Dundee

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Jordan McGhee says Dundee are determined to "right the wrongs" of their meek defeat by Hearts when they resume action against Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday.

Tony Docherty's side were unbeaten in three before the 2-0 Tynecastle loss, which dropped them out of the top six, and have used the following fortnight to refocus.

"It's been good and bad having that time off," said defender McGhee. "Obviously, we were disappointed with the last result and performance.

"You want a game straight away, but it's also good to get a bit more time on the training field, to get more ideas across and give the injured boys some time to try and get themselves back to help us through the winter.

"Having no game last week, there was obviously a bit more pondering to do, looking at yourself, so when you cross the white line on a Saturday, you're trying to right your wrongs."

Dundee - who lost 3-0 to Rangers at Hampden in September - return to Ibrox on Saturday for the first time since squandering a 2-0 lead and losing 5-2 in May.

"It's a tough place to go and play," said McGhee. "Obviously, they've picked up a lot recently, but we're in good form ourselves apart from the Tynecastle performance and result.

"We've always done not too bad down there. I remember the game last season, I scored myself, we went 2-0 up and then a couple of errors were made, but they're always good games to play in."

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• Rangers are unbeaten in 14 meetings with Dundee across all competitions (W12 D2) since a 2-1 defeat in November 2017 under Graeme Murty.

• Dundee have lost their last 18 away games against Rangers in all competitions since a 2-0 victory in March 2001 under Ivano Bonetti.

• Rangers have won their last three league games by an aggregate score of 10-0. The Ibrox side last won more successive Scottish Premiership matches without conceding in December 2021 (6).

• Dundee have only won one of their last 11 away league outings (D4 L6), beating Motherwell 1-0 in October.

• Dundee's Scottish Premiership games this season have seen more goals than any other side (56 – 27F 29A), while Rangers' have seen the fewest (36 – 27F 9A).

Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty hopes the club's partnership with Burnley will help smooth the way to extending the loan of Oluwaseun Adewumi for the rest of the season.

The 19-year-old Austria Under-21 attacking midfielder has impressed since arriving from the Clarets on a deal until January, scoring twice in 10 appearances.

"Of course I would like to. That's something we'll be endeavouring to do," said Docherty.

"We've got a good partnership with Burnley. We've also got that partnership with [Mexican club] Monterrey, it's really forward thinking by the club.

"If you can get good players – Seun being an example of that – you want to keep them and work with them for as long as you can. So that's something as a club we'll be endeavouring to do."

Adewumi has just three games left in his loan spell, but is struggling to be fit for Saturday's trip to face Rangers at Ibrox after going off injured at half-time in Dundee's previous outing, the 2-0 defeat at Hearts on 7 December.

"His recent performances [have been good]," Docherty added. "He picked up a wee knock against Hearts, his quad, and come off in the second half for that reason so we'll monitor him.

"But Seun is a really important member of the squad and when you're going into a run of games in the business end of the season you want your best players."

Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland

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Tony Docherty has been speaking to the media before Dundee face Rangers in the Premiership this weekend.

Here are the key lines from the Dark Blues manager:

• A bug swept through the squad early this week and affected around eight players, but Docherty is "close to getting everybody back".

• Oluwaseun Adewumi hasn't trained with the squad after coming off injured at Tynecastle last time out and is a doubt for Ibrox. Scott Fraser and Clark Robertson won't make the game at Ibrox. Ziyad Larkeche and Joe Shaughnessy remain out.

• Docherty is keen to reach agreement with Burnley to extend the loan of Adewumi beyond January. Contract talks with several players are "ongoing", as are recruitment plans for the January window.

• Defeat to Hearts stalled Dundee's "momentum" but Docherty points out they remain third in the form guide.

• He adds: "It was a little bit frustrating having the [two-week] break but we've spent the time well. We've done a lot of work on the training ground and in the analysis room so we feel good going into this next batch of games."

• The upcoming run of fixtures presents a "challenging time" for Dundee: "We've got seven games in 24 days and two of those are against Rangers and one against Celtic."

• Docherty adds: "It's difficult, it asks questions of the squad but it's why we've assembled the squad. We don't have the biggest squad but we have real quality and competition for places and that will be called upon now."

• The Dens boss expects a formidable challenge against a Rangers side hurting from their League Cup final loss but Dundee aren't going to Ibrox to "make up numbers", and Docherty insists: "They've shown really good form in recent games, but so have our team."

