Dundee thrashed Championship bottom-dwellers Airdrieonians to progress to the Scottish Cup quarter-finals and recover from consecutive 6-0 league defeats.
What did you make of the game, Dundee fans? Who stood out in the impressive win?
Image source, SNSDundee manager Tony Docherty: "I'm delighted. Our objective was to get through and to keep a clean sheet as well. We got the job done in the first half, went 2-0 up after 20 minutes.
"I was looking for a reaction from my team. We made six changes to make sure there was energy and intensity in the side, but not diminishing any quality - and you saw that.
"I was really pleased with a lot of today. Second half was a little flat but the objective was to keep a clean sheet and we got a few players - Samuels, Lopez, and particularly big Joe [Shaughnessy] - on the pitch. A good day's work.
"You don't become a bad team overnight. There were reasons that we lost that game last Saturday, and I apologised to the fans. I took that responsibility in making sure today that the fans could sit back and see their team in the last eight of the Scottish Cup."
"I know Lyall [Cameron] really well and you could see the ovation he got from the fans when he came off, which tells you everything. I took him off to protect his Achilles. He'll be a really important player for us in the run in and he's 100% committed to Dundee until the end of the season.
"A good Cup run was one of our main objectives at the start of the season. If the draw is kind to us, maybe we can go a wee bit further."
Image source, SNSDundee manager Tony Docherty says there is a "real buzz around the place" as his side look to move on from back-to-back 6-0 Premiership defeats by securing a Scottish Cup quarter-final place.
Hearts and Celtic both thrashed Dundee in the space of four days, leaving them perched precariously above the relegation play-off spot by a single point.
Before Saturday's cup visit of Championship bottom club Airdrie, Docherty said: "It's been challenging. But I'm very much grateful for the level of support I've got throughout the club, from the top right through to the players in the changing room and there's real support there.
"I've got real support in doing that, and I've got real confidence in the group and in myself that we will manage to navigate ourselves through any turbulent periods that we have, and make sure we come out the other side of it.
"It was important we brought the players in on Thursday afternoon after they rested up as much as they could, and we analysed things, like we always do.
"They are a real honest, conscientious group. So it was important that we did that, and then we move on and make sure that our full focus is towards the Scottish Cup game. It deserves that.
"We need to make sure that the amount of effort we put in in the last round to win a derby [against Dundee United] we need to pick up on that opportunity.
"So the mood in the camp is really good. The boys are really positive and there's a real buzz about the place."
Club captain Joe Shaughnessy feels he can begin to "contribute" to the team again after a lengthy injury lay-off.
The 32-year-old hasn't played since last April after suffering a cruciate knee ligament but made the bench against Celtic during the week.
"Brilliant, it's nice to be back involved," he told club media.
"It's been a long road but I finally feel like I can contribute a little more now."
Colin Moffat
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSDundee beat City rivals United in the previous round
Airdrieonians may be stranded at the foot of the table but they have won both league matches since banging five past Dumbarton in the fourth round of the cup, which is their best sequence of results this term.
The Diamonds shipped six goals at Dens Park in the League Cup in August and on their last Scottish Cup visit in 2022, but Dundee have been hit for six themselves in their past two outings against Heart of Midlothian and Celtic.
This is something of a free-hit for Airdrie, who were hammered by a horrendous injury list in the first half of the season, while Tony Docherty will be looking for a response from his players after a couple of shaky defensive displays.
We asked for your views after Dundee shipped six goals for the second game in a row to lose at Celtic Park.
Here are some of your comments:
Jimmy: Another abysmal performance, now we are in a relegation situation. Simon Murray needs help up front, why does Scott Tiffoney not get a start? At least he can get crosses in. Hopefully Airdrie don't score six.
Steven: I know it's an easy target but Tony Docherty has had a lot more time than most and it's just not working. Make no mistake, now we're in a relegation battle. Maybe he has little control over the players being brought in. We're now using kids from teams that are using us as a training facility. That's why we're inconsistent, not good enough for this league.
