Dundee

We asked for your views on Dundee's 4-0 defeat against Aberdeen.

Here's what some of you said:

Albert: Obviously disappointed today with the scoreline. I think the international break will help us through. Steven Pressley can get the players fully fit and implement his plans as we haven't been too bad.

John: The team is only heading in one direction - the Championship.

Alan: A shameful and gutless display from a dreadfully poor Dundee eleven. This is the inevitable result of putting someone who hadn't managed for six years in the hot seat. It's only early October but we already look like we're on for relegation. The next home game is against Celtic and I very much suspect there will be less than 3,000 home fans in attendance.

Niall: Awful performance. Need to dump the manager, he is clueless. There is no attacking intent. We are looking to draw every game and 4-0 against a less than average Aberdeen is embarrassing.

John: Writing is on the wall. Considering Pressley was a defender, his tactics passed onto our defence or what they're working on is shocking. A half decent defence and none of the Aberdeen goals, with the exception of the penalty, would have happened. The buck stops with Pressley. If he stays, Championship here we come.

Dudley: I was Pressley to succeed but sadly we are going down. None of the summer signings are near Premiership standard and I've never seen so many passive displays from players with zero effort and commitment.

Brian: One of the worst performances I've ever seen from a Dundee side. No passion, no fight and no class whatsoever. Really abysmal. The manager does not have a clue.

Danny: Absolutely shocking performance. I know Pressley has a difficult job on his hands but most of his signings have been a huge disappointment and are just not up to playing in this league. Yan Dhanda and Fin Robertson are just too lightweight in midfield and there is no pace or cohesion in the link up play from defence to midfield or further forward.

Neil: Schoolboy defending. Can't blame a manager when his players can't even kick or control and block the ball properly.

Ian: Shocking result. The lack of ambition shown by Pressley's appointment was obvious to all at the time. Disappointed doesn't begin to cover it. No one should be getting rolled over 4-0.

A Jesper Karlsson-inspired Aberdeen ended their Scottish Premiership goal drought and romped to their first win of the Scottish Premiership season by putting four past Dundee at Pittodrie.

Read the full match report here.

Tell us your thoughts here.

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Dundee head coach Steven Pressley told BBC Scotland: "A really disappointing afternoon. It wasn't for a lack of effort, they ran hard and worked extremely hard out of possession.

"But we just didn't get things right and that's on me. The distances weren't right. We jumped to press at the wrong time and opened ourselves up.

"At times, the gaps between us were enormous and Aberdeen exploited that. Ultimately, as manager, I'm responsible for that.

"Whether it's tactics or the execution, it's on me. That's the reality of it. The players' attitude was good, but we didn't execute what we'd worked towards.

"There were too many things we didn't get right today and on reflection, we were lucky it was only 4-0.

"We must improve, as coaches and players, and keep working towards a Dundee side that makes our supporters proud.

"We're caught in between just now. We probably haven't quite nailed down the system at this moment in time. We're trying to find solutions, but we've not managed to find that."

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Head coach Steven Pressley says Dundee will aim to use the pressure facing Aberdeen to their advantage on Sunday.

The Dens Park club travel to Pittodrie with a win, three losses and three draws in the league, compared to the Dons' five losses and one draw.

Despite being winless in 16 league visits at Pittodrie, Pressley remains hopeful his team will earn a positive result.

"If we start aggressively, if we score the first goal, then of course playing for Aberdeen is a high-pressured position," Pressley said.

"With that high pressure comes the demands of the supporters, so that's something we have to try to use to our advantage.

"I think it's a great stage for us. We have shown certain signs of improvement."

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Aberdeen full-back Alexander Jensen is available after missing Thursday's Conference League defeat by Shakhtar Donetsk through suspension but defender Kristers Tobers (knee) is out long term.

Dundee have Simon Murray, Paul Digby and Yan Dhanda back in their squad but have fitness doubts over Callum Jones and Billy Koumetio. Cesar Garza is still away with Mexico Under-20s.

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Cameron Congreve is determined to keep his place in the Dundee team and build on his burgeoning creative impact.

The 21-year-old Swansea loanee has provided three Premiership assists - two more than any other Dundee player - and has started the past two games after his first three appearances were all off the bench.

As Dundee target victory at Aberdeen on Saturday, Congreve said: "Every player wants to be the first name on the teamsheet.

"Hopefully I can keep performing, keep adding impact to the game, the goals and assists and stay in the starting XI.

"There was a lot of new players coming in the building, but we're all gelling together really well.

"We're working on stuff on the pitch every day and progressing really well, hopefully the next few weeks we can pick up some really good results.

"I'm settling in really well, the lads from day one helped me, they're a really good bunch.

"It's 100% the right decision, I felt that straight away as soon as I came here."

Dundee have picked up just one win in their first seven league fixtures, but Congreve says the squad are full of belief for the trip to bottom club Aberdeen, whose winless run continued with Conference League defeat by Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday night.

"We're all really confident going into it," added the Welshman.

