Dundee

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Following an eye-catching 1-1 draw at Rangers last time out have Steven Pressley and his Dundee side turned a corner after a bumpy start to the season?

We will find out over the next few weeks. Having been on a high after their Ibrox exploits, the dark blues will have been desperate to get back into action as soon as possible.

However, because of their early Premier Sports Cup exit, they were left kicking their heels last weekend.

That break may not necessarily be a bad thing. Their showing in Glasgow served to illustrate the work Steven Pressley has been doing on the training ground is just starting to bear fruit.

Can another couple of weeks on the training ground further implement ideas and bring about a first league win?

To coin an old phrase, one swallow doesn't make a summer - but there were encouraging signs at Ibrox. The challenge now will be to use that as a platform upon which to build a more substantial body of work to reinforce the theory that his new look side are indeed now on the up.

Following the appointment of Pressley, and the subsequent turbulent opening to the campaign his side experienced, many observers – and dare I say it Dundee fans themselves – had written his team off.

While tactics and strategy are obviously key to delivering success, a siege mentality and a desire to prove the doubters wrong can also go a long way to getting a side motoring in the right direction.

Dundee boss Steven Pressley says Luke Graham is a player with "a big future" as he explained why contract talks have started with the defender. (The Courier)

Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.

Dundee have held talks with Celtic over a loan deal for Colby Donovan, while Ayr United are also interested in the 18-year-old right-back. (Daily Record), external

Managing director John Nelms describes the length of time it's taking for Dundee's new stadium to be approved as "curious". (Scotsman - subscription required), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

Dundee are considering a deal for Cammy MacPherson, the 26-year-old midfielder who has been on trial after leaving St Johnstone this summer. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

Image source, SNS

Dundee managing director John Nelms says the club are "increasingly alarmed by unhelpful procedural developments" in the planning application process for a new 12,50-seat stadium at Camperdown Park.

In April the club stated that talks with Transport Scotland over a suitable entrance were holding up the move.

But in a new statement Nelms accused the national transport agency for Scotland, on the back of a request from Dundee City Council officers, of uploading a consultation response based on "out-of-date information", which he said is the latest in "a series of inexplicable procedural anomalies" that have hit the project.

The managing director said a Draft Traffic Management Plan was submitted on 5 March, but Dundee did not receive a response from the local authority until 24 July.

The plan was also submitted to Transport Scotland who did not provide a response until 8 August.

Nelms revealed the Dark Bues have already spent £3.5m just to get to this stage.

"We will continue the fight – though we had never intended or foreseen it being thus – to show our ambition for the City of Dundee and our commitment to a prosperous future for Dundee Football Club, its fans and, indeed, its rivals," Nelms said.

"The outcome of this process will, of course, have future ramifications for all fans, irrespective of the colour of their scarves."

Dundee captain forward Simon Murray, 33, will return from injury in closed door friendlies on Friday. (Record), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

The season may only be a few weeks old, so maybe it is too early to talk about turning points.

But Dundee's 1-1 draw with Rangers does feel like a really big moment for head coach Steven Pressley.

Unlucky not to get their first win at Ibrox in 24 years, he got his tactics spot on, and his players executed his gameplan to a tee.

So why is it so significant?

Well, Pressley has spent a lot of his time firefighting since his surprise arrival at Dens Park in June.

It is fair to say a large portion of the Dundee support have not exactly bought in to the appointment.

And the fact that prior to the trip to Govan he had presided over an early exit from the League Cup and a losing start to their Premiership campaign didn't do a lot to alter the narrative.

The Dundee players I have spoken to since Pressley arrived have all spoken highly of the work he has been doing on the training ground, and the ideas he is trying to implement.

But these things sometimes take time, a currency that is often in short supply in Scottish football.

However, that result, and more importantly performance, at Ibrox is perhaps a sign that some of that hard work could be starting to bear fruit.

The proof will be in the pudding, but perhaps some Dark Blues doubters are starting to feel a bit more optimistic about what this campaign could yield.

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

Last week I said I was fully braced for defeat. Instead, I saw the best performance from any Dundee team at Ibrox in my lifetime - a night-and-day transformation from the limp showing against Hibs.

This time there was cohesion. The team moved as one, playing for set-pieces, restricting Rangers to scraps, and making every single one of the travelling support proud.

Dundee were mature, combative, disciplined and, on the balance of play, deserved all three points.