Gary: Of course have faith in your players to recover from a damaging result like Hearts, but at some point you have a duty to protect them as professionals, their reputation and confidence. The way it went, once the second goal goes in (the game's gone) it's time to limit the damage by changing shape and personnel, but again baffling substitutions crippled us.
Ray: Pathetic, fed up hearing the manager's excuses. The press have been gentle on us for some reason because they should be ripping us apart. We are on the slide and once you start it is hard to stop. No plan B and stop the excuses of injured players. We just aren't good enough.
John: We are not being dragged into a relegation battle, we are already there. It is time for a change at the top. A lot of the results are just not acceptable. At this current rate we will be down by the break. Top six is a pipe dream on this form.
Image source, SNSCeltic's Daizen Maeda has contributed to goals in his past four games in the Premiership (four goals, four assists). The Japan forward's current three-game scoring streak streak is his longest in the competition.
Dundee have failed to win in their past four games in the Premiership, their last longer winless streak was from 24 August 2024 to 5 October 2024, a run of five games.
Celtic have kept a clean sheet in 18 of their 25 games, more than any other in the Premiership this season.
Celtic have scored 18 goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, more than any other team in the Premiership this season.
Dundee have conceded 13 goals to opposition substitutes in the Premiership this season, more than any other team.
Dundee fans, what did you make of your side's heavy Scottish Premiership loss against Celtic? Do you fear you are being dragged into a relegation battle?
Have your say on the match., external
George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSDundee finished in the top half of the Scottish Premiership last season - an excellent achievement on their return to the top flight, but they had their issues at the back.
Only Livingston, who finished bottom of the league and were relegated, conceded more goals than Dundee's 68 and those troubles in defence have continued into this campaign.
Yes, they have been without several defenders through injury, but they are leaking more than two goals a game on average. No side has let in more than their 53 goals after 25 league games.
They are the defensive numbers of a side battling relegation, and without improvement, or a lot of goals at the other end - only Celtic and Rangers have scored more than Dundee - they will be in the conversation for the play-off spot.
Unrest among the club's fanbase is understandably growing after two successive 6-0 losses and they have just one win in their last six league games.
Manager Tony Docherty has to find a solution at the back if their form is to turn around and they are to climb the table again.
The positive for the Dundee boss is the table is so tight it only takes a few wins to turn things around quickly, and they are closer to the top half than the bottom.
Image source, SNSDundee manager Tony Docherty: "Our organisation in the first half was good enough to merit us coming in at nothing-each.
"The penalty, there's not one Celtic player claims for it. The two players are wrestling with each other - I think it's really soft.
"Then before the second goal, Callum McGregor comes across Mo Sylla and anywhere else on the pitch it's a foul but because the ball goes out of play they don't give it.
"That said, the goals we concede in the second half are not good enough. We need to learn as a team. That's two really poor defeats. We're too easy to score against and I need to make sure the players are aware of that. It's my job and the staff's job to address that.
"The full focus goes onto Airdrie on Saturday. A cup run is important. We've got an opportunity to progress in the cup.
"We're not giving ourselves a chance to win games with the goals we're conceding. We won't just brush that under the carpet."
We asked for your views on Dundee's business in the January transfer window.
Here's what some of you said:
Ben: Cesar Garza and Aaron Donnelly look to be great signings. Far too early to judge the signings of Imari Samuels and Victor Lopez, but both are young players that can hopefully shine for us as they get more game-time under their belts. Disappointing to lose Jordan McGhee and Lyall Cameron on pre-contracts. Perhaps an unpopular opinion but I'd have preferred them to leave in this window.
Dudley: Bad transfer window. Truly unbalanced squad, full of centre-backs clearly not doing their job. We desperately required another big striker and a big competitive central midfielder. With Cameron staying, will he compete as he didn't against Hearts? The two new Mexican players do not look physical enough for the fight ahead.
David: More than happy with the current squad although it was disappointing to see Cameron pledging his future to a very poor Rangers side. Now it is up to the manager to make best use of what looks an exciting squad on paper.
Steven: Am I missing something here? Still no right-back to speak of and not even a mention in dispatches. Every team we play takes advantage of how weak we are there.
