Can Dundee frustrate Rangers again when they head to Ibrox on Tuesday evening?
The Dens Park side are looking bounce back from a heavy defeat at Hearts and keep their Europa Conference League hopes alive.
Who would you like to see in the starting line-up? Pick your team here.
Watch highlights as Hearts beat Dundee in the Scottish Premiership.
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We asked for your thoughts after Dundee lost 3-0 away to Hearts in the Scottish Premiership.
Here's what you had to say:
Brian: Today showed we can play but also showed we are in dire need of a stronger striker that can score regularly. We came out strong for 10 mins of the second half but then did zero. Luke McCowan is playing too deep as is Jordan McGhee. Roll on next season.
Alister: Don't know what match Tony Docherty was at, but sadly I was at Tynecastle and we were shocking. 62 goals conceded this season speaks volumes about our defence. Zero tactics yet again. To stay up next season, we require a new back five with pace.
Steve: I get that the manager is also on a learning curve but it should be patently obvious given our goals against column that he has a terrible defence that needs protection in front of it. Even against a team who were playing a friendly, the result was clear before kick-off with the team and set-up.
Image source, SNSHearts have kept a clean sheet in 16 of their 36 games, only Rangers (18) have done this more often in the Scottish Premiership this season.
L. Shankland has scored 22 goals this season (one in this game), more than any other player in the Scottish Premiership.
Dundee have lost their last three games in the Scottish Premiership, their last longer losing streak was from 4th December 2021 to 18th January 2022, a run of six games.
Dundee manager Tony Docherty: "I don't think it was ever a 3-0. I was really pleased with the level of performance I got from the players. Not pleased with the goals we conceded, particularly the first two.
"We did create numerous opportunities, I think it was a very even game against a top team. Hearts are a really good team. If you're at Dundee, you don't get VAR decisions. It's been a whole season of it."
Were you at Dundee's 3-0 defeat by Hearts or following the match from home? Either way, we want your views on the game – have your say here.
With this, a 20th win from 36 in the league so far, Hearts showed once again why they are the envy of similarly-resourced Aberdeen and city rivals Hibernian.
Options such as Alan Forrest, Barrie McKay and Kenneth Vargas, in addition to top scorer and PFA Scotland player of the year Lawrence Shankland, mean Steven Naismith's side will always create chances but their defensive prowess is just as impressive.
Only Celtic and Rangers have conceded fewer goals this term.
Dundee sustain a third top-six defeat out of three and are in danger of seeing their impressive season fizzle out.
Still, the Dens Park side still have lots to boast about after a top-half finish on their return to the Premiership.
Goalkeeper Craig Gordon returns to the Hearts starting line-up as Zander Clark drops to the bench while Alan Forrest and Barrie McKay also comes into the starting line-up at the expense of Frankie Kent and Jorge Grant, who both make the bench.
Dundee also make three changes. Ryan Astley, Malachi Boateng and Michael Mellon start in place of Rickie Lamie, Scott Tiffoney and Mohamed Sylla. Tiffoney and Sylla are among the substitutes.
Hearts: Gordon, Lembikisa, Rowles, Cochrane, Kingsley, Forrest, Devlin, Baningime, McKay, Shankland, Vargas, .
Substitutes: Clark, Kent, Grant, Oda, Sibbick, Denholm, Fraser, Tagawa, Wilson.
Dundee: McCracken, Donnelly, Astley, McGhee, Portales, Dodgson, Cameron, Boateng, McCowan, Mellon, Bakayoko.
Substitutes: Sharp, Tiffoney, Main, Mulligan, Robinson, Robertson, Holwey, Sylla, Costelloe.
Image source, SNSCalem Nieuwenhof, Liam Boyce (both hamstring), Craig Halkett and Peter Haring (both knee) all remain sidelined for Hearts.
Dundee boss Tony Docherty had no fresh injury worries. Captain Joe Shaughnessy had a successful operation on his knee on Monday and Owen Beck (groin) is also out for the season.
Image source, SNSDundee midfielder Luke McCowan says he's enjoying the "best season" of his career after being named the Scottish Premiership player of the month for April.