"Playing a few days before that, they probably will be a little bit more tired and it's quite tense up there at the moment but they're a good team. They showed that last year in the first half of the season.

"We've just got to go into the game confident and go and attack it."

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• Aberdeen have won their past three league meetings with Dundee, after having only won two of their previous seven beforehand (D3 L2).

• Dundee are winless in 16 league visits to Aberdeen (D5 L11) since a 2-1 victory in May 2004 under Jim Duffy.

• Aberdeen have become the first side to fail to score in each of their opening six matches of a top-flight season since Aberdeen themselves in 1999-00. The last side to go seven games without a goal at any stage of a Scottish Premiership campaign were Livingston from October to December 2023.

• Dundee have won just one of their seven league games this season (D3 L3) and are winless away from home in the Scottish Premiership this term (D2 L1).

• Dundee have both had the fewest shots (50) and faced the joint-most shots (95, level with Dundee United) of any side in the Scottish Premiership this season.

Steven Pressley says Trevor Carson was allowed to join Ross County on loan because the 38-year-old goalkeeper did not want to sit on the bench at his stage of career after the Dundee head coach decided Jon McCracken would be his number one this season. (The Courier), external

Hibernian head coach David Gray has revealed that a barnstorming Tynecastle performance by Josh Mulligan for Dundee against Heart of Midlothian helped seal the midfielder's summer move to Easter Road and hopes for a repeat by the 22-year-old in Saturday's derby. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Police fear Dundee's plan to manage traffic at their proposed new, 12,500-seat Camperdown Stadium could compromise road safety. (The Courier), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

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Steven Pressley wants his side to capitalise on any fatigue in Aberdeen's ranks as Dundee seek to win at Pittodrie for the first time in 21 years.

Aberdeen - bottom of the Premiership with just one point from six matches - host Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday in the Conference League before welcoming Dundee to Pittodrie this weekend.

And Pressley believes that schedule could benefit Dundee, who last played on Saturday when they lost 1-0 at St Mirren.

"The exertions of European games certainly take their toll and hopefully it does impact them on Sunday," he said.

"First and foremost, we have to make sure we're at it and going there with real energy. If we do that, I think we can get something."

Aberdeen also lost their last outing - against Motherwell - but Pressley is under no illusions about the scale of the task, despite Jimmy Thelin's side's struggles.

"It's a very important game for ourselves. They have got some really good players and we are aware we haven't won up there since 2004, before Tony Yogane was actually born.

"That tells you the size of the challenge, but we've trained well this week. We look hungry, we look ready and we've got players returning from injury and suspension."

George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

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Dundee manager Steven Pressley has been talking to the media before his side's Scottish Premiership trip to Aberdeen on Sunday.

Here are the best bits from his press conference:

• Pressley expects a tough challenge and says Premiership bottom club Aberdeen were "much improved" last weekend despite defeat at Motherwell. He points to the fact Dundee haven't won at Pittodrie since 2004, which is before Dark Blues winger Tony Yogane was born.

• The Dundee boss thinks it is a "great stage" for his team to prove themselves, having been competitive in recent matches.

• Pressley believes the "exertions" of European competition will "take its toll" on Aberdeen and hopes that will benefit his side on Sunday.

• It will take "a number of windows" before Dundee are where Pressley wants they to be.

• The 51-year-old insists he is loving his time at the club and praised the work ethic of his players.

• Simon Murray - who Pressley describes as "invaluable" - returned to team training on Tuesday, while Paul Digby has trained all week and is available. Callum Jones and Billy Koumetio are doubts for the game.

Head coach Steven Pressley is already planning to strengthen his Dundee squad in the January transfer window, saying "we're not near where we need to be". (The Courier), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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It sums up Dundee's season that a week after talismanic striker Simon Murray gets his first league goal of the campaign - in a 3-2 win over Livingston - he then misses the next game through illness and they lose at St Mirren.

It shows not just the importance of Murray, but also the stop-start nature of Dundee's campaign so far.

It was hoped the win over Livingston - their first in the league under Steven Pressley - would be a turning point for the head coach and his new-look side.

But it became one step forward, two steps back for a team craving consistency of result and performance.

That is going to be very difficult to achieve with an incredibly challenging block of fixtures coming up.

Four of the Dark Blues' next six games are on the road – starting with Aberdeen on Sunday before trips to Falkirk, Hearts and Hibs.

In among those matches they have home dates with Celtic and Rangers.

So we will certainly learn a lot about this Dundee side over the next half dozen games. How they fare could have a big say in shaping the narrative of their season.

Ethan Hamilton has brought an old fashion Manchester United-like approach to Dundee, says manager Steven Pressley. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

Saturday in Paisley felt like a match played in treacle - slow, sticky and short on quality.

Chance creation was once again a problem. Although credit must go to the Buddies' organisation - their zonal marking cut off supply lines - the lack of imagination in our play was worrying.

By the end, we were almost playing exclusively for set-pieces, only to see the deliveries fall flat and waste the little momentum we built.