Then came Don Robertson's penalty decision, which was nothing short of appalling. Djeidi Gassama was already tugging at Drey Wright's shorts before initiating contact, yet somehow the Dundee player was penalised. There was no challenge from Wright - nothing to warrant a foul. VAR should have told Robertson to review it at the very least. It was an abysmal, costly call.

Still, the match was historic - the first time in 24 years Dundee have left Ibrox without defeat. This instills belief in the team and if Dundee can reproduce the level of maturity and bite they showed on Saturday, Steven Pressley's tenure could end up shocking his doubters.

We're still expecting more signings but the arrival of Yan Dhanda may prove to be the pick of the lot. A midfielder with the capabilities of creating chances and scoring goals are far and few in between and Dundee have landed one who is proven in the Premiership.

It's the kind of signing that gives the whole place a lift. Simon Murray was two goals away from the Golden Boot last season and will now be supplied by a playmaker with whom he already has a relationship on the pitch from their time at Ross County. It makes the deal all the sweeter.

Dundee have been starved of a formidable frontline partnership in the Premiership for nine years, since the days of Kane Hemmings and Greg Stewart. Perhaps Murray and Dhanda will feed that appetite in the games to come.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Clark Robertson: Combined for the goal with Ryan Astley and was generally excellent in earning his side a point at Ibrox.

Ryan Astley: A rock at the back. Calm and assured and the goal was icing on the cake.

Highlights of Rangers 1-1 Dundee in the Scottish Premiership

We asked for your views on Dundee's 1-1 draw with Rangers.

Here's what you said:

Paul: Dundee were by far the better team and only an extremely dubious penalty decision robbed them of a famous victory.

Albert: Well done Dundee. Very proud of my team today. I am fully behind our manager and have been since day one. I wish the rest of our fan base can now finally see that we've a strong team as going to Ibrox and getting a point is a massive step in the right direction.

Alfie: Got to say I was a Pressley-skeptic, only deepened after the Airdrie and Alloa league cup games. But slowly he seems to be building a well organised team with a threat from set pieces. Like a lot of Dundee fans, I'll be very happy to be proved wrong over his appointment.

Gary: Dundee robbed with that penalty award. How VAR can award that highlights the real concerns around this current crop of referees. Dundee were fantastic in defence and so unlucky not to collect all three points.

Andy: Lots of positives for Dundee to take from that performance. There are reasons why the Dees have had a shaky start: whole new management team, several new players in the door, new structure behind the scenes. With still three or four players to come in I'm massively encouraged that Steven Pressley will be a success at Dens.

Rangers head coach Russell Martin is still waiting for a Scottish Premiership victory and needed a late penalty from club captain James Tavernier to deny Dundee their first win at Ibrox in 24 years.

Read the full match report here.

Tell us your thoughts here.

Image source, SNS

Dundee manager Steven Pressley told BBC Scotland: "I asked all the players today to show courage and belief to get a result here, and they showed that in abundance.

"I said to them in the dressing room I could cry for them today because they left every last ounce out there on the pitch.

"I'm hugely proud of the preface but it's still only one point and you can get relegated on one point.

"We were a big threat on set plays today, we caused them problems, there were a number of really positive aspects about the game.

"Today I saw further improvements and we'll work again tirelessly before the Kilmarnock game.

"I couldn't be prouder of those group of players today. The most important thing for me is to see progression and I certainly saw that."

Image source, SNS

Rangers defender Max Aarons has shrugged off a knock while Thelo Aasgaard and Hamza Igamane are working their way back to fitness.

Mikey Moore is still waiting for international clearance on his loan move from Tottenham.

Striker Joe Westley could make his Dundee debut but Yan Dhanda will have to wait following his loan move from Hearts as he is suspended.

Steven Pressley will make a late call on Simon Murray (knee) while Charlie Reilly (broken collarbone) and Cesar Garza (concussion) miss out.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Midfielder Callum Jones believes Dundee's form will "definitely" turn around under "really impressive" head coach Steven Pressley.

The Dark Blues have made a disappointing start to the season, crashing out of the League Cup in the group stages and losing their Premiership opener at home to Hibernian last weekend.

Jones, who arrived from Hull City last month as one of eight new faces at Dens Park so far this summer, has backed manager Pressely to turn the tide in their favour.

The 24-year-old said: "We are new, everyone is new, I think the gaffer's detail is really good, the principles that he wants and shows.