Alan: Absolute madness allowing Curtis Main to leave with no replacement lined up. We are now in a relegation dogfight with only two recognised strikers (one a rookie at this level) at Tony Docherty's disposal. If Simon Murray picks up an injury we are in serious trouble. We are inviting relegation.
Image source, SNSRyan Astley hopes the "harsh words" exchanged after Dundee's humiliation against Hearts prompts a much-improved performance in tonight's trip to Celtic Park.
The Dark Blues' four-game unbeaten shuddered to a halt as they were thrashed 6-0 last Saturday, and defender Astley said: "We were in on Sunday, we went over it. There was a few harsh words that were needed.
"We come in on Monday and it was positive, like move forward. It was a blip and we're looking forward to the next game.
"Every game, you've got to be on it because anyone can beat anyone, and we need to learn from that and not let that happen again.
"As a team, we always react well to disappointments. We're ready to go there [Celtic Park] and come away with something."
Former Dens defender Cammy Kerr, meanwhile, believes a trip to the champions could be the ideal fixture for Tony Docherty's side after the weekend hammering.
"There's not too much expected of Dundee in going there, but getting a shock result would be obviously massive for them," Kerr told the BBC's Scottish football podcast.
"It could be the type of games that gets you back on track. All the limelight is maybe on Celtic, with Jota making his home debut, so everything will be stacked against Dundee, but that's sometimes when you can pick up those results and surprise a few people."
Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Dundee fans will probably be experiencing mixed emotions following the closure of the January transfer window.
Sadness that one of their star players, Lyall Cameron, will be departing at the end of the season after agreeing a deal to sign for Rangers.
But elation that for now, they will still be able to savour the midfielder's talents for a few more months.
In fact their delight will not be confined to the fact Cameron is sticking around for a bit longer – but also because another of their main men, Josh Mulligan - another free agent in the summer - will be remaining for the rest of the campaign.
You can make a strong case that ensuring both players didn't leave in January is the most important bit of business manager Tony Docherty did.
Why? because they are absolutely integral to what Dundee hope to achieve this term.
The league table doesn't make pretty reading from a Dundee perspective - they are currently 10th, just six points off the bottom. But they are also just eight points off fourth.
The job of getting back up the table and in the mix for European places will certainly be helped by still being able to call upon Cameron and Mulligan.
Image source, SNSDundee remain winless in 45 meetings with Celtic in all competitions (D7 L38), although the sides' 3-3 draw last month was the first time the Dark Blues scored 3+ goals against the Hoops in a match since October 1988 (3-2 win).
Celtic have won 20 of their past 22 home games against Dundee in all competitions (D2) since a 2-0 defeat in May 2001. The Hoops have won their past six home games in a row over Dundee by an aggregate score of 24-3.
Celtic have won each of their past seven home league games by an aggregate score of 23-0. The Hoops last won more in a row without conceding at Celtic Park in March 2014 (9).
Dundee have won their past two away league outings, as many as their previous 17 beforehand (W2 D5 L10).
After scoring in the 3-3 draw between these sides last month, having also scored two league goals for Dundee earlier this season, Celtic's Luke McCowan is the first player to score both for and against the same side in a Scottish Premiership season since Tony Watt with both Dundee United and Motherwell in 2021-22. He's the frst to do so for and against Dundee in the competition since Simon Murray in 2017-18.
Image source, SNSFinlay Robertson is full of "hunger and desire" to continue performing for Dundee as the academy graduate signs a contract extension until 2027.
The versatile midfielder, who has been at the club since he was 11, has made 23 appearances this season for Tony Docherty's side, providing six assists along the way.
The 22-year-old has been at the club since he was 11 and he's delighted to continue "repaying" the club for "their relief when others maybe didn't".
"It feels really good to get the contract signed," he told club media. "It has been a good season so far, I've played a lot of games which is all I want to do. I've got a lot of hunger and desire to keep going and keep getting better.
"Having this run of games this season has given me a lot of confidence and like they say the more you play the better you feel.
"The club has given me a lot. I've been here since I was 11, and they have believed in me when maybe others didn't.
"I really appreciate the club for what they have given me and I just want to repay them with good performances."
