Dundee

Dundee manager Tony Docherty urges forward Simon Murray to push for a Scotland call-up. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Tony Docherty says there would be "no point coming to work every day" if he didn't believe Dundee can emerge from their current slump and secure Premiership survival.

The Dark Blues are without a win in eight league games and sit second bottom, just three points above St Johnstone, but have a chance to end their run against neighbours United at Tannadice on Sunday.

"If I didn't believe [we couldn't turn it round], there is no point in me coming into my work every day," manager Docherty said. "I convey that message, not just to the playing staff, but to the coaching staff as well.

"It's important we have a belief in that and we believe in the process."

Dundee's recent poor form means they've picked up just a solitary point from the last 18 on offer, although losses to Aberdeen and Motherwell were by a single goal.

"That is the level of performance that should be winning you points," Docherty said of his side's recent games.

"You can bemoan the fact that maybe fine margins are going against you, or decision-making is going against you, but it is important you don't get bogged down with that.

"If we put in the hard yards, if we do the work on the training ground, if we continue the analysis and development of players, then results will come on the pitch.

"But it comes with the consistency and not just on a matchday but the consistency of what you do throughout the week."

The current plight is a far cry from last season, where Dundee finished sixth, and while Docherty has been around Scottish football for a long time, this is only his second campaign as a manager .

"You constantly learn, that is the message here. That is my job here, to improve and develop players," he said.

"I do that myself. Last year was a real success, winning manager of the month [awards], finishing in the top six, being nominated for manager of the year.

"That is the good side, but you need to go through the other side of it and arguably you learn more in these challenging periods and that is part of development and improvement and that is what I say to the players.

"It's still the same, it applies to me as well."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Tony Docherty has been speaking to the media before Dundee's derby with United at Tannadice this weekend.

Here are the key lines from the Dark Blues boss:

• On whether he believes his second-bottom team can secure survival, Docherty says: "I do, if I didn't believe that there is no point in me coming into my work every day."

• He insists Dundee have to "focus on the process" and the results will come "if we put in the hard yards".

• The manager is refusing to look too far ahead, instead taking things game by game and adding "we are a close-knit group".

• Docherty pointed out the successes he had last season in his first year as a manager but says "arguably you learn more in these challenging periods".

• He is expecting another tight game against United and doubts "either team will be happy with their form" going into it.

• Scott Fraser could return from injury while Jordan McGhee, who went off injured during the cup defeat at Hearts, will be assessed. Clark Robertson and Antonio Portales are expected back after the international break.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

The Dundee derby is one of Scotland's most eye-catching fixtures.

It is always a huge game - but this weekend's is the biggest there has been for a while, particularly from a Dark Blues point of view.

Dundee remain in a perilous position in the Premiership, just three points off the foot of the table.

While bottom club St Johnstone have been busy picking up points lately, Tony Docherty's side are in freefall with no wins - and five defeats - in eight league games.

While scoring goals generally hasn't been a problem, they have been crippled by an inability to keep them out. The Dens side have the poorest defensive record in the division - 61 goals shipped in 29 games - and the second worst goal difference.

So far, so grim. But there is still cause for optimism.

A derby win would be invaluable not just for the points and igniting the push for survival, but also the feelgood factor of getting the bragging rights over your neighbours once again.

And the good news for the Dens Park men is that – despite the huge gulf in league position – there has been little between the teams in this season's meetings, with the record reading one win each and a draw.

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

The performance at Tynecastle was more spirited than I had anticipated and when Joe Shaugnessy levelled the score I thought it was going to be our night.

The big difference was we were a team low on confidence and Hearts had that extra tad of quality. Sander Katrum was excellent for the Jambos and his two goals were worthy of winning any match.

The average age in this Dundee team is 24.9, the youngest in the division. Notably, it's the experienced players - Shaugnessy, Trevor Carson and Simon Murray - who are improving the team lately. Hopefully Scott Fraser will be fit for Sunday's Dundee derby, ensuring we head to Tannadice with a matured spine.

