Dundee

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• Dundee have won just one of their last 18 Scottish Premiership games against Kilmarnock (D11 L6) and are winless in 11 (D7 L4) since a 1-0 triumph in May 2017 under Neil McCann, with Marcus Haber netting the winner that day.

• Kilmarnock are unbeaten in 11 Scottish Premiership away games against Dundee, although eight of those have been drawn (W3).

• Kilmarnock could win successive away matches over the Dee in the top-flight for the first time since December 2003 under Jim Jefferies.

• Dundee have lost their last three home games in the Scottish Premiership, while they have lost seven times at Dens Park so far in 2024, last losing more times at home in the top-flight in a calendar year in 2018 (12).

• Kilmarnock have won three of their last eight Scottish Premiership games played on a Sunday (D1 L4), as many victories as across their previous 18 games on that specific day (D3 L12).

• Kilmarnock's Derek McInnes has never lost to Dundee as a manager in Scotland's top-flight, winning 14 and drawing eight of 22 previous such clashes.

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Trevor Carson and Scott Fraser are trying to get back fit for Dundee while Joe Shaughnessy is working his way back from a long-term knee injury.

Kilmarnock midfielder Liam Donnelly is available after suspension, but Stuart Findlay (groin), Liam Polworth (calf) and long-term absentee Kyle Magennis (hamstring) are set to remain out.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty believes his side "have fallen foul of quite a few things" lately but is very confident their fortunes will change amid a poor run of results.

The Dark Blues - who lost 2-0 at Celtic in midweek - have won just one of their last eight league games ahead of Sunday's visit of Kilmarnock.

"I am not worried in the slightest, I would be worried if it was performances," Docherty said.

"As manager the only thing I can demand of the players is they carry out the gameplans we work on and that results in performance.

"I am a great believer if the performances are there the results will follow, so although we have fallen foul of quite a few things recently, and the results have not gone our way, it is such a tight competitive league.

"I do feel we are a victim – I don't like saying this – of a lot of things going against us. We are getting punished for a lot of things at the moment, individual mistakes, decisions going against us as well I have got to say from officials.

"But I am a great believer of the harder you work the more luck you get. We have been working hard on the training ground."

After finishing sixth on their top-flight return last season, Dundee are currently 10th but could move back in the top half if they beat Killie.

"I think this time last year we went on a strong run later on, so I realise the league is very much in its infancy at the moment," Docherty said.

"We are only 10 games in, but I am buoyed and encouraged by the most recent game - the performance levels against Celtic.

"And if we can maintain those performance levels, and now it is a home game, then I am very confident, as are the squad, that the results will follow because you have got to have a trust and belief in the process."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Tony Docherty has been speaking to the media before Dundee's fixture against Kilmarnock on Sunday.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• Docherty says he is "not worried in the slightest" by their recent poor run of results because he believes the performance levels are sill there, adding: "I am a great believer, if the performances are there, the results will follow."

• He points out the league is still "very much in its infancy" and says "I am very confident, I think this time last year we went on a strong run".

• The Dens boss believes there are "a lot of things going against" Dundee in terms of individual mistakes and refereeing decisions, but maintains his side "are in a good place at the moment".

• He is expecting "a really difficult challenge" against Killie and says lessons need to be learned from the last meeting when Dundee surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2.

• On how big a loss Luke McCowan has been, Docherty accepts he was "a massive player for us" but insists they can't dwell on that.

• He points out the youthful nature of their midfield against Celtic - Josh Mulligan (21), Fin Robertson (21) and Lyall Cameron (22) - and says they "are staking a claim to be the next Luke McCowan".

• Trevor Carson, Scott Fraser and Scott Tiffoney could come back into contention and Joe Shaughnessy remains out injured.

Dundee are on the hunt for a win after a disappointing week in which two defeats have taken their total to six in seven outings.

Looking to end a run of one win in nine is perhaps not the ideal time for Tony Docherty to renew his rivalry with old colleague Derek McInnes - just as the Kilmarnock boss is also again being touted for a return to Rangers should the Ibrox club axe Philippe Clement.

The pair worked together at Rugby Park and Aberdeen and have had some eventful games in opposition over the past 18 months.

However, while very little has separated the sides, including Kilmarnock's thrilling three-goal comeback to win 3-2 at Dens Park last month, Docherty is yet to record a win over McInnes in six attempts.

Ending Kilmarnock's four-game unbeaten run at Dens - and six overall against them - could be just the tonic the Dark Blues need.

Dundee have been shorn of the driving creative force of Luke McCowan since the midfielder's August move to Celtic, but their downfall at times this season has not been so much not scoring as not holding on to leads.

That was the case not just against Kilmarnock in early October but also against St Johnstone at the weekend.

