Dundee

Owen Beck was withdrawn during Dundee's 2-0 win over Ross County "as a precaution", says manager Tony Docherty. (Courier - subscription required), external

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As Dundee's squad approaches full strength with players returning from injury, Tony Docherty was pleased with their shape and diligence in a deserved 2-0 win over Ross County.

"It was going to be a tough game. Scott Tiffoney provided the quality with his outstanding finishes," the manager told BBC Scotland.

"I demanded we kept a clean sheet, now we've got the strength of squad back, it's important we learn from not defending a lead earlier in the season. That's the most pleasing aspect. Our structure was excellent.

"I don't like crosses coming in the box but I know I've got the penalty-box defenders there to deal with it."

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BBC Scotland's Jane Lewis at Dens Park

A two goal victory for Dundee, but it wasn’t as comfy as that may sound, with Ross County playing some good stuff and looking dangerous. But at 1-0 down, County failed to take their chances.

Livingston’s win will have rubbed salt into their wounds too. They meet next weekend.

Both Dundee goals were lovely on the eye. Terrific build-up play and the lively Scott Tiffoney finished both really well. That was the main difference between the sides - finishing. Dundee did it brilliantly, Ross County need to work on theirs.

Dundee will back themselves for a top-six finish, they’re playing well as a unit, look full of confidence up front and defensively solid.

Dundee boss Tony Docherty makes a single change from the Tayside clash with St Johnstone as his team host toiling Ross County.

Dara Costelloe replaces Zach Robinson in attack, with the latter dropping to the bench.

Dundee: Carson, McGhee, Shaughnessy, Donnelly, Beck, Sylla, Costelloe, McCowan, Cameron, Tiffoney, Bakayoko.

Substitutes: McCracken, Dodgson, Astley, Main, Lamie, Mulligan, Robinson, Robertson, Boateng.

Ross County: Wickens, Ayina, Leak, Efete, Brown, Loturi, Sheaf, Dhanda, Reid, Murray, Brophy.

Substitutes: Laidlaw, Borthwick-Jackson, Sims, Harmon, Henderson, Khela, White.

Aaron Donnelly has hailed the mentality of his Dundee teammates after their comeback against St Johnstone.

The defender said the side showed their character by scoring a late goal in the 2-1 victory over the Saints and knows that will be important in Saturday's clash with Ross County.

“We are just trying to build momentum," he said.

"We have had a lot of late knocks in terms of conceding late goals but that shows the character in the group on Saturday, coming back from 1-0 down in the second half and scoring a late goal.

"I thought it was a really big performance from the boys.”

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Michael Mellon will miss Saturday's match after that nasty head knock he picked up in the win over St Johnstone.

Charlie Reilly, Ryan Howley, Antonio Portales and Diego Pineda are also out injured and will be absent for the game against County.

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• After their 1-0 win in December, Dundee are looking to pick up back-to-back victories over Ross County in the top-flight for only the second time, previously doing so in August 2016.

• Ross County have only lost one of their 12 previous top-flight away games against Dundee (W6 D5), a 5-2 defeat in April 2016 under Jim McIntyre.

• Dundee put an end to a three-game losing run at home last time out by beating St. Johnstone 2-1; they are looking to win consecutive home league matches for only the second time this season (also doing so in November).

• Ross County are winless in nine league games (D2 L7), last going 10 without a victory in the Scottish Premiership from July-October 2021.

• Against Rangers last time out, Ross County’s George Wickens made 19 saves, at least five more than any goalkeeper on record (from 2013-14) in a single Scottish Premiership game. Indeed, Wickens had, by comparison, only made a combined 12 saves in his first four appearances in the competition beforehand.

It was a big result at Dens Park last time out as Dundee came from behind to see off Tayside rivals St Johnstone.

Tony Docherty's men are once again in home comforts on Saturday when they welcome relegation strugglers Ross County.

Who would you like to see in the starting line-up? Pick your team here.

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St Johnstone manager Craig Levein insists Liam Gordon did not intend to injure Michael Mellon and says criticism of his skipper from Dundee boss Tony Docherty was "inappropriate". (Courier), external

Read the rest of Wednesday's Scottish gossip.

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Daniel Smith, Up Wi' The Bonnets podcast, external

After a very underwhelming display and result away to St Mirren in midweek, it was with great delight that Dundee managed to banish the thoughts of that defeat with a fine victory over St Johnstone at Dens Park.

If truth be told, I headed into this match with full confidence that we would claim the three points and even though the Saints took their time with goal-kicks and throw-ins from nine minutes onwards, their was no doubt in my mind that we had enough in us to go onto score the goals needed for the victory.

Was our penalty a dubious one given by the much-criticised VAR? Aye, it was but with all the decisions that have gone against us recently, it's about time we were awarded a soft penalty.

Owen Beck provided the winner with a minute to go, as he delivered an inch-perfect ball into the box which Jordan McGhee expertly nodded into the bottom corner.

Delight for the Dundee fans and dismay for the traveling St Johnstone support whose big day out was ruined.

The big talking point was of course the performance of referee David Munro, who let play rage on after Burnley loanee Michael Mellon clashed heads with Saints defender Liam Gordon.

The fact it took our club doctor to run onto the field for play to stop further highlights just how massively the man in the middle got it wrong.

Mellon received treatment for around 10 minutes such was the extent of his head injury.