Image source, SNSTony Docherty insists Dundee's scudding at the hands of Hearts on Saturday was "an aberration" from their Scottish Premiership standard.
The Dark Blues suffered and unexpected and uncharacteristic chastening 6-0 defeat at Dens Park to Neil Critchley's side but Docherty is adamant he and his side will take responsibility for it.
"I've got a good group in there and we analysed that game right away," Docherty said as his side look to bounce back on Wednesday at Celtic Park.
"You would just say it was a really bad day, a really bad day at the office and I thought Hearts had a really good day.
"It's one of these wins in sport. You need to put it down to that. Of course I didn't like it, but it's important that you analyse it, acknowledge your part in it and take responsibility for it.
"I take full responsibility, but you move on quickly because I think there's so much more."
Dundee held Celtic to a 2-2 at Dens last month, and he hopes to see the "mentality and resilience" required on Wednesday in Glasgow.
"You don't become a bad team in one performance," he added. "The game kind of ran away.
"It's important that we have focused on what we could do better in that game and put it to bed.
"Any time there's been a bump in the road or a setback, I think the resilience and the mentality that's been displayed by the squad has been there for all to see.
"Based on that experience, I expect that to be the same case again, without taking it for granted.
"It's a difficult challenge that we face, but it's something that I think when that happens, you just want to get back on the horse and go again."
With the transfer window now closed, how do you feel about Dundee's January business?
Defenders Imari Samuels and Aaron Donnelly joined the club on permanent deals, while midfielders Cesar Garza and Victor Lopez have signed on loan.
Lyall Cameron is sticking around until summer after agreeing a pre-contract with Rangers, while Curtis Main and defender Sean Kelly have departed and Sammy Braybrooke and Julien Vetro's loans ended.
So, are Dundee in better shape to rise up the table or you have liked to see more bodies in?
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter
Image source, SNSTony Docherty has been addressing the media before Dundee's trip to Glasgow to take on Celtic on Wednesday night.
Here are the key points:
Docherty said there was "no surprise" at Lyall Cameron agreeing a pre-contract with Rangers but he's delighted the midfielder will remain at the club until the season ends.
Cameron "realises we've got objectives and that he's a large part of it" for the remainder of the season.
The manager reiterated he didn't see the performance in the 6-0 drubbing by Hearts last weekend on the horizon, describing it as an "aberration".
He added: "I've got a good group in there and we analysed that game right away. You would just say it was a really bad day at the office and I thought Hearts had a really good day."
Docherty remains positive about the players he has at the club and their objectives this season.
"Only time will tell" if Celtic are a stronger team than they were at the start of January when Dundee drew 2-2 with the league leaders.
Cameron is a doubt for the game with a calf injury and will be assessed on Wednesday morning.
Image source, SNSDundee defender Luke Graham has rejoined Scottish Championship side Falkirk on loan until the end of the season.
Graham spent the first part of the season on loan at Falkirk and made 14 appearances.
The 20-year-old returned to Dens Park at the start of the January transfer window and featured in matches against Dundee United and St Johnstone.
Ethan Hampton
Fan writer
Every team has a completely flat and off day at some point in the season. What's really concerning is this is at least the fourth time we have experienced it, including three at home.
I still can't make sense of Dundee's gameplan on Saturday. It felt like we were relying on fortuitous breaks of the ball to inspire any movement with possession.
Hearts, as the scoreline would suggest, were better in every single department.
Our goal difference has taken a devastating blow and it could be as good as a point lost come the end of the season.
I don't think anyone saw this coming, as going into the game Dundee were in a good place and eyeing up a promising run, but blips like this could make a surge into the top six too big an ask this season.
The worst league fixture after a heavy defeat awaits us next, a trip to Parkhead, although I am hopeful of a reaction in the Scottish Cup tie against Airdrie this weekend. Tony Docherty's Dundee are renowned for bouncing back from awful results – this was showcased after derby defeat at the start of January.
We need to dust ourselves down and avoid a hammering against Celtic. With St Johnstone, Kilmarnock, Hearts and Ross County all showing a resurgence with decent results in the league lately, Dundee have to be careful to not be dragged down into a dogfight.