The Ayrshire side are coming off a valuable win away to Hearts in midweek and are sure to test Docherty's men again.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks

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• Celtic's former Dundee midfielder Luke McCowan attempted five shots, his highest total in a single match in the Premiership.

• Dundee have conceded two penalties in the Premiership this season, only Kilmarnock (three) have conceded more.

• Celtic committed 10 fouls in this match, higher than their season average of 9.4 in the Premiership.

• Dundee have conceded four goals to opposition substitutes in the Premiership this season, no team has conceded more.

Dundee manager Tony Docherty questions the penalty awarded to Celtic in his side's 2-0 defeat in Glasgow on Wednesday. (Herald - subscription), external

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It took Brendan Rodgers' side 60 minutes, and three changes, to get going at Parkhead as Alistair Johnston made it two goals from two games by tapping home Yang Hyun-Jun's cross.

Arne Engels made it two seven minutes later when he calmly converted from the spot after Kyogo Furuhashi won a penalty.

And the league leaders saw it out from there against a Dundee side who have now just won twice in 10 and slip to 10th place.

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty told BBC Scotland: "I was really pleased with the level of performance the players put in. Playing against a top, top opponent like Celtic there's so many things to get right.

"Coming in at nothing each [at half-time] I thought 'more of the same' and we did that.

"You saw the quality of substitutes Celtic brought on and I thought we were unlucky to lose the first goal.

"I felt a little bit hard done by for the second goal, I don't think it was a penalty. I thought the performance of the players merited a clean sheet.

"I'm just proud of the players tonight, the mentality and the work rate was really pleasing.

"The most pleasing aspect tonight, we had three academy graduates in the middle of the pitch and I thought they equipped themselves well. For a club like Dundee that's what we're all about, improving and developing players in that arena. That's the most pleasing thing, as well as our team performance.

"I demand levels of performance and I thought tonight the level was really strong. If we continue to show that spirit, mentality and quality on the ball then we'll be ok."

Charlotte Cohen
BBC Sport Scotland

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After the weekend's disappointment of dropping three points from a winning position, there will be similar feelings in the Dundee dressing room after that first half at Parkhead.

Dundee held off Brendan Rodgers' side for 60 minutes, forcing the Celtic manager into a triple change shortly after the break to switch things up which ultimately made the difference.

But there was a feeling in the first 45 minutes that maybe Celtic wouldn’t be able to break down the robust Dundee backline.

They did though, twice, and a solid first half display doesn't change that Tony Docherty's side head back to Dens Park with nothing.

Two wins in 10 games, 10th place in the table and things don't get any easier - a visit from Killie on Sunday before a trip to the fortress of Pittodrie the following weekend awaits.

Brendan Rodgers has rung the changes once again, making six alterations to the side that started the 3-0 victory over Motherwell.

Alistair Johnston, Liam Scales, Alex Valle, Reo Hatate, James Forrest and Daizen Maeda all drop to the bench. There's no Callum McGregor in the squad tonight.

Cameron Carter-Vickers is back in the starting line-up after making his return off the bench at the weekend, Greg Taylor is also back in at left-back while Anthony Ralston replaces Johnston on the right.

Arne Engels, Hyun-Jun Yang, and Luis Palma are also in from the start.

Worth noting that it's a first league start of the season for Palma, Yang and Ralston.

Tony Docherty has made three changes from the 2-1 defeat to St Johnstone. Trevor Carson is replaced by Jon McCracken between the sticks due to a knock. Josh Mulligan and Antonio Portales are in for Curtis Main and Billy Koumetio.

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• Celtic are unbeaten in 39 league meetings with Dundee (W33 D6); only against Partick Thistle have they ever gone 40+ league matches in a row without defeat against a single opponent (48 from 1897 to 1923).

• Dundee have lost 19 of their last 21 away games against Celtic in all competitions (D2) since a 2-0 victory in May 2001.

• Celtic are unbeaten in 37 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) home games in the Scottish Premiership (W33 D4), winning their last 22 in a row by an aggregate score of 63-6. The Hoops’ last such defeat came to St Johnstone in March 2015 (1-0).

• Dundee are winless in their last 40 league meetings with reigning Scottish champions (D6 L34) since a 2-0 win away to Rangers in March 2001 under Ivano Bonetti.

• Brendan Rodgers has won 12 of his 13 meetings with Dundee as Celtic manager in all competitions, drawing the other 0-0 in April 2018.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Dundee have not won back-to-back league games since March – a statistic that tells its own story.

Consistency of results has become an issue, and it is something manager Tony Docherty will need to find a way of addressing if his side are to try to better last season’s impressive sixth-place Premiership finish.

It is an easy thing to say, but a harder thing to fix.

Docherty must be looking at the impact his former talisman Luke McCowan is now starting to make at Celtic and dearly wish he was still able to call on his services.

The Dark Blues have won only one game since McCowan departed.

While one player doesn't make a team, the midfielder's creativity – and goals – are clearly a huge miss to the Dens Park side.

Dundee are likely to come up against McCowan when they travel to Celtic on league business tonight.

Not the fixture you would chose if you were looking for a match that could potentially serve as a catalyst to get things moving in the right direction once again.

But sometimes when little is expected, teams can deliver. Docherty will be hoping that is the case in Glasgow's east end this evening.

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Celtic striker Adam Idah will miss out with an ankle injury while Callum McGregor remains a doubt with a hip strain. Greg Taylor could make his comeback from a calf problem.

Dundee goalkeeper Trevor Carson will drop out with a knock and Scott Fraser remains unavailable but Jordan McGhee is fit again. Joe Shaughnessy is working his way back from a long-term knee injury.

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty says he is "not surpirsed at all" with how well former captain Luke McCowan is doing for Celtic.

McCowan made his first start for Celtic on Sunday and scored the opening goal in a 3-0 win at Motherwell, just four days after helping the Hoops to a Champions League point against Atalanta in Italy.

The 26-year-old midfielder has scored two goals in seven appearances in all and has impressed with his ability to find space and his use of the ball.

McCowan comes up against Dundee on Wednesday night at Parkhead, two months after moving from Dens Park.

Docherty said: "I'm not surprised at all to see how well he's doing at Celtic because I knew the player that we had here, what a talented boy he was.

"Not just a talented footballer but a good person. And he really responded when I came into the club in terms of giving a wee bit more leadership and authority.

"But he has now moved on and he is an opponent and we will be doing all we can to make sure he is not a happy boy [on Wednesday] night".

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

Saturday's match was, unfortunately, the poorest performance I've seen from Tony Docherty's Dundee since we were mauled 7-1 at Parkhead last season.

Initially starting well, Simon Murray's goal was a slice of individual brilliance as he lifted the ball over the goalkeeper and allowed it to drop from the heavens before sending the home crowd to cloud nine.

We almost doubled our lead immediately, the tails were up and Ziyad Larkeche forced Ross Sinclair into a big save. At that point we looked like we could cruise to three points - but then we never looked like scoring again.

Dundee just surrendered possession, it was like a home game for St Johnstone, and any team that attempts to absorb pressure for a substantial amount of time with no intent of laying another finger on the opposition deserve to concede goals.

That's not the way Dundee should play at Dens Park and I can only assume it was a deliberate tactical decision.

Trevor Carson did not deserve to be on the losing team, he produced two top-drawer saves and even got credited with the assist for Murray’s goal. He deserved more from his team-mates.

Throwing away a lead and losing to a 90th-minute goal feels like classic Dundee.

The victory at Fir Park should have been a turning point, a showcase of expelling the demons that have plagued us for so long, but instead it was a step forward just to slip and fall back on our bottoms.

With a trip to Celtic on Wednesday we are bracing ourselves to be kicked while we're down. We haven't beaten the Hoops since 2001 and I am very doubtful that will change any time soon.

It's likely to be damage control until we host Kilmarnock on Saturday and that's when the pressure will begin to amplify. Just three points above the relegation zone and three straight home defeats is unacceptable and such a disheartening course of events given how well we started the season.

I hope to see a defiant reaction this week. Dundee were great for bouncing back from negative results last season and the fans must see that level of resilience again.

Dundee will discover next week if their proposed new training ground at Riverside Drive will get the go ahead when councillors consider the planning application submitted by Dundee FC Community Trust. (The Courier), external

Read the rest of today's Scottish football gossip here

Watch highlights as St Johnstone beat Dundee 2-1 in the Scottish Premiership.

Sportscene pundits Neil McCann and Lee Miller reflect on Dundee's poor form in their 2-1 defeat against St Johnstone.

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Tony Docherty says his Dundee side must learn to be less vulnerable from set pieces after Saturday's defeat to St Johnstone.

Simon Murray's goal put the hosts in front after 12 minutes before Graham Carey equalised with half an hour to play at Dens Park.

But Nicky Clark's 90th minute goal secured all three points for Simo Valakari's side.

"I should be in there speaking to the players and bemoaning the fact we didn’t control the game like we can," Docherty said.

"But we got the rewards for going two up against their central defenders.

"They had a lot of the ball but they never hurt us and we went ahead.

"I wanted more control but it was heading for a 1-1 and then we could have picked the bones out of it.

"To then lose it from a set-play at the end, amid all that confusion, is bitterly disappointing.

"It’s frustrating, especially after we kept a clean sheet at a difficult venue last week.

"But we made attacking changes and I always want to be brave and hope to win the game.

"To lose it from a set-play is something we need to go through and learn from."