The whistle should have gone immediately; questions need to be asked and answers given for why it didn't.

Listen to the latest episode of BBC Scotland's Scottish Football Podcast here.

Amy Canavan is joined by Rory Loy and John Walker – analyst and host of the Scots Abroad podcast – to discuss all the big talking points in Scottish football.

They give their thoughts on Don Cowie at Ross County, interim managers in general and the Michael Mellon head injury incident.

And, with the Euros looming into view, we take a look at the Scotland squad and assess some of the players hoping to force their way in, including Plymouth Argyle's Ryan Hardie.

Dundee fans have criticised the Scottish Premiership club over an unpaid internship job advertisement. (The Courier), external

Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.

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Dundee's match-winner Jordan McGhee praised his side's attitude after they came from behind to beat St Johnstone in the Tayside derby.

Despite dominating large swathes of the game, Dundee were behind until the 75th minute, before McGhee's header in the 89th minute sealed the win.

“Obviously losing a goal early is not great, especially at home," McGhee said. "But we stuck to the game plan, moved the ball well and created a lot of chances.

"Its didn't seem that it was going to be our day but the attitude of the boys was outstanding. It went to the wire and eventually we got the three points.”

Dundee's equaliser came through a contentious VAR penalty, after Liam Gordon's hand struck Amadou Bakayoko's face.

“I was close to it next to Bakayoko," McGhee explained. "I heard a big thud not knowing what had been hit. I turned and Baka was holding his face. He [the referee] has looked at the monitor and deemed it as a penalty. These things are supposed to even themselves out over the season so we will take it and move on.

“That’s part and parcel with VAR. Not just here but all around the world. They tend to even themselves out over the season so that’s what happening at the moment.

“I think it’s good in ways. It cuts out for a defender in the box if you get fouled but obviously when you score you don’t know when to celebrate with offsides and that. I think it’s good for the game but there are teething problems. I’m sure everything will come together and sort itself out.”

We asked for your views on Dundee's dramatic 2-1 win over St Johnstone. Here is what you had to say...

Grant: Sylla and Beck were brilliant today. We should be aiming to stay in top six and maybe even aiming for fifth. Docherty's biggest job will be replacing the excellent loan players we have - particularly Beck, Donnelly, Boateng and Mellon.

Dave: As bewildering as some of the recent decisions against Dundee have been, today is the day they should be kicking Crawford Allan's door down demanding answers re: refereeing standards. Twice today, David Munro played on while Dundee players had head injuries. The Mellon one was unforgivable. Don't refs have a duty of care any more?

Gary: Looked like it was to be one of those days, nothing seemed to come off for us. Saints offered almost nothing and were leading for longer than gave them credit. Only downside was Mellon’s knock which looked bad, so hopefully he’s okay.

Steven: As usual, the defence was so fragile - only Livingston have conceded more. I'm desperate for Portales to return with some pace and intelligence. Once again, the opposition targeted our right side - try Costelloe or Dodgson at right-back. Tiffoney should be right wing, not left. What's up with Astley? Donnelly will never be a centre-half at this level, try as he might.

Jeff: A good win. Lots of pressure but Saints defence protected their keeper well. Justice was done. The highlights were our winner and Saints fans quickly singing 'Dens Is Falling Apart Again' when the corner flag was broken - fair dos!

Doug: The Dees wholly deserved their win after putting in a very convincing team performance. A one goal winning margin was not an accurate reflection of their dominance, and it was good to see a VAR decision that went their way for a welcome change. We can only hope that Mellon injury isn’t as bad as it looked.

Andrew Petrie, BBC Sport Scotland

When managers talk about turning performances into results, you usually take it with a pinch of salt. This time though, Tony Docherty was spot on.

When Dundee come forward, it's like watching young boys play. Bags of energy and tricks, desperate to beat a man and have a shot - they just need to find that clinical edge.

You wonder if they'd have been able to rescue anything had they not been gifted a penalty. It was just the confidence boost they needed.

Starting McCowan, Tiffoney and Cameron together worked. They created bag loads of chances, but they needed a forward in front of them to finish it off.

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Did you always believe, Dundee fans? Who impressed you most today?

And what position should Tony Docherty be aiming for in the Scottish Premiership?

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Dundee boss Tony Docherty tells BBC Scotland: "My team were fantastic today. The level of performance, the bravery in a derby game. There was a real intensity about their play. Their bravery was rewarded. The stats will show that everything we wanted to do, we did.

"Baka [Amadou Bakayoko] told me there was a hand in his face. It's justified, it's a penalty. And we're due a break with the amount of penalties against us. The penalty was fully merited because of the bravery they showed.

"Michael Mellon isn't great. I'd like the referee to answer some questions. It's horrific, the blow that he took to the head. For a referee to allow that to continue... I have to give great credit to my club doctor, Derek McCormack, who ran on the pitch. The referee allowed play to go on. That was life endangering, that challenge.

"We got our just rewards. We went 1-0 down against the run of play. A lot of teams would have given up. But the character of the squad, the bravery, the intensity was rewarded. I'm proud of the performance and pleased they got rewarded."

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Owen Beck. So good they signed him twice. He's so creative and dangerous from left-back, and has the energy of a Duracell bunny. Up and down all afternoon, Dundee would struggle without him.

It's hard not to be reminded of another young left-back who played up the street about a decade ago. What happened to him?