dundee

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Tony Docherty insists Dundee's scudding at the hands of Hearts on Saturday was "an aberration" from their Scottish Premiership standard.

The Dark Blues suffered and unexpected and uncharacteristic chastening 6-0 defeat at Dens Park to Neil Critchley's side but Docherty is adamant he and his side will take responsibility for it.

"I've got a good group in there and we analysed that game right away," Docherty said as his side look to bounce back on Wednesday at Celtic Park.

"You would just say it was a really bad day, a really bad day at the office and I thought Hearts had a really good day.

"It's one of these wins in sport. You need to put it down to that. Of course I didn't like it, but it's important that you analyse it, acknowledge your part in it and take responsibility for it.

"I take full responsibility, but you move on quickly because I think there's so much more."

Dundee held Celtic to a 2-2 at Dens last month, and he hopes to see the "mentality and resilience" required on Wednesday in Glasgow.

"You don't become a bad team in one performance," he added. "The game kind of ran away.

"It's important that we have focused on what we could do better in that game and put it to bed.

"Any time there's been a bump in the road or a setback, I think the resilience and the mentality that's been displayed by the squad has been there for all to see.

"Based on that experience, I expect that to be the same case again, without taking it for granted.

"It's a difficult challenge that we face, but it's something that I think when that happens, you just want to get back on the horse and go again."

With the transfer window now closed, how do you feel about Dundee's January business?

Defenders Imari Samuels and Aaron Donnelly joined the club on permanent deals, while midfielders Cesar Garza and Victor Lopez have signed on loan.

Lyall Cameron is sticking around until summer after agreeing a pre-contract with Rangers, while Curtis Main and defender Sean Kelly have departed and Sammy Braybrooke and Julien Vetro's loans ended.

So, are Dundee in better shape to rise up the table or you have liked to see more bodies in?

Have your say on Dundee's transfer business., external

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Tony Docherty has been addressing the media before Dundee's trip to Glasgow to take on Celtic on Wednesday night.

Here are the key points:

• Docherty said there was "no surprise" at Lyall Cameron agreeing a pre-contract with Rangers but he's delighted the midfielder will remain at the club until the season ends.

• Cameron "realises we've got objectives and that he's a large part of it" for the remainder of the season.

• The manager reiterated he didn't see the performance in the 6-0 drubbing by Hearts last weekend on the horizon, describing it as an "aberration".

• He added: "I've got a good group in there and we analysed that game right away. You would just say it was a really bad day at the office and I thought Hearts had a really good day."

• Docherty remains positive about the players he has at the club and their objectives this season.

• "Only time will tell" if Celtic are a stronger team than they were at the start of January when Dundee drew 2-2 with the league leaders.

• Cameron is a doubt for the game with a calf injury and will be assessed on Wednesday morning.

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Dundee defender Luke Graham has rejoined Scottish Championship side Falkirk on loan until the end of the season.

Graham spent the first part of the season on loan at Falkirk and made 14 appearances.

The 20-year-old returned to Dens Park at the start of the January transfer window and featured in matches against Dundee United and St Johnstone.

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

Every team has a completely flat and off day at some point in the season. What's really concerning is this is at least the fourth time we have experienced it, including three at home.

I still can't make sense of Dundee's gameplan on Saturday. It felt like we were relying on fortuitous breaks of the ball to inspire any movement with possession.

Hearts, as the scoreline would suggest, were better in every single department.

Our goal difference has taken a devastating blow and it could be as good as a point lost come the end of the season.

I don't think anyone saw this coming, as going into the game Dundee were in a good place and eyeing up a promising run, but blips like this could make a surge into the top six too big an ask this season.

The worst league fixture after a heavy defeat awaits us next, a trip to Parkhead, although I am hopeful of a reaction in the Scottish Cup tie against Airdrie this weekend. Tony Docherty's Dundee are renowned for bouncing back from awful results – this was showcased after derby defeat at the start of January.

We need to dust ourselves down and avoid a hammering against Celtic. With St Johnstone, Kilmarnock, Hearts and Ross County all showing a resurgence with decent results in the league lately, Dundee have to be careful to not be dragged down into a dogfight.

