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.
Image source, SNSDundee 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."
Image source, SNS"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.
Image source, SNSDundee 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.
Highlights: Dundee 3-2 Kilmarnock
Watch the best of the action from Dens Park as Dundee stage an incredible comeback against Kilmarnock to win a five-goal thriller.
(Available to UK users only)
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?
Image source, SNSDundee 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
Image source, SNSAfter 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.
Image source, SNSOluwaseun Adewumi was brilliant for Dundee, but Ziyad Larkeche gets the nod here for his constant running up and down the left-hand side, typified by his run from halfway in the dying moments to be in a position to slide in the winner.
Dundee boss Tony Docherty changes two of his players after the midweek loss at Celtic Park.
Seb Palmer-Houlden and Oluwaseun Adewumi come in for Josh Mulligan and Finlay Robertson, who both drop to the bench.
Image source, BBC SportTyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSDundee midfielder Josh Mulligan insists results will come if they keep playing the way they have been and cut out the "small mistakes".
Tony Docherty's side go into Sunday’s visit of Kilmarnock looking to improve on a recent record of just one win in their last eight league games.
Mulligan said: "I think if results go our way and we win on Sunday we are back in the top six, so it is a bit crazy that way this season.
"I would say it is just small mistakes [that are hampering us] but it is something that is easily fixed.
"I think the performances have been good, so we just need to keep playing well and putting in those performances and results will come.”
Mulligan, 21, was part of a youthful looking Dundee midfield that lined up against Celtic at Parkhead in midweek, one which also included Lyall Cameron (22) and Finlay Robertson (21).
"[The staff] are putting their trust in us and we need to try and repay that," he added.
Image source, SNSDundee have won just one of their last 18 Scottish Premiership games against Kilmarnock (D11 L6) and are winless in 11 (D7 L4) since a 1-0 triumph in May 2017 under Neil McCann, with Marcus Haber netting the winner that day.
Kilmarnock are unbeaten in 11 Scottish Premiership away games against Dundee, although eight of those have been drawn (W3).
Kilmarnock could win successive away matches over the Dee in the top-flight for the first time since December 2003 under Jim Jefferies.
Dundee have lost their last three home games in the Scottish Premiership, while they have lost seven times at Dens Park so far in 2024, last losing more times at home in the top-flight in a calendar year in 2018 (12).
Kilmarnock have won three of their last eight Scottish Premiership games played on a Sunday (D1 L4), as many victories as across their previous 18 games on that specific day (D3 L12).
Kilmarnock's Derek McInnes has never lost to Dundee as a manager in Scotland's top-flight, winning 14 and drawing eight of 22 previous such clashes.
Image source, SNSTrevor Carson and Scott Fraser are trying to get back fit for Dundee while Joe Shaughnessy is working his way back from a long-term knee injury.
Kilmarnock midfielder Liam Donnelly is available after suspension, but Stuart Findlay (groin), Liam Polworth (calf) and long-term absentee Kyle Magennis (hamstring) are set to remain out.
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSDundee manager Tony Docherty believes his side "have fallen foul of quite a few things" lately but is very confident their fortunes will change amid a poor run of results.
The Dark Blues - who lost 2-0 at Celtic in midweek - have won just one of their last eight league games ahead of Sunday's visit of Kilmarnock.
"I am not worried in the slightest, I would be worried if it was performances," Docherty said.
"As manager the only thing I can demand of the players is they carry out the gameplans we work on and that results in performance.
"I am a great believer if the performances are there the results will follow, so although we have fallen foul of quite a few things recently, and the results have not gone our way, it is such a tight competitive league.
"I do feel we are a victim – I don't like saying this – of a lot of things going against us. We are getting punished for a lot of things at the moment, individual mistakes, decisions going against us as well I have got to say from officials.
"But I am a great believer of the harder you work the more luck you get. We have been working hard on the training ground."
After finishing sixth on their top-flight return last season, Dundee are currently 10th but could move back in the top half if they beat Killie.
"I think this time last year we went on a strong run later on, so I realise the league is very much in its infancy at the moment," Docherty said.
"We are only 10 games in, but I am buoyed and encouraged by the most recent game - the performance levels against Celtic.
"And if we can maintain those performance levels, and now it is a home game, then I am very confident, as are the squad, that the results will follow because you have got to have a trust and belief in the process."
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSTony Docherty has been speaking to the media before Dundee's fixture against Kilmarnock on Sunday.
Here are the key lines from his press conference:
Docherty says he is "not worried in the slightest" by their recent poor run of results because he believes the performance levels are sill there, adding: "I am a great believer, if the performances are there, the results will follow."
He points out the league is still "very much in its infancy" and says "I am very confident, I think this time last year we went on a strong run".
The Dens boss believes there are "a lot of things going against" Dundee in terms of individual mistakes and refereeing decisions, but maintains his side "are in a good place at the moment".
He is expecting "a really difficult challenge" against Killie and says lessons need to be learned from the last meeting when Dundee surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2.
On how big a loss Luke McCowan has been, Docherty accepts he was "a massive player for us" but insists they can't dwell on that.
He points out the youthful nature of their midfield against Celtic - Josh Mulligan (21), Fin Robertson (21) and Lyall Cameron (22) - and says they "are staking a claim to be the next Luke McCowan".
Trevor Carson, Scott Fraser and Scott Tiffoney could come back into contention and Joe Shaughnessy remains out injured.
Dundee are on the hunt for a win after a disappointing week in which two defeats have taken their total to six in seven outings.
Looking to end a run of one win in nine is perhaps not the ideal time for Tony Docherty to renew his rivalry with old colleague Derek McInnes - just as the Kilmarnock boss is also again being touted for a return to Rangers should the Ibrox club axe Philippe Clement.
The pair worked together at Rugby Park and Aberdeen and have had some eventful games in opposition over the past 18 months.
However, while very little has separated the sides, including Kilmarnock's thrilling three-goal comeback to win 3-2 at Dens Park last month, Docherty is yet to record a win over McInnes in six attempts.
Ending Kilmarnock's four-game unbeaten run at Dens - and six overall against them - could be just the tonic the Dark Blues need.
Dundee have been shorn of the driving creative force of Luke McCowan since the midfielder's August move to Celtic, but their downfall at times this season has not been so much not scoring as not holding on to leads.
That was the case not just against Kilmarnock in early October but also against St Johnstone at the weekend.
The Ayrshire side are coming off a valuable win away to Hearts in midweek and are sure to test Docherty's men again.
