On-loan Liverpool left-back Owen Beck faces "a minimum of four to six weeks on the sidelines" with a groin issue, says Dundee manager Tony Docherty. (The Courier)
Read the resort of Tuesday's gossip.
Image source, SNSRangers manager Philippe Clement has called for Scottish football to improve the standard of pitches after his side's game at Dens Park was postponed on Sunday.
It marked the fourth time a game at Dundee's stadium has been called off after heavy rainfall this season.
But the Belgian says the weekend's postponement "has nothing to do with the weather".
“This will be the only pitch in all the leagues in Scotland where a game was postponed," Clement said. “That tells me that it has nothing to do with the weather.
“Yes, it rained, but it rained all over Scotland and there were pitches in other lower leagues where they could play football.
“There, the ball was bouncing. But here, the ball was not bouncing. So clearly there is something wrong.
“Also, there were spots on the pitch where they put lots of sand and there was no stability for the players. It is really dangerous for injuries.
“I think it’s a very important thing for the future that a league thinks about how to raise the level of the pitches and put standards on that like they do on other things."
Image source, SNSTony Docherty says there was "huge disappointment" from Dundee that the game against Rangers was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
It is the fourth game to be called off at Dens Park this season following heavy rainfall, but the Dark Blues manager believes a delayed kick-off could have been an option.
"We absolutely wanted that [a delayed kick-off]," Docherty told BBC Scotland. "I think given a little more time the pitch would have been playable.
"You've seen the pitch on Wednesday night against Aberdeen and it was fantastic, played really well, it contributed to a fantastic team performance from us and a brilliant result. It's been torrential here, I think even the staff at Rangers, someone I spoke to, they stayed at St Andrews last night, it's been torrential right the way through the night.
"There has been a lot of rain on it, maybe if it was given a little bit longer it would be okay, but I'm not going to question the officials' decision. They made the decision, we just need to go with that."
Docherty says he wanted a chance for his side to continue their strong home form, with three wins from their last four at Dens Park. .
"I was really looking forward to the game," the Dundee manager said. "Because I think we're in a really good place after a strong, strong performance on Wednesday night [against Aberdeen].
"So, we were very much looking forward to playing Rangers at home today and carrying on that league form we've had at home. But the decision's been made by the officials and there's nothing we can do."
Image source, SNSRangers have questioned why concerns about the Dens Park surface were not raised earlier, after their match against Dundee was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
It is the fourth time this season a game has been postponed at the Dundee ground, and Rangers noted their disappointment and anger in a club statement:
"Rangers FC, on behalf of our supporters, are extremely disappointed and angered with the late call-off of today’s match with Dundee FC.
"The first-team have prepared as normal for the match, and it was not until this morning that any concerns over the playing surface were raised.
"It is not understood why the home club did not raise those concerns in a more timely manner, given the reoccurring issues they have had with their playing surface at earlier points in the season.
"The Rangers team and thousands of our supporters had already arrived at the stadium by the time a decision was reached.
"This is the only match in the entire UK senior leagues to be postponed this weekend, and given it was to be shown on Sky Sports nationwide, reflects poorly on our game."
The game at Dens Park between Dundee and Rangers has been called off after a pitch inspection.
There has now been four games postponed at Dundee due to waterlogging this season.
Image source, SNS
There will be a second pitch inspection at 10:15 GMT by match referee Don Robertson to determine if Rangers' visit to Dundee can go ahead at noon after a period of heavy rainfall.
Dundee have had three games postponed due to waterlogging this season.
Image source, SNS
Image source, SNSAaron Donnelly says Dundee's top six fight could prove a "distraction" from their primary goal of preserving top-flight status.
But the Northern Irishman says there's a positive mood in the Dens Park camp following a comfortable victory over Aberdeen.
"Everyone's buzzing. It was a great result midweek. Aberdeen had a lot of travelling fans who came down to watch the game, but I thought our fans were excellent too.
"They really got behind us in the second half and I think it was a well-deserved win. We had a lot of chances, I think we need to be more clinical against bigger teams or we'll get punished.
"I think our number one objective is to stay in the Premiership. Top six is a bit of distraction, but we'll just focus on each game and see where it takes us."
Their next game to focus on comes on Sunday, when they host a Rangers side looking to bounce back from their Europa League exit at the hands of Benfica.
"Everyone's really excited," Donnelly continued. "Playing against the Old Firm is always really good. We know we need to be disciplined against the ball and be calm on the ball. We'll go down to Dens Park with a game plan."
Image source, SNSDundee have won just two of their last 33 meetings with Rangers across all competitions (D3 L28) though both victories did come at Dens Park (2-1 in February 2017 and 2-1 in November 2017).
Rangers have won each of their last six league games against Dundee, their joint-longest active winning run in the league against a current top-flight opponent (also six vs Ross County).
Dundee have won all three of their Scottish Premiership games played on a Sunday this season, this after failing to win any of their previous 13 such games in the competition (D4 L9).