Saying that, it's 19-year-old Cesar Garza who has been capturing hearts. The Mexican wears his heart on his sleeve, plays without fear and fights for everything on the park.

His grit, determination and attitude is everything the fans want to see from a Dundee player. Those are the attributes we need between now and until the end of the season right across the team.

The last top-flight team we beat was Dundee United in the Scottish Cup. Both teams have only won three games each in 2025 but form goes out of the window for this one.

United are balanced in defence and attack this season – scoring and conceding 36 goals apiece in the league – while Dundee have proven they can gun for goals but struggle defensively. Interestingly, though, we kept a clean sheet in the last derby and have scored in every meeting against United under Tony Docherty.

These players have failed in their attempt to get back into the top six, failed to qualify for a semi-final and failed to keep the club out of a relegation race.

However, there is always an opportunity for redemption. This is not a game that will salvage the season, but ending a 21-year hoodoo at Tannadice by winning the derby is the platform that can create cult heroes and provide that desperately-needed boost.

If there is any time to step up and to be a hero, it's now.

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Former Dundee midfielder Kevin Thomson is "keeping his fingers crossed" for Tony Docherty.

Dundee currently sit 11th in the Scottish Premiership table, only three clear of St Johnstone below them but also only three behind Killie above them.

Friday night's Scottish Cup exit at the hands of Hearts piled even more pressure on the struggling manager.

"I've been a big advocate for Tony Doc," Thomson told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"I don't know him too personally but I think he's done a really good job up there.

"And it almost feels a wee bit Paul Hartley-esque where they have a really good season, finished top six and then people grow expectation. The manager's profile grows, and all of a sudden you find yourself in the predicament that they're in at the moment.

"When the run starts to go the wrong way for you, it can sometimes be difficult to hold that back.

"The good part I think, for any bottom-six team, is you then get to play the teams soon that are going to be round about you.

"I think that's going to be vital for Dundee but are they going to be good enough to overcome that? I'm not so sure.

"I can only have my fingers and toes crossed for them because it's a brilliant club and I've always been a big fan of Tony Doherty."

Dundee want to prove their doubters wrong in Sunday's Dundee derby, according to defender Ryan Astley. (The Courier), external

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Dundee boss Tony Docherty has the loss of another key player to injury to deal with.

Jordan McGhee was forced off during his side's 3-1 Scottish Cup quarter-final defeat away to Hearts.

The 28-year-old was replaced by Mo Sylla for the start of the second 45, as the struggling Dark Blues went down to a sixth defeat in eight games.

"His Achilles has been bothering him for quite a while," said manager Docherty.

"He's been playing through it but at half-time he said he just couldn't continue. He wasn't able to get into a sprint.

"It affected his performance, I think you could see that in the first half, when our ball retention in that midfield area was poor. But Jordan's a warrior. He'll put himself out there, but he had to come off because of injury."

Docherty has been without several influential players in recent months and he is desperate to get them back on the pitch over the coming months as his team – second-bottom of the Scottish Premiership – bid to ease their relegation concerns.

"I've been ravaged with injuries in terms of experienced players this season," he said.

"When you get to this stage of competitions, that's when players with experience maybe make the right decisions.

"We've had too many injuries this season. I'm relying on a lot of people to come back and really contribute to what is now a nine-game season.

"We've got nine cup finals and out of those, we need to win as many games as we can. Our next game's a derby (away to Dundee United) and we need to make sure we dust ourselves down and be ready for it."

We asked for your views on Dundee's 3-1 Scottish Cup defeat to Hearts.

Here's what some of you said:

Alan: Tony Docherty needs a reality check. Our defence has more holes than a sieve, our midfield is nowhere near physical enough to compete at this level and going into a game like this with only two signed strikers (one injured) is an absolute disgrace. To survive a relegation dogfight you need grit and the ability to defend. We have neither!