The 26-year-old has been one of the driving forces behind the Dens Park's side's success this term, playing an influential role in their charge to the top six.
McCowan scored at the start of the month against Motherwell, before also putting in a man of the match display in Dundee's goalless draw with Rangers.
“It feels good, it is nice to be acknowledged by the league for my performances and it is a privilege to receive the award," he said.
"I think this has been my best season. I had some good seasons when I was at Ayr before coming to Dundee.
"Then last season was good winning the Championship, but for me personally I think this has been my best season so far in terms of my performances. I want to keep going and I want to do even better.
"I think a big part of this has been finding my best position in the centre of midfield. It allows me to get involved in all aspects of the game attacking and defending. I’ve loved playing that position this season.”
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSOwen Dodgson believes he has grasped the chance to show what he can do by impressing during "a big learning curve" at Dundee.
The left-back arrived on loan from Burnley in January having spent the first half of the campaign with Barnsley in England’s League One.
Dodgson, 21, has cemented his place in the Dark Blues side, particularly since an injury to Liverpool loanee Owen Beck.
“Owen is obviously a very good player, I get along with him very well, was gutted about his injury, for myself I just had to keep that steady head and be ready for my chance and when it came I feel like I have taken it," said Dodgson.
"The first half the season I was at Barnsley and I feel like the standard in both leagues is very high with some good opposition.
"The last few games I have played against Celtic and Rangers, massive for myself, being young and looking at these big teams."
Dodgson is in line to make his 15th Dundee appearance in Saturday's trip to face third-place Hearts as Tony Docherty's men bid to keep their slim European hopes alive.
“For myself it has been a big learning curve, highs and lows," he added. "These last few games are vital, I have just got to keep improving and showing what I have got.
"I am on loan here at the moment, I have to give my all the last three games, that is the most important thing, then we will go back to Burnley in pre-season and see what the situation is.”
Image source, SNSHearts have won their last two league games against promoted sides in the Scottish Premiership (both v Dundee), and last won three in a row against such opponents in the top flight in 2011-12, when they beat Dunfermline Athletic three times in succession.
Dundee have lost both of their last two league meetings with Hearts, last losing more in a row against them in the top-flight in October 2004 (4 in a row).
Hearts are unbeaten in nine home league games (W6 D3), last going 10+ without defeat within a single Scottish Premiership season on home soil from November 2017 to April 2018 (12).
Dundee have lost their last two league games, last losing more in a row in the Scottish Premiership from December 2021 to January 2022 (six).
Lawrence Shankland has scored in five of his last six league appearances at Tynecastle for Hearts (five goals), also providing three assists in his last two such matches.
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSDundee manager Tony Docherty says he knows exactly what is required to keep the club performing in the upper echelons of the Scottish Premiership beyond this season.
The promoted Dark Blues secured a top-six finish this term and still have an outside chance of a European spot.
"I think we have really punched above our weight, probably by four or five places this season," said Docherty.
"That is down to the endeavour and workrate of the staff and players, and when you set that kind of bar you want to maintain that.
"I don’t think anybody at the start of this season gave us a chance of getting anywhere near the top six. I think it was all about survival, but we managed to tick that box and then got ourselves in the top six.
"So it is an ambition to keep us in that place but I know exactly what is required to make sure you are that team, and I would not underestimate what the players have achieved this season."
Dundee travel to Tynecastle on Saturday looking for a win that would keep their hopes of a European spot alive.
Who would you like to see start for Tony Docherty's side? Pick your Dundee XI here.
Image source, SNSKilmarnock boss Derek McInnes and Dundee counterpart Tony Docherty are again nominated
Philippe Clement, Tony Docherty, Derek McInnes and John McGlynn have been named on the shortlist for the Scottish Footballer Writers' Association manager of the year award.
It was Falkirk's McGlynn who walked away with the PFA prize last week after leading the Bairns to an invincible League 1-winning campaign, beating Kilmarnock's McInnes and Docherty of Dundee.
Rangers boss Clement is a new nominee, having taken over at Ibrox in October following the departure of Michael Beale.
The Belgian has hauled his side back into the title race, despite some stumbling in recent weeks, and also lifted the League Cup and steered Rangers to the Scottish Cup final.