Aberdeen had hoped to sign Lyall Cameron, 22, before the Dundee midfielder agreed a pre-contract summer move to Rangers. (Press and Journal - subscription), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

It looks like there will be little movement at Dens Park before the transfer window closes later tonight.

Rangers have agreed a pre-contract with Lyall Cameron to join them in the summer, but the Ibrox club are unlikely to make a move to sign the midfielder in this window.

Defender Jordan McGhee has agreed a pre-contract to join Motherwell but again it's unlikely the defender will move to the Lanarkshire club before the window closes tonight.

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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Almost six years on from his Dundee debut, it has been announced that midfielder Lyall Cameron will leave his boyhood club in the summer for fellow Premiership side Rangers.

After making his first outing in dark blue back in 2019 against Raith Rovers, Cameron had to bide his time to become a first-team regular, spending two loan spells with Peterhead and one with Montrose.

Those experiences helped him establish himself at Dens Park as Dundee won the Championship title in 2022-23, a title they may not have won were it not for Cameron's second-half strike in a winner-takes-all match against Queen's Park.

He has continued to shine in the top flight. Dundee earned a top-six finish under Tony Docherty last season, and since Luke McCowan's exit for Celtic in the summer, Cameron has stepped up to fill the void left by his fellow midfielder, netting eight goals in 30 appearances so far this term.

Don't bet against the 22-year-old continuing his upward trajectory when he joins Philippe Clement's side.

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Former Aberdeen and Dundee striker Billy Pirie has died at the age of 75.

Pirie signed for the Dons in 1974 after spells with South African side Arcadia Shepherds, Huntly and Arbroath, but it was at Dundee where he played his best football.

Having left Pittodrie for New York Apollos, Pirie signed for Dundee in 1976, and went on to score 106 goals in 138 games across four seasons at Dens Park, including 44 in a remarkable first campaign with the club.

He finished his career in Australia with APIA Leichhardt and Sydney Olympic.

On Dundee's club website, a tribute to Pirie reads: "Everyone at Dundee Football Club was extremely saddened to learn of the passing of former player Billy Pirie who passed away at the weekend.

"Billy is a member of the Dundee FC Hall of Fame after being inducted in 2016 and for many Dee supporters is remembered for the incredible amount of goals he scored during his time in dark blue.

"The thoughts of everyone at Dundee Football Club are with Billy's friends and family at this very sad time."

Watch the Sportscene panel discuss the damage done to Dundee's top six hopes after their 6-0 defeat to Hearts.

Watch highlights of Dundee's 6-0 defeat against Hearts in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Dundee's 6-0 defeat against Hearts.

Here's what some of you said:

Boab: Horrific, shambolic and embarrassing. We didn't win one single second ball and Hearts were a lot hungrier than us. Simon Murray needs some help, midfield is too lightweight and a severe wake up call for the defence. Tony Docherty's got his work cut out.

Davy: Absolute shambles. Lyall Cameron should not have been playing as it seems his head was elsewhere due to transfer speculation. Too many players not showing up, the fans deserve better!

Danny: Docherty's lack of tactical ability and in-game decision making have been exposed once too often. He has had 18 months to build a defence but things just get worse. Few managers recover from a result like this and I'm afraid the writing is on the wall unless he can turn things around dramatically in the last third of the season.

Murray: Dundee showed no semblance of cohesion, and were found wanting in every department. The manager also has a lot to answer for, forever playing players out of position and puzzling decisions on the use of substitutes. After this debacle Dundee fans will want to see major changes at Dens.

Steven: Yet another window about to close and we still don't have a right back, bizarre. Bullied and out battled all over the park. Dismal performance all round. Why would you bring a midfielder on to play at left-back when we have a very good left back on the bench? More baffling decisions from Docherty.

Alan: Quite simply disgraceful to lose six at home to a side who have struggled all season. We wonder why Dundee United get bigger home crowds, and this type of dreadful inconsistency and lack of focus is the reason! We now have a real battle to stay up and look ill-equipped for it. I would be making an offer for Kevin Holt now!

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• Dundee have failed to win in their last three games in the Premiership, their last joint longest winless streak was from 7 December 2024 to 26 December 2024.

• Hearts are undefeated in their last six games in the Premiership, their last longer unbeaten streak was from 16 December 2023 to 17 February 2024, a run of 10 games.