Mark: Great following but let down as usual. Baffles me that the midfield sat too deep all game but not a soul in site marking their player for the first and third goal on the edge of box. Tactics sit with Docherty so his time is up. I hope they're happy with the million they got for Luke McCowan, will cost us more than that in the long run

Jim: Tony keeps going on about second-half performances. We need them from the start not half way through. Nine cup finals [left in the league]? We could be going down.

Boab: Devastated that we're out but Docherty must now get the team up for the derby and the remaining league games. Didn't think we played that badly we certainly didn't get any 50/50 decisions for a terrible referee. Yet again superb backing from our fantastic support.

Lammy: Midfield over ran again. Defence left exposed. Forwards left with no service. Has been the same story all season.

Kevin: Have always been a staunch supporter of Docherty but I'm afraid my patience has run out, nothing has been done to arrest the constant leaking of goals, we're not going to get anywhere while conceding two-plus goals every week, far too weak in midfield and he doesn't seem capable of making any changes to make us harder to beat.

Did you take in Dundee's Scottish Cup defeat by Hearts, or were you following from home?

Have your say on the match, external

Dundee manger Tony Docherty: "Disappointed. I thought we played our part in the second half. We had Hearts exactly where we wanted them. We had everything going in our favour at 1-1.

"I don't think it's a free-kick that leads to the second goal but we need to defend that better. The third goal kind of kills it. We should do better in the middle of the pitch.

"If I get that bravery for the next nine games, which are nine cup finals, then we'll be okay but I need the players to step up and show that bravery."

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Brian McLauchlin
BBC Scotland at Tynecastle

Although it ended in defeat for Dundee, there were still lots of positive aspects to take from their Scottish Cup defeat by Hearts.

Fin Robertson and Josh Mulligan gave the Hearts midfield a workload they struggled with at times.

And if the strike from Oluwaseun Adewumi had ended up in the back of the net rather than crashing off the crossbar, the game could have had a very different outcome.

The battle now for Dundee is to find a way to beat the drop from the Scottish Premiership.

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Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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Hearts will still be smarting from the Edinburgh derby that leaves Neil Critchley's side four places behind city rivals Hibernian in seventh spot in the Premiership when they host top-flight rivals Dundee in Friday's first Scottish Cup quarter-final.

However, the Englishman will be reminding his players that Sunday was only their second defeat in 12 outings during a generally upward curve of results and performances.

Included in that run was a 6-0 hammering of Friday's visitors at Dens Park at the start of February and they have also beaten Dundee in their latest three visits to Tynecastle since a 2-1 loss in February 2022.

On this occasion, Tony Docherty's side also arrive having suffered three straight away defeats and therefore as underdogs.

However, while their 1-1 draw at home to St Johnstone on Saturday meant they failed to increase the three-point gap between themselves and the bottom side, it at least ended a run of three consecutive losses overall.

• This is the first Scottish Cup meeting between the sides since Hearts won 1-0 at Dens Park in a March 2001 fourth-round replay.

• Slovakia midfielder Robert Tomaschek was the match winner that day after Argentine striker Juan Sara's opener for Dundee at Tynecastle had been cancelled out by winger Juanjo's late reply.

• Hearts lost to Rangers in the semi-finals last season.

• Dundee, who lost to Rangers the last time they reached the quarters in 2022, are looking to reach the last four for the first time since they lost to Gretna in 2006.

• Dundee have not lifted the cup since 1910, while Hearts won it for the eighth time in 2012.

What to look out for on Scottish Cup quarter-final weekend.

We asked for your views on what the one thing nobody is talking about at Dundee.

Here's what some of you said:

Gary: The goals have all-but dried up and Simon Murray does a power of running but instead of being in the positions to score, he's usually filling the gaps his team-mates are leaving. They rarely match his workload or drive to succeed. A more stocked midfield would take pressure off both him and the defence, as well as providing the service he needs.

