Dundee

Tony Docherty talks to BBC Scotland after Dundee drew with Kilmarnock.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

No one was leaving this game early, as every league game between these sides has had at least one goal in injury time.

It really didn't look like it this time. After Kilmarnock went down to 10 men, they tried their best but it didn't look like a goal was necessarily forthcoming.

But McInnes again found a way past his former number two, as both managers toyed and tinkered with their sides throughout the game.

Kilmarnock were the first to change their shape and it worked as they soon found an equaliser.

Similarly, when Owen Dodgson replaced Lyall Cameron for Dundee, Docherty got one over McInnes - but it would not last.

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Dundee boss Tony Docherty tells BBC Scotland: "You've got to be disappointed. I thought we were the better team by a long way. In the opening period, we were excellent. Moved the ball well, numerous opportunities to get into final third. Kilmarnock, to be fair, put us under pressure and we addressed at half-time.

"It was a decent, well-fought game. But when we get the opportunity with the penalty, it should be enough. We had opportunity to go 3-1 up and we never took them. That's three 2-2s now and the games have all been quite similar. I've got to be pleased because after a heavy defeat during the week, the reaction was important and we got that - opening 30 we were outstanding.

"I've got an honest group. That's why I'm late out, we've had an honest discussion about going forward and when we're in a winning position, we don't give the opposition opportunities to come back into the game.

"I remind people of the fact we are the newly-promoted team. There's a frustration that we should manage that game and see it out. We've got 10 games now until the end of the season, so we need to make sure we do it better. We need to strive to do that. They're a fantastic bunch and I was pleased but not surprised by the reaction. Our season won't be defined by Old Firm results but it will be defined by our reaction.

"We should win today, we're the better team. Kilmarnock did what they do well. I keep saying that all I want is a consistent level of performance, and that's what I get.

"I would say we're on a par with Kilmarnock, and they've had a brilliant season. We went toe-to-toe today and we were the better team."

Did you think that was won, Dundee fans? Why does that keep happening against Kilmarnock?

Who impressed you today, and are you still confident of the top six?

Let us know your thoughts here.

Dundee: McCracken, Portales, Shaughnessy, Donnelly, Beck, Mulligan, Sylla, Cameron, McCowan Tiffoney, Main.

Substitutes: Legzdins, Sharp, Dodgson, Astley, Bakayoko, Lamie, Boateng, Mellon, Costelloe.

Kilmarnock: Dennis, Wright, Mayo, Deas, Ndaba, Armstrong, Donnelly, Polworth, Kennedy, Watkins, Vassell.

Substitutes: O'Hara, McKenzie, Watson, Balagizi, Murray, Cameron, Davies, Mackay-Steven, Van Veen.

Dundee are without the suspended midfielder Finlay Robertson, while defender Jordan McGhee drops out with a calf injury.

Ryan Howley, Zach Robinson and Diego Pineda are still out.

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes will look to manage the minutes of forward Greg Stewart, who has a groin issue.

Midfielders Kyle Magennis and Brad Lyons remain out.

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty insists it will not be defeats to the Old Firm which will define their season - after backing his side to put their midweek horror show against Celtic behind them.

The Dens Park side have already come back from defeats to Rangers and Celtic this season with impressive results against Kilmarnock, Livingston and Ross County.

And as Docherty prepares to face old friend Derek McInnes once again, he is confident the resilience built into his team will keep that momentum going.

"As a newly-promoted club there is going to be bumps in the road, of course there is," he said.

"What won't define our season is a defeat by the Old Firm. What will define our season is our reaction to it.

"Before Wednesday night we were the top scorers outside the Old Firm in the league so the players deserve a lot of credit considering where they are just now, but we're nowhere near finished."

Docherty and McInnes were dugout partners for more than a decade at St Johnstone, Bristol City, Aberdeen and Kilmarnock before he took charge of Dundee at the start of the season.

Saturday's visit by Killie will mark the third encounter as rivals between the two pals.

"Me and Derek are both competitive animals," he said. "We're good friends and we speak regularly but when the whistle blows it's all about your team.

"As well as being a friend he's a top operator. You don't have that longevity at the top level if you're not."

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Scottish Premiership visit from Kilmarnock.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Docherty said Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers told him after the 7-1 defeat it was the best performance they've put in since his return to the job.

• His players are ready to move on from the loss - and have a track record this season of following up Old Firm defeats with a win over the next opponents.

• He added: "What won't define our season is a defeat by the Old Firm. What will define our season is our reaction to it."

• Docherty expects Finlay Robertson to return to the first team quickly after his sending off against Celtic.

• The Dens boss looking forward to facing Derek McInnes again: "We're good friends and we speak regularly, but when the whistle blows it's all about your team."

• Docherty called on the fans to get behind the side: "It'll be a tough game against Kilmarnock but with it being at home and with that support behind us we go into it with a wee bit of optimism."

• Ryan Howley and Zach Robinson are both still injured. Diego Pineda will also miss out, as will Jordan McGhee who has undergone a scan on a calf problem.

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We offered you the chance to submit questions to one of our Sportscene pundits.

Q: Would you get rid of VAR?

I don’t envisage Scotland making a drastic call about VAR while other nations still operate with it. We need to accept it’s here to stay.

Within football there has to be an element of human error, players make mistakes, but the fact we’ve seen a big increase in errors means there’s clear improvement required.