• On Shaughnessy starting light training after long-term injury, Docherty says: "Delighted. Great for Joe and the squad to see him on the training ground and taking part in sessions now, although it's limited what he does. Joe is a great presence, my first signing, such an inspirational character and having him on the training ground with us is a lift for the players."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Dundee go into this weekend's trip to Rangers sitting seventh in the Premiership table having played a game fewer than many of the teams around them.

While last season's excellent showing - where they finished sixth - may have raised expectations, the Dark Blues are pretty well positioned to attack the second half of the season with real optimism.

Consistency has been their problem, but there have been signs recently - last weekend's 2-0 defeat to Hearts not included - they are starting to find their stride.

It will be fascinating to see what business Dundee do in the January transfer window.

They are usually pretty active when they have the chance to add to their squad.

Where might Tony Docherty look to strengthen? Well, they seem to have plenty of creativity in the middle of the park, so perhaps some additions in defence and up front will be on his wishlist.

Inspirational captain Joe Shaughnessy appears to be making good progress on his lengthy return from injury and when he does get back to action, hopefully early in the new year, that will feel like a new signing for Dundee.

The influence and composure he brings to the starting 11 is undoubted.

With the mercurial Lyall Cameron – who is out of contract at the end of the season – continuing to impress, getting some clarity on his future, as well as making sure he goes nowhere in January, will also be a priority.

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

Neil McCann's assessment on Sportscene following Dundee's defeat to Hearts was both optimistic and realistic. With consistency, he suggested, Dundee could stake a strong claim for fourth place, and he's not wrong.

Just a few weeks ago, Dundee climbed above Motherwell with a win, only for the Steelmen to reclaim fourth spot after just two games.

This serves as a reminder of how quickly the Premiership table can shift. A consistent run could propel Dundee into a far more comfortable position in the top six and I believe we are good enough to do it.

We go away to Rangers on Saturday, they'll be looking to take their frustrations out on us after their League Cup final heartbreak

As usual this one is a write-off. Regardless, we must give a good account of ourselves at Ibrox. We have been leaking too many goals all season and maybe a test under relentless pressure from Rangers is required to get our defensive shape and habits in form.

While I'm doubtful about a positive result at Ibrox, I do believe the fixtures afterwards (Ross County at home, St Mirren away and the derby at Dens) are there for the taking to end 2024 on a strong note and head into 2025 with a bang.

Tony Docherty has offered eight of our current squad contract extensions but no doubt he'll still be analysing a catalogue of potential signings for his Christmas list for the upcoming transfer window. Top of the fans' Christmas wishlist - and I am no different - is a win in the new year's derby.

I am confident most players offered new deals will stay on, stability in the first team is crucial for the club to maintain its position of competing in the top flight.

We have witnessed several squad overhauls in the last decade and have suffered dearly from the lack of stability as a result. It's one of the factors why we have succumbed to relegation twice in the last five years.

The one I don't expect to stay is Lyall Cameron. Much like his former midfield partner Luke McCowan, he appears to be destined for a bigger challenge so we have to enjoy him while he is still here.

The 22-year-old has a strong legacy at the club as things stand and should he depart in the summer, I hope he strengthens that by leaving on a high note with the team accomplishing a better feat this season. A few derby goals wouldn't hurt either.

We asked you what nobody is talking about at Dundee, be it good or bad.

Here's what you had to say:

Rod: Why do Dundee have so many out of contract players? I'm worried we will lose our young players for nothing.

Jay: Communication lessons for the defence, or at least get the back five on the same wavelength. Communication needs to be better. Solve the full-back situation and not just stopgaps filling in. Credit to players that at least try. Injured players returning will help, I hope.

Gary: The strange team selections and seeming lack of trust in some players? It's clear to see what Dundee's strongest XI would be, but it's rarely picked in its entirety. Frustratingly a winning side was changed "to bring in freshness" and glaring opportunities for timely and impactful substitutions are continually missed. Other than that, it's fine.

Dundee have a free weekend to regroup as they look to consolidate their top-six spot over the festive period.

But what is the one thing nobody is talking about in relation to Dundee - good or bad?

It might be the manager's tactics, a player's future, or a must-have signing. Whatever it is, let us know., external

Dundee attacker Scott Tiffoney, 26, is "still in discussion" with his club after being offered a new contract and his current deal expiring at the end of the season. (Courier - subscription), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

A lot of the Scottish football focus this season has been on the start fourth-place Dundee United have made - and rightly so.

Given that, it is easy to forget perhaps that their city neighbours Dundee are just five points behind in sixth.

It does make you wonder where the Dark Blues could actually be, or end up, if they can solve the one thing that has been their Achilles heel this term – inconsistency.

Dundee have failed to notch back-to-back league wins – a real source of frustration for a team that has the talent to put a run of victories together.