Rangers have won 14 of their last 16 games in the Scottish Premiership (L2), but did lose last time out against Motherwell; the Gers haven’t lost back-to-back matches in the league since March 2018 under Graeme Murty.
Cyriel Dessers has scored in both of the league meetings between Rangers and Dundee this season, with his two goals against the Dee his joint-most against an opponent in the Scottish Premiership (also 2 vs Hibernian, Hearts and Ross County).
Image source, SNSDundee can give themselves "a chance" against Rangers if they replicate their midweek performance levels, says manager Tony Docherty.
The Dens Park side saw off sorry Aberdeen in comfortable fashion on Wednesday, despite only scoring once.
“The other night we displayed some real top performances,” Docherty said.
“We’ve had some good results this season. We had a 4-0 win at home to St Mirren and a 4-1 win away to Livingston and I thought our performance on Wednesday probably merited that type of scoreline.
“If we can take that performance and replicate it going into Sunday, we’ll give ourselves a chance.
“We put a lot into that game on Wednesday but we know we’ll have to put the same into this one.
“This is why you recruit a squad because you need to be robust enough to go from game to game and, with the rigours of this league, you need to be at the top of your energy levels and ready to go again.”
Former Dundee striker Rory Loy ponders whether Tony Docherty will tweak his approach when Rangers visit on Sunday on BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.
Image source, SNSDundee manager Tony Docherty has been speaking to the media ahead of his side's meeting with Rangers on Sunday.
Here are the key points:
Performance at Aberdeen was "right up there" in terms of their displays this season and they'll take "huge confidence" into the weekend.
Rangers' defeat against Benfica must be "put into perspective" and he expects the Ibrox side to "bounce back".
Anticipates a "great atmosphere" at Dens Park and says his side and staff will relish being back in home comforts against challenging opposition.
Insists Dundee's objective is still to retain their Premiership status despite sitting in the top six with four games to go before the split. Once that is confirmed, Docherty says they will "see where they go from there".
Josh Mulligan misses out, while Owen Beck will be given the chance to prove his fitness in the only new injury concerns.
Goalkeeper Jon McCracken urges Dundee fans to be the 12th man when Rangers visit Dens Park on Sunday. (Courier - subscription required), external
Dundee host Rangers on Sunday, looking to build on Wednesday's victory over Aberdeen as they push for a spot in the Premiership's top six.
Who would you pick to start if you were in Tony Docherty's shoes?
Pick your starting XI here.
Watch Sportscene analysis of Dundee's 1-0 win over Aberdeen.
Image source, SNSAberdeen have failed to score in 13 of their 29 games, only Ross County (15) and Livingston (14) have failed to score more often in the Scottish Premiership this season.
Dundee have beaten Aberdeen for the first time in the Scottish Premiership since 16th October 2021, a run of four games without a win.
Dundee have scored in their last six games in the Scottish Premiership, their joint longest scoring streak this season.
Luke McCowan has scored eight goals this season, more than any other Dundee player in the Scottish Premiership.
Aberdeen have lost their last four games in the Scottish Premiership, their last joint longest losing streak was from 17 December 2022 to 28 December 2022.
Image source, SNSDundee midfielder Luke McCowan praised how manager Tony Docherty has managed his injury-hit squad after his goal saw the Dark Blues beat Aberdeen 1-0 to move back into the Premiership's top six.
Docherty's side were without several first-team players for Wednesday's game, but thoroughly deserved their win, and McCowan believes it shows the strength in depth Dundee have.
"The manager has done a great job with that," he said.
"It is probably the first time that I noticed it before the game, not in any worrying way because I know the quality of players in depth we have got; it was the first time that I was like ‘he is out injured and he is out injured', and it got me thinking about how strong a team we have got.
"It is credit to the manager and credit to the players that have bought into the style we have got this season. We just need to keep going.
"It is another game put to bed and we have just got to keep going from there."
We asked for your thoughts after Luke McCowan's spot-kick earned Dundee a 1-0 win over Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.
Here's what you had to say:
Steven: Much better defensively. Let's hope Tony Docherty doesn't drop Dara Costelloe and put Jordan McGhee back in there. I'm baffled at us fielding two strikers away to Celtic and only one at home to a struggling Aberdeen.
Doug: Quality performances by the Dees against the Dons have been few and far between for many years, and this was truly something to be savoured. The Dees looked very assured throughout the entire team, and a single goal defeat really flatters the Dons. If Dundee can keep up this standard of performance they might yet get that top-six finish.
Manager Tony Docherty praises 'outstanding' Dundee
Were you at Dundee's 1-0 win over Aberdeen or following the match from home? Either way, we want your views on the game – have your say here.
Dundee manager Tony Docherty: "Absolutely delighted. I'm really proud of the players, I thought the level of performance was outstanding.
"We created so many opportunities. At half-time, I just said to the boys to continue that play and the law of averages is we'll get that opportunity to go and score.
"There was a real mentality about them to make sure we saw the game out and got all three points. That pleases me most."
Image source, SNS
