Dundee

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Tony Docherty believes his side are in a "brilliant place" heading into the Dundee derby on the opening weekend of the Scottish Premiership next weekend.

The Dens Park side made it four wins out of four in the League Cup group stage as they smashed six goals past Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Saturday.

“It was the objective at the very start of the campaign and the players illustrated that with the performance levels,” Docherty told DeeTV.

“The intensity, the relentlessness of our press, the quality of our play, the bravery of our play, you know, was fantastic.

“We now move on. We had a decent season last year, we started this season well. It’s now into the league campaign and we’ll be looking to make sure that we do everything to get us a real positive position in that."

The sides meet on Sunday 3 August at Dens with United making their return to the top flight after a single season in the Championship.

It will be the first time the sides have met since April 2022, but Dundee haven't beaten their city rivals in a league game since 2016.

“We’ve done the first objective in the League Cup campaign, but now it’s full focus on the first game of the season," Docherty added.

“What a brilliant game it is, and we’re in a brilliant place going into that game.”

Dundee manager Tony Docherty is looking to do "quite a bit of business" before the transfer window closes but would not be drawn on reported interest in 29-year-old Charlton Athletic midfielder Scott Fraser. (The Courier), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

Heart of Midlothian are working on a permanent deal for Crystal Palace midfielder Malachi Boateng, the 22-year-old who spent last season on loan to Dundee. (Daily Record), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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Dundee "got the job done" by breaking down a "well-organised" Annan Athletic to progress to the League Cup last 16, says striker Simon Murray.

Murray netted his first goals since re-joining the Dens Park side in the 3-1 win, which maintained their winning start to the season.

The victory moves Tony Docherty's men two points ahead of Wednesday's opponents, who have played an extra game.

"It was a tough game, we knew it would be," Murray told club media, external.

"They were pretty well-organised, tough to break down at times, a different pitch than we're used to, but we managed to get the job done in the end.

"I think that's us through to the next round and that's what we set out do."

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty praised the winning mentality of his players as they booked their place in Sunday’s last-16 draw of the League Cup.

Two late goals - from Simon Murray, claiming a brace, and Seb Palmer-Houlden - secured a 3-1 win over Annan Athletic at Dundee’s temporary home of Glebe Park.

The Dark Blues go into their final group game against Inverness on Saturday knowing qualification has been secured - to the delight of Docherty

“It was a hard-fought match and I’m hugely proud of the players,” he told Dundee’s website after the game.

“That was the objective we set when we met on the first day of the season - to stay unbeaten throughout pre-season and then carry that form onto the cup competition and I’m really proud of them that we managed to do that.

“It was something that really annoyed me last year that we didn’t get to that stage, but we’ve done it and I’m hugely proud."

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The draw for the last 16 of the Scottish League Cup will take place on Sunday.

It will be broadcast live on Premier Sports following their coverage of Motherwell v Partick Thistle at Fir Park, which kicks off at 15:00 BST.

The top-flight's five European representatives - holders Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Kilmarnock and St Mirren - will enter the draw and will also be seeded, along with the three best group winners.

All last-16 ties are scheduled to played on the weekend of 17/18 August.

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Dundee have confirmed the departure of Diego Pineda "by mutual consent", with the Mexican forward having made just six appearances during his year at Dens Park.

The Scottish Premiership club say the 29-year-old has returned to his homeland to seek a new club.

Pineda became Dundee's second signing from Mexico's second tier last summer when he followed in the footsteps of former Atlante defender Antonio Portales, who had recommended his compatriot to manager Tony Docherty.

However, while his countryman has since played 26 times, including two this season, the former Correcaminos UAT forward, who scored once in his six outings, has not featured since early November.

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Dundee assistant manager Stuart Taylor insists not having home advantage on Tuesday for the club's League Cup clash against Annan Athletic won't be a problem for the players.

Dundee's home games in the competition are being played at Brechin's Glebe Park to give the new pitch at Dens Park time to bed in.

The club say they have "invested heavily" in a new playing surface and drainage system following a series of postponements due to waterlogging last season.

"It’s not frustrating at all because the most important thing was making sure the pitch at Dens was ready for the first league game of the season," Taylor said.

"The club have looked to go and get a pitch close by for the supporters first and foremost, so they can come in their numbers because they were fantastic for us last season.

"That was a big thing the club looked at and getting Brechin, the pitch is good. It’s a pitch our lads will enjoy playing on.

"With this group of players, you could go anywhere, they just love going on the pitch. They’re in a really good place at this moment in time."

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Dundee assistant manager Stuart Taylor has been speaking to the media before the club's League Cup clash against Annan Athletic.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• On not being able to play this game at Den's Park, Taylor insists it's not a problem for the players who "could play anywhere".

• Says assurances have been made that the pitch will be ready for the first game of the league season and that is the priority.

• Adds that Dundee won't take anything for granted against Annan Athletic who have had a good start to the season themselves.

• Says Tony Docherty "threw down a challenge" for the players and they've taken it on board.

• On Joe Shaughnessy's fitness, Taylor wouldn't give a timeframe but insists he's coming along well which is a "big lift" for the side. He also adds that they won't rush him back to action.

Dundee are keen on a move to take Scott Fraser on loan from Charlton Athletic after the 29-year-old ended last season with Heart of Midlothian. (Daily Record, print edition)

Ethan Ingram has revealed that fellow full-back Owen Beck's success with Dundee on loan from Liverpool last season was key when joining the Dens Park club and rejecting a new contract with West Bromwich Albion. (The Courier), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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Tony Docherty hailed his Dundee players for their resilience in breaking down solid Arbroath defending as they notched up a second League Cup win of the campaign.

Jon McCracken saved a first-half penalty before Luke McCowan scored from the spot for the visitors, and new signing Ethan Ingram wrapped things up with just over 10 minutes to go.

"It was a brilliant test for us,” boss Docherty told Dundee TV.

"Arbroath were very well organised and it was tough. The players had to find the answers and that’s what was really pleasing about the result and performance.

"In the first half we were trying to find a way, we addressed it at half-time and in the second half I thought we were really, really strong in our performance.

"The clean sheet from the back three and also the attacking options I had coming off the bench, all in all it was a really good night."