"Obviously everyone doesn't get to see that, but as a player I have worked with quite a lot of managers and the detail the gaffer wants is really impressive.

"It is not going to come out straight away in the first game, but Hibs are an established team, they have been together for a long time, big budget, and I don't think they really put us to the test too much.

"They won the game, but we never really looked out of shape, I think we were comfortable and compact and the units were exactly what we wanted.

"Obviously we want more going forward, which is fine, me included, but it will definitely come."

Given the way the campaign has started, unsurprisingly, a number of Dundee supporters are unhappy at the current situation.

On the fans' frustration, Jones said: "I know from previous places I have been, I have been hated one week then I have scored the next week and I have been a fan favourite, so it is how it is.

"It changes but they are right to have their opinion because they come and pay for the games and it is our job to try and change that opinion and get them onside.

"I definitely think they supported us at the weekend, and I am sure the more the season goes on and the better we do, then they will stay behind us."

• Rangers are unbeaten in their past 17 meetings with Dundee in all competitions (W14 D3) since a 2-1 league defeat in November 2017 under Graeme Murty.

• Dundee have lost each of their past 19 away games at Rangers in all competitions, a run that began in 2001. Only against five sides have Rangers ever won 20+ consecutive home matches in their history, most recently an ongoing run of 21 against Dunfermline from 1999 to 2021.

• Rangers drew 1-1 with Motherwell on matchday one but haven't failed to win both of their opening two matches of a Scottish Premiership campaign since 1989-90 under Graeme Souness (lost to St Mirren and Hibernian).

• In their opening-day defeat to Hibs, Dundee managed just two shots, their fewest in a Scottish Premiership home game since October 2018 vs Celtic (2). The Dark Blues did, however, win three of their final five away league games last term (L2), as many as across their 17 matches prior.

• Joe Rothwell has recorded three assists across his past eight league appearances, with each assist coming from a set-piece (2 for Leeds, 1 for Rangers) – the midfelder created the joint most chances (3) of any Rangers player against Motherwell, including his assist via a corner for James Tavernier.

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

Dundee look in no rush to complete the first-team squad that Steven Pressley admits is shy of five players.

The expectation of a slow start has been set with the manager stating we may be in for more hurt before positive results come our way.

The performance in the season-opening home defeat by Hibs was ultimately too negative. We lacked urgency in getting forward and struggled to create. In possession we lacked cohesion and the decision-making was all over the place.

For what it's worth, Dundee looked solid out of possession in keeping a rigid shape. Hibs didn't carve out many chances and every goal, including ours, stemmed from defensive mistakes.

The main positive was the standout performance of Luke Graham, who could be colossal for the team this season. The centre-back looks ready to steal weekly headlines in the vacuum left by fellow youth academy graduates Lyall Cameron and Josh Mulligan.

What is clear is Dundee are a team that need time to gel and require more quality to see through the rest of the campaign. Hopefully we'll see a much stronger team crafted for our trip to Rugby Park in two weeks.

Despite Rangers' failure to win on the opening day, our trip to Ibrox this Saturday is essentially a write-off from the fans' perspective. The last time we avoided defeat at Ibrox was in 2001.

I am fully braced for defeat, although I hope to see a more disciplined Dundee team.

The signing of Joe Westley may prove to be a coup over time as the young striker looks to have bags of potential. The priority now is to ensure Westley will be supplied with service as we are in dire need of creativity from midfield.

Dundee have started talks with Luke Graham about a contract extension for the 21-year-old defender, whose current deal lasts until summer 2027. (Daily Record), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Dundee head coach Steven Pressley has been speaking to the media as his side prepare to face Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday.

Here are the main points:

• Pressley is "really delighted" to get striker Joe Westley signed from Burnley and thinks the club have "unearthed a really good young player" who is a "natural goalscorer".

• On further transfers, Pressley says the club "need a much better process" around signing players as they don't want to be "scrambling" for new additions at the last minute.

• After coming under criticism in his first few games, Pressley says he doesn't "listen to the outside noise" and "has never read any newspapers".

• He accepts not everybody is going to like him and knows at a club like Dundee that "we have to expect more criticism at times".

• On Saturday's game, Pressley believes his side will need to produce the "perfect performance" to win at Ibrox.

• After missing the last game with a knee injury, Pressley hopes Simon Murray will be back to full training at the end of the week, but he has still to decide if he will be ready for this weekend's game.