• Dundee have conceded 12 goals to opposition substitutes in the Premiership this season, more than any other team.

• Lawrence Shankland has scored four goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no Hearts player has more.

Dundee fans, were you at Dens Park to witness today's heavy defeat to Hearts or following along from home?

Either way, we want your thoughts on the game.

Have your say here., external

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty: "I think to describe that for me is anomaly. I don't know where that came from. We had such strong performances heading into the game.

"When you concede goals as cheaply as we did today, it drains confidence. Hearts caught us on a bad day and they had a good day. These things happen.

"For all the credit we got for recent performances, we now deserve a lot of criticism and I deserve a lot of criticism because I lead the group. I apologise to the Dundee fans. The players will be in tomorrow morning to address that.

"It is a new group, a very young team. It can happen. It is important to learn from that. It is my job to improve on that performance. The fans should not see that type of performance.

"I did not see that type of performance coming. You could see the confidence draining as the game went on. I was a bit surprised."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland at Dens Park

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This has been been a strange season for Dundee. They are in the mix for a European place but are also having to look over their shoulder with the relegation play-off place a concerning vision in their rear-view mirror.

Tony Docherty's team have shown enough of late to suggest they will be able to get themselves away from things at the wrong end of the table.

But, like a number of other teams in a similar predicament, that lingering concern will remain hovering on the horizon until they do.

While things certainly didn't go according to plan here – with players like Lyall Cameron and Josh Mulligan in their ranks – you do feel it wont be too long before Dundee find themselves back winning.

But the manner of this defeat will undoubtedly be a real cause for concern for Docherty, who must find a way of lifting his players for their daunting-looking midweek trip to Celtic.

Rangers and Aberdeen have both held talks with 22-year-old Dundee midfielder Lyall Cameron over a pre-contract agreement to move from Dens Park this summer. (Football Insider), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Dundee could give a debut to Mexican midfielder Victor Lopez. Josh Mulligan returns, while Ziyad Larkeche, Jordan McGhee, Joe Shaughnessy, Antonio Portales and Charlie Reilly are also back in training and have a chance of being involved.

Billy Koumetio (ankle) and Scott Fraser (groin) are the only definite absentees.

Hearts could include recent signings Sander Kartum and Michael Steinwender while Calem Nieuwenhof is also in contention after being sidelined since last March with a hamstring problem.

Craig Halkett (hamstring) joins Frankie Kent (quad) and Stephen Kingsley (hamstring) on the sidelines.

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Trevor Carson says Dundee face a "huge" 10-game run to the Premiership split as they look to climb clear of relegation worries and back into the top six.

The Dark Blues sit eighth but are just two points clear of Kilmarnock, who occupy the relegation play-off spot.

Dundee host Hearts on Saturday and goalkeeper Carson said: "It's a massive game. I think our next 10 games are before the split, every single one of them is going to be huge.

"I can guarantee you in 10 games' time we'll look back and it'll be the odd goal in every game. Every game is going to be tight.

"I think at the start of the season, if someone had said after 23 games you'd have been on the same points as Hearts, we probably would have took that.

"But then you look at the table now, you'd be expecting to be third or fourth in the league. But the way the league is, it's so congested.

"We're really confident and looking forward to the next stretch of games."

Carson insists a settled back three has been key in Dundee's fine recent form.

Tony Docherty's men are four games unbeaten, including draws with Celtic and Rangers plus a derby win over Dundee United.

"We've had that settled back three now for the last four games and you learn each other's games, little traits you've got, and more than anything it breeds confidence and it can only be good for the squad," Carson added.

"You see the lads coming back in training and that just lifts the levels, so we're in a good place, we've had that little run of injuries but we're over the other side of it now and we've got a really competitive squad."

Swansea City are keeping close tabs on Dundee defender Luke Graham after receiving impressive feedback from the 20-year-old's first half of the season on loan to Falkirk. (Daily Record), external

Tony Docherty is "relaxed" about the way Dundee's squad has shaped up, but the manager is not ruling out any more business and is unaware of any outgoings despite reported interest in midfielder Lyall Cameron and Jordan McGhee. (The Courier), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.