Our main source for shots on target came via two long-range strikes from Ethan Hamilton. Neither troubled the net, but one of these weeks he's going to rattle one into the top corner and add another screamer to his collection.

With a trip to Pittodrie up next on Sunday, there's at least hope the return of Simon Murray and Yan Dhanda could give Dundee the spark we need.

Murray's absence in Paisley was glaring. He's the one player in this squad who presses, forcing defenders into mistakes and setting the tone from the front.

If Dundee can bring that edge back - and finally create some clear-cut opportunities - they'll be on the right path to racking up points.

Last season we were predictably the side that lifted Aberdeen out of their rut. Avoiding the same scenario this time would be a signal that Steven Pressley's team is developing a stronger mentality.

Manager Steven Pressley expects Dundee captain Simon Murray to return to training today after missing the weekend defeat to St Mirren through illness. (The Courier, subscription required), external

Watch Sportscene analysis of Dundee's start to the season.

Watch all the highlights of St Mirren's 1-0 win over Dundee in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Dundee's 1-0 defeat against St Mirren.

Here's what some of you said:

John: Reasonable effort considering no Simon Murray. However, I fear it's not good enough and Steven Pressley's living on borrowed time. We need to be more aggressive and offensive. Attack is often the best form of defence.

Gary: Unfortunately it highlights the amount of work Murray puts in each week. Never mind everyone saying we're a one-man team, but there's too many others that never match his work rate, so much so that when he's missing we're almost two men down. Instead, the rest should be lifting their performance, otherwise we'll end up with nothing.

Albert: Although a defeat today, I can see encouraging signs in our set up. It was always going to be tough without our talisman Murray. Dust ourselves down and go again next match.

Phil: It was always going to be difficult missing the goal threat from Murray and the creativity of Yan Dhanda. I thought there wasn't much between them for large periods of the game, which says a lot for this young team against a strong St Mirren especially at home, I'm confident that if Murray and Dhanda had been playing Dundee could have earned at least a point.

Adam: There's just no entertainment with this Dundee side. Taking away the Livingston game, every other game, we've played to keep the game 0-0 and invariably we are not even good at that. I've watched worse Dundee sides; I've yet to watch a more boring one than this side.

Alan: Woeful yet again, never looked like scoring and playing football so dull that the fans are deserting in droves. Player recruitment has been poor, the manager looks out of his depth and you can give a cast-iron guarantee that Aberdeen will get their first league goals and win of the season next weekend!

Killian Phillips' first-half goal against Dundee secured St Mirren's second Scottish Premiership win of the season and moved Stephen Robinson's side third in the table.

Read the full match report here

Have your say on the game via this link

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Dundee manager Steven Pressley: "There was very little in the game. Simon Murray's always going to be a big miss.

"St Mirren, without doubt, finished the first half the stronger team. We created some good moments in the second half. We defended our set plays with great effect.

"Something we put a big onus on is attacking set plays and set plays can be the difference in this league between being a top-six club and being a bottom-six club and today, our attacking set plays were really poor.

"The signs are there, we're not far away. I felt we should've got something, we should've certainly got something."

Dundee midfielder Tony Yogane is not satisfied with his performances so far this season and believes there is a lot more to come from him. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

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St Mirren striker Mikael Mandron will have a toe injury assessed. Captain Mark O'Hara has had an injection in a foot injury after scans and is unlikely to be involved but should be back next week, while Marcus Fraser is working his way back from an ankle injury.

Yan Dhanda is still suspended for Dundee, who have Paul Digby back in training after a calf injury. Mexico Under-20 international Cesar Garza is on international duty.

Alfie Robinson
BBC Sport Scotland

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Joe Westley believes Dundee's first league win of the season can be the catalyst for a strong run of form after the thrilling 3-2 victory over Livingston last weekend hoisted the Dark Blues into the top six.

The 20-year-old striker, who scored his first goal for the club in the win, highlighted the importance of the result for both his own confidence and the team's as they look to make it two in a row by beating hosts St Mirren on Saturday.

"Yeah, the manager spoke to us after the game and said winning breeds confidence," Westley said.

"Getting that first win was massive for us. Everyone is buzzing, and it's the best feeling in football. Now we need to take that into the next game.

"When you've got that first goal looming over you, it's great to get it out of the way and just kick on from there. It's given me a lot of confidence.

"Looking at the table is not something we focus on too much. A win this weekend will obviously push us up, but we just need to focus on how we're going to beat them."

Off the pitch, Westley has settled in well at Dundee following his summer arrival from Burnley on a three-year deal.

"I'm loving it here," he said. "The lads and the staff have made me feel welcome from day one. We've got a really close group, and you saw that last weekend when we reacted together after conceding two goals.

"It's a massive thing to have that camaraderie and togetherness, especially with the challenges that come throughout the season.

"We've got a lot of quality in the squad. Once everything clicks, I think we'll be a force to be reckoned with.

"We've got the attacking options, and once we get those relationships going, I think we'll be dangerous."