Mark: The proposed move to the new stadium seems to have died a death. Going to be a cracking stadium for championship football. In that case, it will never be full unless Take That play a concert there.

Kenny: The recruitment this season, or lack thereof, has been a complete and utter shambles. One striker for the run in, midfield was weak before the ridiculous last minute sale of McCowan, and hasn't been strengthened either, but one striker to see out the season is amateur planning and is absolutely farcical.

Anon: Best thing about Dundee is that Murray continues to cover over a multitude of defensive howlers. The worst thing is the failure to stop cheap goals. Any ball in our box causes havoc in the defence and heart attacks in the stands.

Rod: Dundee fans can be quick to turn on the team and manager. Other teams know this and use it to their advantage. We need to be more supportive otherwise it will be another few years of relegation and then winning the Championship (which is not easy). We need to have a solid number of years making sure we stay in the Premiership.

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Hearts midfielder Cammy Devlin remains sidelined because of concussion, while Aidan Denholm, Craig Halkett, Stephen Kingsley (all hamstring) and Frankie Kent (quad) are still out.

Dundee midfielder Scott Fraser is back in training after a groin injury but is unlikely to feature. They remain without Antonio Portales (calf), Seb Palmer-Houlden (knee), Clark Robertson (hamstring) and Billy Koumetio (ankle).

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee defender Ziyad Larkeche has told how he turned the "big shock" of his first injury setback into a "learning experience".

The 22-year-old left-back, who is on loan from Queens Park Rangers, recently returned to action after three months out with a hamstring problem.

He said: "When the doctor called me I didn't expect that because I had never had an injury, so it was a big shock at the beginning.

"But after, you try to do the right things to be back as soon as possible – to improve your sleeping, your diet, all the small details like having the good people around you otherwise you are just wasting your time.

"So even improving areas like tactically watching more football and stuff maybe you can't do when you are playing. Of course I don't want to be injured again, but I tried to use this time the best I can, so it was a learning experience for me but hopefully not many more."

Larkeche made his comeback in the 6-0 thrashing by Hearts at the start of last month and the sides lock horns again on Friday night, this time at Tynecastle in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup.

"I think in everyone's head it is more the focus of going to Hampden, but everyone has got ego and pride and wants to perform at their best on Friday night," added Larkeche.

"I believe in every game you need to be solid because you get punished. It is a totally different context, totally different game, and there is a big opportunity to get to Hampden."

Dundee are locked in a Premiership relegation battle as they struggle to build on the highs of last season's sixth-place finish.

Inconsistency has plagued the Dark Blues this term and their cause hasn't been helped by injuries, while the summer departure of talisman Luke McCowan has been keenly felt.

Tony Docherty's side have gone eight league games without victory, including five defeats, to leave them foundering in second bottom.

It is tense times for the Dark Blues but you know your club best, so what is the one thing - good or bad - nobody is talking about at Dens Park?

Let us know., external

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Tony Docherty wants his Dundee team to "show the best version" of themselves against Hearts in the last eight of the Scottish Cup on Friday and find some "redemption" after last month's league defeat by the capital club.

The Dark Blues were on the wrong end of a 6-0 scoreline when the sides met on league business at Dens Park at the start of February.

Docherty believes they can use the pain from that experience as an added motivation when the teams met at Tynecastle.

"On that day that professionally we didn't represent ourselves properly," Docherty said.

"When your pride is dented like that you want to do something about it, so there is possibly a redemption there.

"That was a day we didn't enjoy. We want to make sure we show the best version of ourselves and we have an opportunity to do that in a cup competition."

That defeat by Hearts marked the start of a five-match losing run in the league, one which came to an end with their weekend draw against St Johnstone.

Despite failing to get the wins in recent matches, Docherty has seen an improvement in his team's performance levels.

Friday's game represents a break from the Premiership and a chance to create a little bit of Scottish Cup history.

"The last time the club were in the Scottish Cup semi-final was 2006 so there is an opportunity to go and make a wee bit of history there - first time in 19 years to get to a semi-final.