That goes beyond Scottish football, though, you see that all over the place. What we need to do here is continue to upskill the referees. Their performances need to improve and there needs to be more accountability.

These incorrect decisions are very costly for clubs. Recognising an error is okay, but you can’t be offering out apologies every week.

Dundee defender Ricki Lamie has called on his teammates to show their character again after their 7-1 defeat to Celtic in midweek.

The Dens Park side play host to Kilmarnock on Saturday, and the 30-year-old defender wants to see the same spirit that contained Celtic in the second half of their rout.

"As a defender as well it’s embarrassing to concede that many goals," he said.

“But listen, plenty of teams have gone there and conceded heavily or been dominated from the first whistle.

“Not every team can bounce back straight after. It’s a massive game on Saturday, when you look at results elsewhere we probably got away with it in terms of the league table, so it’s imperative that we pick ourselves up and go again.

“There’s plenty in that dressing room, a blend of young, energetic players that want to do well and kick on, and a wee bit of experience as well, who have been on the back of poor results but know how it is to bounce back.”

Having shipped six goals before half-time on Wednesday, Dundee limited Celtic's opportunities in the second half, and grabbed a consolation goal, despite being down to ten men after Finlay Robertson's red card.

“The gaffer touched upon it, ‘go out and try and win the second half’," said Lamie.

"Again, it’s even harder again with 10 men. When they are five or six goals to the good, it’s probably fair to say they maybe weren’t as at it as they were in the first half, but I thought we showed a wee bit of personality.

“Not that it means a lot, but in terms of having that bit about us, I think that’s another positive to take on a poor night.”

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Dundee don't have long to bounce back from that 7-1 defeat to Celtic on Wednesday night as they prepare to welcome Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Who do you want to see in the starting lineup?

Put yourself in Tony Docherty's shoes and pick your XI here.

Dundee's miserable night at Celtic was completed when their team bus broke down and had to be towed away. (Daily Record)

Read the rest of Thursday's gossip.

Dundee fans have you got any questions for one of our Sportscene pundits after that crushing defeat against Celtic?

On the game or the season as a whole, send them over via this link.

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty: "Really disappointed. The first three goals are so preventable, and it's something I've not seen in my team all season.

"You don't give a good team like Celtic chances like that. We just need to make sure we're ready for Saturday and get back on it.

"There has to be a wee bit of reality - we're a newly promoted team and I'm disappointed with our record against the Old Firm this season. I back those players 100% because they've given me everything this season.

"There's no time to feel sorry for ourselves. It's important we show that personality so there's a reaction to that disappointment tonight. Celtic were fantastic, but they didn't have to work hard to get their goals."

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland

That was an almost faultless performance from Celtic, full of intent and energy. The starting 11 set the tone.

The pressure they applied was constant; the finishing sublime and clinical. The scoreline meant Celtic could bring on fresh legs in the second half, but their high tempo wasn't disrupted - they went looking for more.

This will be a sore one for Dundee, moving on may be easier said than done. But they’ll need to. For all Celtic were lively and dangerous, Dundee didn’t defend well, they’ll need to rectify that and quickly.

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Celtic: Hart, Johnston, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Taylor, Iwata, McGregor, O'Riley, Yang, Maeda, Idah.

Substitutes: Bain, Palma, Kyogo, Kuhn, Bernardo, Vata, Kelly, Ralston, Welsh.

Dundee: Carson, McGhee, Shaughnessy, Lamie, Portales, Beck, McCowan, Boateng, Robertson, Main, Bakayoko.

Substitutes: McCracken, Dodgson, Astley, Tiffoney, Cameron, Mulligan, Donnelly, Mellon, Sylla.

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Dundee defender Jordan McGhee insists there will be no hangover from Saturday's disappointing 2-1 defeat to Hibs, and says they are out to frustrate Celtic on Wednesday.

"We never turned up [against Hibs] and put our stamp on the game, but we’ve got a good group - we’ll try to bounce back on Wednesday night," he said. "We know it’ll be tough, but we’ll give it our best shot.

“They are a top team, but we’ve got good players as well. We’ll go down there and give it our best.

"We’ve got a gameplan to try to frustrate them. When we get chances, we’ve got to be clinical and make the most of set-pieces.”

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland

The season may not quite be at its business end yet, but in terms of the shakedown for top six spots, we are fast approaching the time where a couple of wins, or a couple of defeats, could prove decisive for those teams who are embroiled in the battle to secure their place in the top half of the table come the split.

Dundee are one such team. They currently occupy sixth place, and they will be determined to hang on to a position they have worked so hard to get themselves into.

However, this midweek’s trip to play Celtic wouldn’t be the fixture they would have chosen to have next as they look to try and further cement their top half of the Scottish Premiership credentials.

A tough assignment undoubtedly, but Tony Docherty has watched his side grow during the campaign, and it is a challenge they certainly won’t be daunted by.

But in terms of the bigger picture, after their trip to Parkhead, four of the next five games the Dark Blues play are at home, a run of fixtures which will undoubtedly have all those connected to the club believing that they can go on and get the job done.

That would really be the icing on the cake, amid what has been a hugely impressive return to the top flight for the club.

A hamstring injury sidelines Celtic's Maik Nawrocki with Liel Abada and Reo Hatate also missing.

Dundee will be without Ryan Howley, Diego Pineda, Charlie Reilly and Zach Robinson.

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