Meanwhile, McInnes has taken Kilmarnock from the brink of relegation last term to guaranteed European football, with the Rugby Park side frontrunners to finish fourth in the Premiership.
His former assistant Docherty has enjoyed an impressive debut season in the Dens Park hotseat, leading Dundee to the top six in their first campaign back in the top flight.
But their biggest challenge to claim the award may come from McGlynn, who has earned plenty of plaudits for finally ending Falkirk's miserable stay in the third tier and emphatically earning promotion to the Championship.
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSDundee's defeat by St Mirren has left their European bid floundering
Dundee manager Tony Docherty has vowed no one at the club has given up on their hopes of securing European football.
Last weekend's 3-1 home defeat to St Mirren leaves the Dark Blues five points adrift of the Paisley men, who occupy the coveted fifth spot with three matches remaining.
But Docherty, whose side travel to Hearts on Saturday, insists they will continue to give it their all.
"There are nine points to play for. Yes, we have put ourselves in a position with the European situation that it is going to be difficult, but I can guarantee you nobody at this club has given that up," he said.
"All we can do is face the game in front of us, which is Hearts at Tynecastle, and if we pick up three points there the picture might change.
"It is important you realise the achievements, the objectives that were set that we have achieved already this season.
"I don’t think anybody at the start of the season, with having to assemble staff and players, would have given us any credit in terms of that we would make top six, but we did that.
"So it is now games that we need to try and make a good account of ourselves. As much as last week was disappointing, we have got an opportunity to overcome that and this group, what they have shown all season, is real resilience to redress any poor results or poor performances."
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSDundee manager Tony Docherty has been speaking to the media before Saturday's trip to play Hearts.
Here are the key points from the press conference:
Last weekend’s defeat to St Mirren was "a sore one" but Docherty highlighted the "resilience" his side have shown this season to bounce back from disappointing results.
On their now slender chances of finishing fifth and securing European football: "Nobody at this club has given up on that."
He is expecting a difficult game at Hearts but has "a highly motivated team going down to Tynecastle".
Joe Shaughnessy had knee surgery on Monday and it was a "success".
Docherty wouldn’t be drawn on any transfer speculation, but says they have had two good transfer windows since he came to the club and he is aiming for that to continue this summer.
Having done so well to finish in the top six this season, Docherty says "I think when you set that kind of bar you want to maintain that."
There are no fresh injuries.
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
A home defeat to St Mirren last time out was a major body blow to Dundee’s hopes of securing the one remaining European spot.
Fifth-place Saints are now very much in the box seat, with a five-point advantage over the Dark Blues with just three rounds of games to go.
As the Premiership new boys Dundee have already upset the odds in how well they have done this term. They are now going to have to do that again, and more, if they are to be digging out the passports.
Tony Docherty’s side need to chalk up wins and hope for some big favours from elsewhere.
It looks like the tallest of orders – their next two games are away to Hearts and Rangers – so fulfilling their side of the bargain appears a big ask.
However, as long as it remains arithmetically possible, Docherty will ensure his team give everything to that cause.
Following Saturday’s defeat, he admitted "we didn't turn up" in a performance that has been uncharacteristic of his side this season.
Nevertheless, he will know that if they can get back to their best then they will give themselves a chance of remaining in the Euro mix.
The very fact it remains a possibility is testament to the progress of Docherty's team.
Image source, SNSScotland Under-21 caps Lyall Cameron (left) & Connor Barron (right) make up two of the four-man shortlist
Connor Barron, Lyall Cameron, Lennon Miller and David Watson have been named on the shortlist for the Scottish Football Writers Association's young player of the year award.
Kilmarnock teenager Watson claimed the PFA prize last week and will be looking to make it a double, but the teenager faces competition from fellow midfielders Cameron (Dundee), Miller (Motherwell) and Barron (Aberdeen).
Cameron and Miller, along with Rangers' Northern Irish winger Ross McCausland, were also in contention for the PFA award, but Aberdeen and Scotland Under-21 midfielder Barron replaces the Ibrox forward on the SFWA shortlist.
Since 2019, the SFWA prize has been restricted only to players who are eligible to play for Scotland's U21s.
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