"We are in the competition and we have got an opportunity to get to a semi-final so it is a really exciting prospect."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Dundee manager Tony Docherty has been speaking to the media before Friday's Scottish Cup quarter-final against Hearts at Tynecastle.

Here are the best bits from his news conference:

• Says "there is an opportunity to go and make a wee bit of history" with Dundee aiming to reach their first Scottish Cup semi-final since 2006.

• Hearts beat Dundee 6-0 in the league last month and Docherty admits his side "didn't represent ourselves properly" in that game.

• He is seeking "redemption" and wants "to show the best version" of the team at Tynecastle.

• Docherty insists his side have "looked more like ourselves" in the past couple of games and is focused on the future despite an awful run of league results that has seen them Dundee drop to 11th in the Premiership table.

• On Hearts – Docherty says they are a good side, who have recruited well. He says he knows their strengths but also their weaknesses and wants "to exploit those weaknesses" come Friday.

• Team news: Scott Fraser is back on the training pitch but not ready for this game. Billy Koumetio, Clark Robertson, Antonio Potales and Seb Palmer-Houlden are also out.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Dundee manager Tony Docherty declared "we've stopped the rot" after the 1-1 draw with Premiership bottom club St Johnstone at Dens Park last weekend.

He is correct in terms of ending a run of five straight league defeats. But it remains to be seen if his side have turned a corner and can start to head in the right direction.

The Dark Blues remain second bottom, precariously placed just three points above Saints.

They also have a tough looking pre-split quartet of games – away dates at Dundee United and Hibs plus home games against Rangers and St Mirren.

So there is plenty of work to do, but one positive amid the gloom is the welcome return of skipper Joe Shaughnessy after a lengthy spell out injured.

The Irishman made his first start in 11 months against Saints and there is no doubt Dundee are more assured at the back with the 32-year-old on the pitch.

As well as his quality as a footballer, the leadership and organisational qualities he brings to the team on the park – as well as off it – are invaluable.

And those are the kind of characteristics needed when a side find themselves in a dogfight.

One player doesn't make a team, but maybe the return of Shaughnessy could be the catalyst Dundee need to spark them back to life and help banish relegation fears over the next few weeks.

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

After a frustrating loss at Motherwell in which Dundee were second best in every department, we stopped the rot of defeats with a draw against St Johnstone - but it was a massive missed opportunity.

St Johnstone will be relieved to keep Dundee within reach, but for us, the bigger concern is that if we can't beat the team at the bottom of the league at home, who can we beat?

Much like the Motherwell game I am annoyed at how little we gave Andy Fisher in the St Johnstone goal to do. After Simon Murray's equaliser, Fisher was tested just once more, with a volley down the middle in injury time.

As stressed many times this season, playing teams out of form is never an advantage for us and it's difficult to see where things will turn around for Dundee.

I am more than familiar with the patterns that emerge with relegated sides, and at the moment I feel very uneasy with what I am watching.

To make things worse St Johnstone will carry unbeaten momentum. With a favourable tie in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals I expect them to have a massive morale boost of a cup run to coincide with their league form.

Cesar Garza and Joe Shaughnessy are among the few players who can hold their head high with their displays on Saturday. Garza fought for everything and Shaughnessy's leadership has been dearly missed.

Meanwhile our next game is at Tynecastle in the Scottish Cup on Friday night.

I'd like to think form goes out the window when it comes to knockout football but I'm not convinced this team have what it takes to rise to the occasion.

There is talk from the players that they're eager to get one back on Hearts for the massacre at Dens last month. Yet I've spent all season listening to them declare they're ready to react to disappointing results and time and again those promises have amounted to nothing.

Lawrence Shankland loves scoring against Dundee - he has netted 10 in just 15 matches against us. While Shankland has scored just four goals in the league this season, three of them were against Dundee.

Coupled with our shambolic defensive record, I sense the outcome on Friday is very predictable.