They may yet do so – and if they can, they will believe they can find themselves in the mix for a European place.

But talking about it and actually doing it are two very different things.

After a disappointing showing at Hearts last weekend, where they went down 2-0, a daunting trip to Ibrox to play Rangers a week on Saturday is next up for Tony Docherty's side.

After that, they have a run of games the Dens Park faithful will feel they are more than capable of winning.

They will be hoping it is a sequence where the consistency they crave could come to the fore.

And if it does, the sky could be the limit for a Dundee team looking to at least match last season's sixth-place finish.

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

Dundee went from devastating to hugely disappointing in the space of three days.

Lasat Wednesday's demolition job on Motherwell was a statement of intent. When Dundee are at their best they can damage teams beyond repair. Three goals in seven minutes – it was a blitzkrieg!

Oluwaseun Adewumi's opening goal was magical - he made it out of nothing - and I hope the club are successful in extending his loan deal from Burnley until the end of the season.

He has a very high ceiling and while he's had some fabulous moments in glimpses, I believe the best is yet to come from the Austrian youth international.

That victory sent us back into the top six and into the capital on cloud nine before we were dragged back down to earth at Tynecastle.

We never looked like scoring, struggled to keep the ball for any more than two passes and never really competed with Hearts.

It was one of Dundee's most uncharacteristic and disappointing performances of the season. After the hour mark it felt like the players couldn't wait for the final whistle. At no point in the game did we look like we would amount to anything and that was seriously depressing.

Lyall Cameron made his 100th appearance for the club. This is the only positive I can take. It's great to see any player, but particularly one organically produced from our youth academy, hit that milestone.

Now we have a free week before our game against Rangers at Ibrox.

I expect to see Dundee find their competitive feet and give a better showing in Glasgow. If we play like we did at Tynecastle then it will be a massacre.

Watch highlights as Hearts win 2-0 against Dundee in the Scottish Premiership. (UK only)

We asked for your views on Dundee's 2-0 defeat against Hearts.

Here's what some of you said:

Phil: So tired of Tony Docherty saying the same thing after a defeat. Bottom line is they need a number of signings in January. That defence has to tighten things up. Can't depend on Joe Shaughnessy being ready, and please stop signing players who have a history of injuries. It doesn't work as we have seen.

Carl: Hearts deserved their victory, but we made it easy for them. Dropping Simon Murray "to freshen us up" is debatable, but as for Scott Tiffoney, it's unforgivable. Hearts had the freedom of the park attacking on their left and Craig Gordon could have been smoking a cigar wearing his slippers. Hope this game was only a blip.

Dudley: After listening to Docherty's post-match Interview, he did not watch the same Dundee tactical shambles as everyone on my supporters bus did. First time ever there was no player of the match because the players were so bad. We just can't defend for the second season running and again second worst goals against in our division. The team is still not learning, felt sorry for our supporters.

Steven: Docherty is single-handedly ruining this season with his personnel decision making. Why would you bring in an experienced left-back and play a central midfielder there? Granted we don't have a worthy right-back so it's understandable to play a central midfielder there, but to go away to Hearts with that set-up was ridiculous.

Brian: Docherty needs to hold his hands up, he got the team selection completely wrong, with no game next week there was no reason to leave out Murray or Tiffoney. Team looked really disinterested at times. Sadly Docherty needs to take a long hard look at himself.

Gary: Docherty challenges his players to stay in the top six, they have for now, but only just, then he makes changes to a winning team that weakens us, all in the name of a small squad and tired legs. We've got a fortnight off until our next game? Then we don't match up against Hearts and that brings on our downfall. A step backwards unfortunately.

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• Dundee failed to attempt a shot on target in this game, it's the first time they failed to attempt a shot on target in a game in the Premiership since facing St Mirren in February 2024.

• Hearts have scored in each of their last three games in the Premiership, scoring four goals in that run.

• Lawrence Shankland attempted nine shots in this game, the highest total for a player in the Premiership this season.

Hearts moved off the bottom of the Scottish Premiership with their first win in six games as Lawrence Shankland ended his goalscoring drought.

The Tynecastle side leapfrog Edinburgh rivals Hibernian to rise up to 11th, while Dundee drop to sixth.

What did you think of that, Dundee fans? What went so wrong in Edinburgh?

Let us know your thoughts, external.

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty: "The overriding feeling is one of frustration, because for whatever reason I just think we weren't at it at all in the first half, we didn't compete," he said. "I thought we did in the second half when we addressed it.

