Dundee

Watch the pick of a thrilling contest as Dundee beat 10-man Aberdeen 3-2 for a first win at Pittodrie in the Premiership for more than two decades. (Available to UK users only)

We asked for your views after Dundee won at Pittodrie in the top flight for the first time in 22 years by beating 10-man Aberdeen 3-2.

Here's what some of you said:

Flynn: Another record broken by Pressley, outstanding performance again but this time a result to merit it. Past Dundee teams would give up after going 1-0 down but for once Dundee didn't give up and deserved all three points. Another great performance from Ethan Hamilton and the only issue will be keeping him in the summer.

Darren: Great win, but Jon McCracken at fault again, he has cost us goals in the last three games. He made the same mistake as last week but fortunately we were not punished on this occasion.

Jim: Absolutely brilliant result. The players showed fight to get the win and proved that they can win games after setbacks. And what a winner as well. We've been playing well without getting results and we needed that. With four difficult games coming up Steven Pressley may have to look at McCracken's position. He's made mistakes in a lot of games.

Gary: 22 years! Another stat this team have binned! After the mistake for the first goal and slow second-half start I feared the usual dropped points, but what a cracker from one of our captains! Still think the keeper needs swapped out and we could use our bench better, but can't really argue with the quality of the winning goal.

Mark: Beyond words, unbelievable result.

Albert: Fantastic to see Pressley's great work coming to fruition now. A long-awaited victory up at Pittodrie too. Future looks bright again.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Ethan Hamilton hopes Dundee's "massive" Scottish Premiership victory over Aberdeen can provide a platform for a positive end to the season.

The 27-year-old midfielder crashed in a fabulous late goal to secure a 3-2 success at victory, ending a run of five league games without a win.

The result moves the Dark Blues to within one point of Aberdeen in eighth place.

"It is a really important win," he told BBC Scotland.

"Hopefully it can be the catalyst for it (a winning run), we feel the way we have been playing has been growing week by week and definitely hope we can take the confidence from this and move on to the next game.

"We feel we are on the right track but in football you have to win and that is what we are desperate to do and the manager is always on to that, we are just really enjoying working for him and the information him and the staff give us is brilliant.

"We feel we are playing some decent football at times and it is a good step today to get falling on the right side of results.

"We will be back into training on Monday and review the game, as we always do, and really push on because we know we have got a lot of work ahead of us."

Ethan Hamilton's stunning late strike gave Dundee a first Scottish Premiership win at Pittodrie since 2004 after a thrilling and bizarre game against 10-man Aberdeen.

Have your say.

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Dundee manager Steven Pressley: "We didn't start the game particularly well. There was a bit of a feeling we could come and play our football and that would be enough to get us a result.

"After the opening 15 minutes of the game it was very evident it wouldn't be enough. I said to the group during a stoppage we needed to win more duels and be aggressive against the ball.

"We managed to get to grips, and then of course the penalty and sending off was a pivotal point in the game. We take advanatge for the second goal but never quite managed to kill them off.

"When they have players like Nisbet then there's always a risk of them finding the equaliser.

"But I have to say this about the group. We didn't start well, got a set back and we showed terrific personality and character. And then after going 2-1 up and with them down to 10 men we had another hammer blow and responded brilliantly again.

"So although it wasn't our best performance, it was a winning one."

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Dundee head coach Steven Pressley says there is "a real belief" within his squad that good performances will deliver wins once again.

Despite a number of impressive showings, his ninth-placed side travel to Aberdeen this weekend, looking to end a sequence of five league games without a victory.

So does Pressley have any concerns that the confidence in the group could take a hit if that run continues?

He told BBC Scotland: "You obviously hope not, I am a guy that is very strategic and driven by process so I believe if you keep doing the right things eventually you will get the rewards.'

"We had a really good discussion this week, and there is a real belief in the way we are going about things, I am always very transparent with the group, I want feedback from the group, how they feel, they are the ones that play the game, so there is a confidence about what we are doing.'

"And there is belief that if we keep doing those things we will eventually get the outcomes that we want but we are also aware this weekend that it is a really tough game."

Dundee know a victory would move them to within one point of Aberdeen in the table.

But to say they don't have history on their side is an understatement, given it is 22 years since they last won at Pittodrie.

"The last time Dundee won up there, I was still playing," added Pressley. "But I have presented the players with these types of stats all season and they seem to embrace them and want to make them change.

"There is a little bit of a gap between us and those above us and that could widen significantly if we weren't to take anything at Pittodrie so we want to keep certain teams around us and we will also want to also be targeting on certain teams above us so it gives us a great opportunity."

Image source, SNS

Dundee have no fears about losing defender Billy Koumetio in the summer despite the currently injured 23-year-old's contract expiring at the end of this season as they hold the option of extending his current contract by one year. (The Courier), external

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Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie will complete his suspension. Emmanuel Gyamfi is pushing for a recall, while Stuart Armstrong (calf), Mats Knoester (concussion), Kristers Tobers (knee) and Nick Suman (ankle) remain out.

Brad Halliday is expected to join a Dundee absentee list which includes Billy Koumetio (knee), Clark Robertson (thigh), Joe Westley (ankle) and Ashley Hay (broken toe).

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Dundee defender Luke Graham admits it's nice to be praised for his performances this season, but won't let the attention change his focus.

The young centre-back has been a stand-out for Dundee, has been linked with bigger clubs and tipped for the top by manager Steven Pressley.

He says he's enjoying regular top flight football and is just concentrating on helping his side to as high a finishg as possible.

"It's obviously good to get recognised for having good performances and stuff like that, but I don't let it get to my head at all," Graham said. "I'm just focusing on finishing the season here and finishing as high up the table as possible.

"I'm loving it. I just want to play games, really, and thankfully the manager's given me the chance to do that.

"I'm loving working with him and obviously playing a few games is a bit of a bonus as well."

After spending time on loan in each of the lower divisions in the SPFL in recent seasons, he's now a Premiership regular and has been talked about as a potential full Scotland international.

"I've not really thought about that too much," he said. "It would obviously be amazing if it did come around, but I've not really set my sights on it yet.

"As far as I'm concerned, I'm still Scotland Under-21, so that's all good.

"I would love to play for Scotland on the full team eventually, but I'm just focusing on playing my football here and then see what comes in the future."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Dundee head coach Steven Pressley says wants to avoid another "transitional" summer in terms of player turnover but admits it's very difficult to plan ahead when their Premiership safety is not guaranteed.

The Dark Blues, who are currently ninth in the Scottish Premiership, have a number of players whose contracts or loan deals are up at the end of this campaign and Pressley is hoping to avoid a repeat of the sizeable squad overhaul he faced following his appointment last summer.

"We are trying to future plan," Pressley told BBC Scotland.

"The club have reached out to several players around new contracts because stability and continuity are really important.

"We know we are still going to have to bring in personnel in the summer but we don't want a transitional summer like we have just experienced.

"But we are not safe yet in the league so it is very difficult, at times, for clubs like ourselves to really plan ahead.

"We want to change that but at the same time we are conscious of that situation so we are trying as hard as we can to bring stability and continuity but at the same time we have to secure our future."

Defender Billy Koumetio's deal is up in the summer but he seems set to stick around at Dens Park with the club keen to exercise a year-long option on his deal.

"That is certainly the case and yes of course we would love to take that option up," Pressley added.

"Billy has been a really important player for us this year, he had a spell of games where his performances were at a really high level and we think there is a very interesting player there that, with games and with development, can play at a very high level."

"That is exciting and also it is pleasing that we do have that clause within his contract and it gives us additional stability in that position."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Dundee head coach Steven Pressley has been speaking to BBC Scotland as his side prepare for Saturday's trip to Aberdeen.

Here are the main points:

• On the fact their good performances haven't been reflected in their recent results, Pressley stresses "we had a really good discussion this week, and there is a real belief in the way we are going about things."

• He adds that if they keep doing what they are doing "we will eventually get the outcomes that we want".

• Despite giving up a two goal lead in their draw to bottom club Livingston last time out, Pressley notes the game represented "our highest number of last third entries, our most crosses that we have put in against any team this season" and that they had 70% possession.

• A win at Pittodrie would move the ninth place Dark Blues to within one point of Aberdeen and Pressley says that is "a big incentive" adding "we want to keep certain teams around us and we will also want to be targeting certain teams above us".

• On Dundee's poor record at Pittodrie, Pressley notes "the last time Dundee won up there, I was still playing" adding "I have presented the players with these types of stats all season and they seem to embrace them and want to make them change so let's hope we can do that."

• He describes the 4-0 loss in the Granite City in October as being "one of the hardest afternoons of my tenure here so far" but insists their much improved display in their December defeat to Aberdeen at Dens Park was "one of the performances that I thought started moving us in the right direction."

• With a number of players contracts and loans expiring in the summer he says "the club have reached out to several players around new contracts because stability and continuity are really important."

• The boss makes clear he doesn't "want a transitional summer like we have just experienced" but knows "we are also in a situation where we are not safe yet in the league so it is very difficult at times for clubs like ourselves to really plan ahead."

• Pressley confirms there is the option of a further year on Billy Koumetio's contract saying "we would love to take that option up".

• Team news: They have doubts over Brad Halliday and Scott Wright for the trip north.

Image source, SNS

• Since the start of last season, Aberdeen have won all five of their league meetings with Dundee, their most victories against any opponent in this time.

• Dundee are winless in their last 17 league visits to Aberdeen (D5 L12) since a 2-1 victory in May 2004 under Jim Duffy.

• Aberdeen have lost six of their last seven league games - all without scoring - while the exception was a 6-2 win over Livingston in January. Indeed, since the first game of this period (30 Dec v Hibernian), no side has fewer points than the Dons in the Scottish Premiership (three, level with Livingston), while only Dundee (five) have scored fewer goals than them (six).

• Dundee have failed to score in each of their last three away league games, last going four without a goal on the road in the top-flight in December 2004.

• While Aberdeen have used more different players in the Scottish Premiership this season than any side (36), Dundee have used the fewest (26). Despite this, Dundee have had more different goal scorers in the competition this term (12) than the Dons (11).

Dundee have received positive news on Brad Halliday's injury but Scott Wright is a doubt to face former club Aberdeen on Saturday. (Courier - subscription required), external

Thursday's Scottish gossip

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Dundee must still be wondering how, after finding themselves 2-0 up after just five minutes, they had to settle for a draw against Livingston at Dens Park.

But with the dust having settled on that, perhaps of more significance than the result was the return to scoring form of talismanic striker Simon Murray.

One of the country's most prolific frontmen in recent seasons, the 33-year-old has found goals hard to come by this term.

Last season he netted 15 goals in 33 Premiership games and the season before he scored 11 in 32 league outings.

His weekend double represented his first since the end of September and his third goal in the league after 21 games.

Speaking after the game Murray even acknowledged how good it was to get that monkey off his back.

The Dark Blues fans, and head coach Steven Pressley, will be hoping that the shackles are now off and that Murray can now go on a hot streak of scoring form – he is certainly capable of it.

If he does, it could turn their season around.

Performances have been good in recent times, but that cutting edge has been lacking – something illustrated by the fact that ninth placed Dundee are the joint lowest scorers (with St Mirren) in the Premiership having netted just 21 goals in their 26 league games.

An in form Simon Murray would go some way to sharpening an often blunt attack over the remaining weeks and months of the campaign.

Image source, BBC Sport

Rangers have stepped up their interest in Dundee defender Luke Graham (Scottish Sun), external.

Dundee manager Steven Pressley has backed goalkeeper Jon McCracken to bounce back from his mistake against Livingston (Courier), external.

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

There was little love at Dens Park this Valentine's Day — and here's why.

We've been playing well without putting wins on the board. The question now is simple: how long can you sustain performances without results before confidence begins to erode?

That question lands heavier after Saturday. Two-nil up after five minutes at home to the bottom side — winless in 25 league games — and we sleepwalked into a draw.

What should have been a comfortable lead to manage and use to frustrate Livingston instead descended into something chaotic. From the moment they pulled one back, we never looked likely to regain control.

Dundee need to shake themselves out of this trance. The flashes of casual defending and sluggish play in the final third were visible against Falkirk, but after this, it starts to feel like the beginning of a slippery slope — and it needs addressed quickly.

In a season where we've broken long-standing records and droughts, I'm clinging to the idea that we can do it again. Aberdeen at Pittodrie has long felt cursed — the last time Dundee left the Granite City with three points, Facebook was barely two weeks old.

The silver lining? Simon Murray looks sharp again. After a turbulent, stop-start season with injuries, he's rediscovering his edge. Give him the service and he'll deliver.

Two Celtic stars, duos from Dundee and Dundee United, and a pair from Motherwell. It's time for Jonathan Sutherland's team of the week, so let's take a look and see who impressed...

Raphael Sallinger - Hibernian

Not a vintage weekend for goalkeepers. Sallinger gets the nod for a couple of stops and a clean sheet. An overall impressive addition at Easter Road.

Julian Araujo - Celtic

What a big goal. