Dundee

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Jane Lewis, BBC Sport Scotland at Ibrox

Amadou Bakayoko opened the scoring at Ibrox early doors, perhaps too early, as Rangers cantered on to victory.

Despite defeat, the impressive striker caught up with me post match. Here's what he had to say...

On scoring:

"We put pressure on them in the first few minutes and we ended up getting a goal from it which put us in good stead. So we were hoping to obviously continue that with the momentum that we had. But the game kind of swayed. It was good to get a goal, though."

On sending off:

"He [Jose Cifuentes] obviously stepped on me, but that's one of them the referee just looks at, and he's got to do what he what he feels is necessary. The game did change a little bit for us and I think we just needed to find ways of getting through them with putting balls in the box or putting them under a bit of pressure. But we didn't manage to do that unfortunately."

On the penalty:

"Again it’s disappointing obviously that he’s made that decision. It did put us on the back foot after that goal and that's when we obviously had to find ways of staying in the game. We didn't need to really go and concede the third, which kind of killed us. That is something that we'll definitely learn from and I think come the next few games, we'll put it right."

On learnings from the game:

"I think we could do a lot better. I think we've got a great team and I think it was a bit disappointing that we couldn't really go and get another goal and put them under more pressure, which I think we're more than capable of doing to any team. But you learn how to stay in a game and take it in stages with these type of games and then hopefully on the next one again we’ll do it right."

On season so far:

"The manager's done a great job recruiting the players that he feels are right. When I first came in, you want to achieve and be at the highest possible position and I didn't think anything else than trying to be the best and be up high in the table. I'm hoping that we can go and push on because I really think we've shown it. We can do a lot more than what we're doing right now and I think we definitely will do."

On Tony Docherty:

"Amazing. He's one of the main reasons I came here. The belief that he has in us as players and in the whole club, the way he's been dealing with things, I think it's been amazing. Every time I step on the pitch I want to do my best for him, for the club, the boys but he keeps us hungry."

• Rangers have scored in 14 of their 16 games, no team has done so more often in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Phillipe Clement's side have won their last three games in the Scottish Premiership, their last longer winning streak was from 8 October 2023 to 12 November 2023, a run of five games.

• Rangers have scored in their last 12 games in the Scottish Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 26 games from 17 September 2022 to 15 April 2023.

• The Ibrox club have won seven points from losing positions in the Scottish Premiership this season, only Motherwell (eight) have recovered more.

• Amadou Bakayoko scored after just 4 minutes, 50 seconds, the fastest goal for Dundee in the league this season.

• Dundee have lost nine points from winning positions in the Scottish Premiership this season, no team has lost more.

• Dundee have lost after scoring the opening goal in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since 15 May 2022 against Livingston (six games without defeat).

Were you at Ibrox or see Rangers' 3-1 win over Dundee elsewhere?

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty questioned the penalty award that he thought turned the game in Rangers' favour at Ibrox.

He has sympathy for Kevin Clancy, saying the referee had "no choice" to give a spot-kick considering the image he was shown on the VAR screen.

However, Docherty believes that both Rangers striker Abdallah Sima and Dundee defender Aaron Donnelly had a hold of each others' shirt in real time.

"Disappointment is the over-riding feeling," he tells BBC Scotland. "We started the game well, we gained territory,

"They then equalise - I think it was an unforced error from us, but the game turns when Rangers get awarded a penalty and I think we could have done a bit more in the second half.

"It kind of petered out a bit. But I can't be too hard on the boys - they have been fantastic for me this season."

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Clive Lindsay, BBC Sport Scotland

Having been thumped 5-0 in the reverse fixture at Dens Park, this was always going to be an uphill battle for Dundee - even if they did arrive at Ibrox unbeaten in three away from home.

They have now lost eight in a row against Rangers - an aggregate of 22-2 - and 16 in a row at Ibrox since a 2-0 win under Ivano Bonetti in March 2001.

However, manager Tony Docherty will be telling his players to quickly move on to more winnable games and will point out that, at times, they did worry the side chasing Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

Connor Goldson is a surprise absentee from Rangers' starting line-up as manager Philippe Clement makes five changes to the side that beat Hearts 1-0 on Wednesday.

He is replaced at centre-half with John Souttar, while Borna Barisic returns at left-back, Jose Cifuentes is in midfield, Rabbi Matondo on the wing and Cyriel Dessers is up front.

Ross McCausland and Ridvan Yilmaz drop to the bench with Goldson, while Tom Lawrence and Danilo miss out through injury.

Dundee manager Tony Docherty remains faithful to the side that drew 3-3 away to Motherwell in midweek bar the absence through injury of on-loan Liverpool left-back Owen Beck.

In comes on-loan Motherwell centre-back Ricki Lamie.

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Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Balogun, Lundstram, Cifuentes, Cantwell, Matondo, Sima, Dessers.

Substitutes: McCrorie, Yilmaz, Goldson, Lammers, Sterling, Roofe, Davies, King, McCausland.

Dundee: Carson, Shaughnessy, Lamie, Boeteng, Porteles, Donnelly, McGhee, Cameron, McCowan, Bakayoko, Rudden.

Substitutes: Legzdins, Kerr, Tiffoney, Ashcroft, Mulligan, Robinson, Reilly, Robertson, Sylla.

Image source, BBC Sport

Rangers striker Danilo may require surgery on a knee injury which could keep him out for a lengthy spell while midfielder Tom Lawrence will be out at least until the winter break with a muscle problem. Midfielders Nico Raskin and Ryan Jack and winger Scott Wright are also still missing.

Dundee welcome back on-loan Motherwell defender Ricki Lamie after he was ineligible to face his parent club last weekend. Manager Tony Docherty reported that some players in his squad are nursing “bumps and bruises” but he is confident that everyone will be available except Diego Pineda, who remains sidelined by a thigh injury.

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty feels his side have a point to prove against Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday following a 5-0 loss at Dens Park earlier this season. (Courier - subscription required)

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip

• Rangers have won each of their last seven meetings with Dundee in all competitions by an aggregate score of 19-1, since a 1-1 draw in December 2018.

• Dundee have lost each of their last 15 away games at Rangers in all competitions, conceding 45 goals and scoring just four since a 2-0 win in March 2001 under Ivano Bonetti.

• Since Philippe Clement’s first Scottish Premiership match in charge in October, Rangers have averaged more points-per-game than any side in the division (2.71 – 19 points in seven games).

• Dundee have earned as many points in their last two Scottish Premiership away games (4 – W1 D1) as their previous 10 on the road in the competition beforehand (W0 D4 L6).

• Excluding penalties, Dundee have scored nine goals from set-pieces in the Scottish Premiership this season, at least three more than any other side.

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It can often be a daunting prospect for sides to head away to the Old Firm, but young Lyall Cameron is relishing the prospect this weekend.

Dundee go to Ibrox after a 5-0 thumping at Dens last month, with the 21-year-old saying their side will need to believe in each other to leave Govan unscathed.

"I'm looking forward to it. There's nothing better than going to play a big club like Rangers at a great stadium," Cameron said.

"We know it's not going to be an easy game. They're a good side, its a hard place to go. I don't see why we can't go there and get some points.

"We know that they'll probably have a lot of the ball. We're going to have to stay compact and disciplined.

"As long as we do our job, hopefully we can stay in the game and get something from it.

"You need to trust each other. Everyone needs to be fully switched on because they can score in a second.

"We're always going to be the underdogs. We're on a good run of form. If you look at our performances, I think we could even be higher in the table."

Seventh-placed Dundee head to Ibrox to face Rangers on Saturday.

After a 3-3 draw against Motherwell, Tony Docherty will need to tighten up his defence.

If you were the manager, would you make any changes? Tell us here.

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After suffering a 5-0 battering at the hands of Rangers last month, Dundee boss Tony Docherty says he hopes his side will give a "better account of themselves" at Ibrox on Saturday.

The 52-year-old was full of praise for the weekend's opposition, but says he's identified "weaknesses" that his in-form team can capitalise on.

Docherty said: "I wouldn't say we owe them. It's another fixture coming up and we're on a good run of form. There's been a real level of consistency in the squad recently."

"Rangers are a tough opponent and a difficult opponent. It's our next game and we'll be prepared for it like any another game. I hope we can make a better account of ourselves than the last game.

"This week we've been analysing Rangers, as we would any team. There's huge strengths in their team but there's also weaknesses. It's about exploiting those weaknesses. We'll be down there with a game plan and hopefully we carry that out.

"Dundee getting promoted, that's the whole point, playing at venues like Ibrox and Celtic Park and pit your wits against the best in the country."

Dundee boss Tony Docherty has been speaking to the media ahead of his side's trip to Ibrox on Saturday.

Here are the key points from his news conference...

• Reluctant to say they "owe" Rangers one after 5-0 thrashing at Dens Park earlier in the season, but hopes his side "make a better account of themselves".

• Confident that they have identified weaknesses in a "strong" Rangers team that he will be looking to "exploit" on Saturday.

• "The whole point" of Dundee getting promoted is to test themselves at venues like Ibrox and Parkhead, adding that he enjoys the tactical challenges that come with lining up against the Old Firm.

• Praises Owen Beck for adding goals to his game, while saying many players in his side have been showing "real levels of consistency".

• No fresh injury concerns beyond a few "bumps and bruises", with some players missing training. Confirms forward Diego Pineda remains out.

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Tyrone Smith, BBC Sport Scotland

While those around them are in midweek action, Dundee have a week on the training ground before they return to business against Rangers on Saturday.

They head south in good form with just two defeats in their last nine games.

One of those defeats was a 5-0 thrashing by Rangers at Dens Park just over a month ago, and with that chastening result still fresh in their memories, it will be fascinating to see how the Dark Blues approach the game.

Tony Docherty has previously said that his side won’t be judged by how they fare against Glasgow’s big two.

However he will be hoping the trip to Govan doesn’t derail the feelgood factor that is continuing to build within his squad.

But any such concerns would appear unfounded on the basis of what we have seen so far this season, with his team responding well to any bumps in the road.

It is the second of three away games in a row for Dundee – they will feel they should have won the first at Motherwell, only to be denied the three points by a Conor Wilkinson equaliser in the seventh minute of added time.

However the draw saw them add to their impressive points tally for the season and they will believe they have got the tools in their armoury to get something at Ibrox this weekend.

Dundee's disappointment at losing a late equaliser at Motherwell on Saturday will "galvanise" the players, says manager Tony Docherty. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip

Daniel Smith, Up Wi' The Bonnets podcast, external

It was a fustrating Saturday for Dundee. The team put in a performance worthy of the three points, but we were cruely denied a massive win by conceding a 97th-minute equaliser at Fir Park.

Despite missing out on the win, it was great to see an exceptional talent shine yet again.

Yes, I'm talking about Welshman Owen Beck, who we have on loan from Liverpool this season.

Slate or mock me but I genuinely believe that we have the best left-back in this league. The boy has been getting better and better with each game and has now added goals to his bag of tricks.

That's now two in two for a player who should be knocking on the door to another call-up to the full Wales International team. He would certainly deserve it.

He's not the only young talent in our squad.

A player I fully expected to make an impact, and one who I was telling everyone who would listen to me would be a big player for us this term, has rightly found his feet in this league, and a regular starting spot in the first team.

The player in question is Lyall Cameron.

A super talent. His vision is second to none. His passing is sublime. He's a creative spark that's starting to shine.

Not only that, he's a regular in the Scotland U21 squad and recently found the back of the net against Belgium and was named man of the match.

His play and passing on Saturday yet again showed fans what a talent we have on our hands, along with Beck.