"Whether Wednesday night's exertions [against Motherwell] come into that because Hearts haven't had a game, but some of our decision-making was poor, and sometimes mentally when you're fatigued you make poor decisions.

"Collectively in that first half we made too many poor decisions and allowed Hearts to gain a foothold and get an ascendancy in the game."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Docherty's side were brilliantly clinical against Motherwell through the week and the manager admitted the changes he made - dropping captain Simon Murray and winger Scott Tiffoney - were purely to bring "energy and freshness".

That didn't work. They rarely troubled Craig Gordon and squandered their best chance - an 87th-minute Portales header that would have set up a tense finale.

Perhaps they didn't expect Shankland to show such a cutting edge given his season so far, but they conceded too many chances and Hearts made them pay.

It was a disappointing showing given the strength they've shown at Dens Park this season and their performances on the road - given they've got trips to Ibrox and Paisley this month - must improve.

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Hearts defender Stephen Kingsley is facing a lengthy lay-off with a hamstring injury sustained against Aberdeen last weekend but Frankie Kent could be fit after being forced off in that match with a quad problem.

James Penrice returns from suspension and Yutaro Oda is available after injury and illness but Beni Baningime (knee) is a doubt and Calem Nieuwenhof (hamstring) is still out.

Dundee boss Tony Docherty has no fresh injuries. Ziyad Larkeche (hamstring), Scott Fraser (groin), Joe Shaughnessy (knee) and Clark Robertson (thigh) remain out.

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Tony Docherty say Dundee's mentality is a "real strength" as he urged his side to thrive at "intimidating" Tynecastle on Saturday.

Dundee are up to fifth in the table after just one defeat in the past five games, while Neil Critchley's Hearts languish bottom.

"It is important, the real challenge to players was to get themselves winning games to get themselves in that top six," said manager Docherty.

"And I feel they're a strong, strong squad together. There's a good mentality. Watch the way they celebrate goals, it's everybody together.

"So I can feel a real kind of strength within the squad and a real resolve and a real willingness, that that mentality will take us forward, and they've got themselves in a good position now."

When the sides met at Dens Park in August, Dundee won 3-1, but Docherty insists new boss Critchley has improved Hearts despite their continued struggles.

"Neil's been in now for 10 games and you can see from watching the recent matches he's putting his stamp, and he's formulating the gameplan, the system that he wants to play," he added.

"But very much, it's about my full focus being on our team. We're in a good place at the moment in terms of the form guide. We're sitting, over the last six games, third, behind Celtic and Rangers.

"Hearts have got a lot of really good players. It's a kind of an intimidating stadium, but I think it can be a really good stadium to play in as the away team."

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• Hearts have won both of their last two Scottish Premiership home games against Dundee, this after losing two of their previous three beforehand (D1).

• Dundee have won three of their last six top-flight league games against Hearts (L3), as many as their previous 14 beforehand (W3 D3 L8).

• No side has earned fewer points at home in the Scottish Premiership this season than Hearts (6). Hearts have won just one of their last eight home games in the competition (D4 L3).

• Dundee have won three of their last five league games (D1 L1), more than they had in their previous 18 (W2 D6 L10). They're looking to pick up back-to-back league victories for the first time since March.

• Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland has had more shots than any other player in the Scottish Premiership this season (48). However, he's found the net with just one of these shots, giving him a conversion rate of just 2%.

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The derby between Dundee and Dundee United at Dens Park in the Scottish Cup fourth round will take place on Monday, 20 January.

The game kicks off at 20:00 GMT and will be broadcast live on Premier Sports.

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On-loan Burnley midfielder Oluwaseun Adewumi is refusing to worry about his future as he focuses on grabbing his opportunity to shine at Dundee.

The 19-year-old crowned a man-of-the-match performance with his second goal for the Dark Blues in their 4-1 win over Motherwell on Wednesday.

"I think things are going really good for now, it was a huge step for me [moving to Dundee], but I think I've managed it quite good," said Adewumi.

"For me, it's just about keeping my form and when I get the chance to play, just give my best and show my quality. I'm just pushing myself every day and hopefully things will go well."

Adewumi's loan runs until January and the Austrian insisted he has not given much thought to whether he will remain at Dundee beyond next month.

"Not really, my main goal is just to develop myself and gain experience every day, so I don't really worry about stuff going behind the scenes," he said.

"Burnley are in contact every week and they always make sure that everything is going good, and for now things are going really well for me.

"It's a huge step moving from Austria to Scotland, but the players here are really kind to me and they're also trying to push me. It's really good here.

"We score a lot of goals so it's also a benefit for me. I love to play with the players, we have a good chemistry in the squad."