Dundee

Did you travel up to Pittodrie to celebrate with Tony Docherty and co? What did you make of the game, and what have you made of the season as a whole?

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty tells BBC Sportsound: "Enormously proud of the group of players. It speaks volumes of that group. I'm lucky, the way they work every day, the conscientious nature of how they apply themselves. They got their reward today.

"It's a good feeling to achieve that as the newly-promoted club. There were 17 of these players making their Premiership debut, 11 are under 21. For them to put the shoulder to the wheel all season, they deserve every plaudit coming their way.

"It's a big achievement, but it's for other people to judge. I've had great support from my staff, they work so hard every day. The support from John Nelms and Gordon has been fantastic as well.

"I had a great deal of satisfaction when that final whistle went. All I said at the start of the season was I wanted to be competitive in every match. We've been that and more."

Andrew Petrie, BBC Sport Scotland

It's never easy for Dundee fans. Last week they were 2-0 up and cruising before losing in injury time. This week, for the majority of this game, their top-six dreams effectively lay in tatters. Their emotions must be all over the place.

Ultimately, despite all the points dropped, despite all the bad press around the Dens Park pitch, they've made it to the promised land of the top six for the first time since 2015.

Amadou Bakayoko lacked composure up top, but was presented with plenty of opportunities by the usual suspects - Scott Tiffoney, Lyall Cameron and Luke McCowan.

There is still a lot of work to do next season if they're to repeat the feat. The league this season has been poor, the job should be harder. Tony Docherty will need to recruit extremely well.

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Lyall Cameron. A threat throughout, who sometimes goes under the radar when Luke McCowan shines a little brighter.

Dundee weren't expected to hang on to Cameron when they were promoted last season. They'll struggle to keep him in the summer, too.

Aberdeen: Roos, Devlin, Gartenmann, MacDonald, MacKenzie, Barron, Clarkson, Shinnie, McGrath, Duk, Miovski.

Substitutes: Doohan, Jensen, McGarry, Phillips, Sokler, Polvara, Duncan, Milne, Hoilett.

Dundee: McCracken, Portales, Shaughnessy, Donnelly, McGhee, Costelloe, McCowan, Sylla, Cameron, Tiffoney, Bakayoko.

Substitutes: Sharp, Dodgson, Astley, Main, Lamie, Robinson, Robertson, Boateng, Mellon.

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Aaron Donnelly says other sides in the league "wish" they were in Dundee's position with a top six finish within their grasp.

Their game against Rangers was postponed again on Wednesday meaning there will be a delay to find out who picks up the final spot.

"I think throughout the changing room there are a lot of hungry players that want to win and have a lot of desire," Donnelly said.

"I think with the group we have top six is within our hands and we have just got to take it by two hands, and grab it.

"It is in our hands, I am sure a lot of other teams wish they were in our position, waiting on our result and seeing what is happening but it is in our hands, we have to go and get three points."

Aberdeen defender Slobodan Rubezic has returned to full training and could be in contention for next week’s Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic. Otherwise, Dons interim boss Peter Leven has no injury concerns.

Dundee have Curtis Main, Josh Mulligan and Ryan Howley back in contention with only Owen Beck (groin) and Diego Pineda (thigh) out.

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Nick Montgomery believes that the rearranged fixture between Dundee and Rangers will affect the "integrity" of the Scottish Premiership.

The twice postponed match will now take place after the final round of fixtures before the league's split.

Even if Nick Montgomery's side beat Motherwell this weekend and Dundee lose to Aberdeen, they will be forced to wait until Wednesday to find out whether or not they have a place in the top six.

“It’s disappointing [that] another game has been called off," said Montgomery.

"It probably just affects the last round [of fixtures] and the integrity of the competition.

“I saw the comments from Philippe Clement and Stuart [Kettlewell]. I’ve not really commented because it’s nothing really that I can control or that we can control.

"But everyone knew there was a real chance that game was going to be off. I think the forecast of rain later that afternoon meant it was going to be off.

“It’s such a shame there wasn’t an alternative venue arranged to play the game. Obviously for us, and for Rangers going into that game, you can understand Philippe's comments as well.

“It's nothing that we can control and doesn’t really affect our mindset going into the game because it’s a game we need to win.”

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland

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Tony Docherty has shot down the suggestion that his Dundee side missing out on the top six would be a disappointment.

A win over Aberdeen on Saturday would secure a top-half finish for the Dens Park side in their first season back in the top flight.

When asked whether dropping out of their current position would be a let-down, he said: "I disagree with that, because as the newly-promoted team, to be even sitting having this interview with you just now and be in the position we are in now, I think the players deserve great credit for that.

"I know them as a group, they continually push themselves on a daily basis never mind a weekly, match basis.

"I think credit to them, testament to them to put themselves in the position they are in just now and let's see if we can go one further.

"We are a win away from that [top six] and it is advantage us because it is in our hands.

"I need to give them great praise for that. From our point of view, I want to see them sprinting across that finish line because they have got themselves in a position now where it is down to us."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty has been speaking to the media ahead of Saturday’s Premiership trip to Aberdeen, where a win would secure their top six status.

Here is what he had to say:

• Refused to get involved in any of the fallout from the controversial postponement of their game against Rangers last midweek, instead preferring the highlight the "laser focus" his side have on Saturday’s game.

• Full of praise for his players and their charge for the top six, saying: "we have put ourselves in a position where it is down to us now".

• Disagreed with the notion that it would be a disappointment if his side missing out on the top six, saying his squad deserve credit for even being in the conversation as a newly-promoted side.

• Expecting a "tough" meeting with Aberdeen, who he says have improved in form under caretaker boss Peter Leven.

• Other than long-term absentees Owen Beck and Diego Pineda, Dundee have a fully fit squad to choose from.

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Why should Scottish football fans care about Czech side Viktoria Plzen drawing with Italian heavyweights Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League?

The result on Thursday night has serious consequences for the Premiership, with the Czech Republic now having leapfrogged Scotland in the coefficient standings.

Not only will the winners of the top flight no longer gain automatic qualification to the Champions League from 2025/26, but there's also a knock on effect for those finishing further down the table.

Here's everything you need to know.

Dundee have held talks with Hibs and St Johnstone over a possible switch of venue for their twice postponed match with Rangers and have also asked St Mirren to 'name their price' over playing the game in Paisley. (Daily Mail)

Dundee will face a league disciplinary process regarding the problems with their pitch next week. (Daily Record), external

Due to a precedent set in 2010 with Motherwell, it is likely Dundee will be fined at least £50,000 should they be found negligent in the handling of their playing surface by the league's governing body. (Glasgow Times), external

Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.

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Following yet another home postponement on Wednesday, Dundee travel to Pittodrie on Saturday, knowing that a win would guarantee a top-six finish.

Who would you like to see start for Tony Docherty's side against Aberdeen?

Put yourself in the manager's shoes and pick your Dundee XI here.

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• Aberdeen are unbeaten in their last 14 home league games against Dundee (W10 D4), keeping a clean sheet in half of those matches.

• Dundee beat Aberdeen 1-0 last month at Dens Park and could now record multiple wins over the Pittodrie club in the same league season for the first time since 2003-04.

• After their 2-1 win over Ross County, Aberdeen could win back-to-back home league games for just a second time this season.

• Having beaten St Johnstone 2-1, Dundee could win successive away games in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since December 2017/January 2018.

• Since the start of last season, no player has scored more home goals in the Scottish Premiership than Aberdeen’s Bojan Miovski (25, level with Lawrence Shankland). 83% of the North Macedonian’s goals in the competition have come at Pittodrie (25/30).

Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell says a potential delay to finding out who has made it into the top six is "really bizarre" following Dundee's most recent postponement.

A waterlogged Dens Park pitch resulted in their game against Rangers being postponed, but also means Motherwell and Hibs will not know on Saturday if they have leapfrogged Dundee into the top half of the table if results go their way.

Motherwell face Hibs knowing a win could be enough if Dundee fail to get any more points, while fifth-place Hibs may only need a draw, but could have to wait until Wednesday's Dundee v Rangers replay for clarity.

"It doesn't change my mindset in any way because the only outcome that we've got a chance in is by trying to win a game of football," said Kettlewell.

"No doubt you will ask questions about what comes next in terms of the split and the fact that top and bottom six might not be confirmed on Saturday, which for me seems really bizarre, something we have not seen before.

"But I think if you asked Nick Montgomery at Hibs then it's slightly different for him because there are different mindsets as managers, different scenarios which may or may not come about.

"But if I relate it to my team, it's really simple, the only chance we stand is if we win the game, and we need to have that favour or two."

Hibernian have voiced strong objections to the SPFL as they believe Dundee have gained a sporting advantage in the race for a top-six finish after their Scottish Premiership game against Rangers was postponed until after the Edinburgh side's final game before the split. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland

Pitch issues aside, it is all about points for the Dundee players tonight.

If you had said to them at the start of the season, that with just two games to play going in to the split, they would be in control of their top-six destiny, they would have bitten your hand off.

That is the reality of the situation they now find themselves in.

They can seal the deal with a win against Rangers tonight, and even if they don’t get the job done tonight, they will get another chance against Aberdeen at the weekend.

Were they to slip up in both games, Hibs and Motherwell could take advantage when they clash at Fir Park on Saturday, but Tony Docherty won't want it to get to that point.

There is still work to do, but this is a Dundee squad bristling with talent, and one which will back themselves to get it done.

Make no mistake, if they can achieve a top-six finish, it would be an almighty achievement for a club that were plying their trade in Scottish football’s second tier last season, and who kicked off this campaign with one objective – surviving in the top division.

Former Scotland manager Gordon Strachan is now Dundee's fourth biggest shareholder. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip

Midfielder Ryan Howley returns to the Dundee squad after missing the weekend’s game against Motherwell while goalkeeper Trevor Carson has trained following a knee complaint.

Striker Curtis Main and midfielder Josh Mulligan (hamstring) are closer to fitness and will be assessed before the game while defenders Owen Beck (groin) and Lee Ashcroft (hamstring) and forward Diego Pineda (thigh) are still sidelined.

Rangers left-back Ridvan Yilmaz remains out and midfielder Ryan Jack has had a setback in his recovery from a calf problem. Forward Danilo (knee) and winger Oscar Cortes, who had surgery on a muscle injury, are likely to miss the rest of the season.

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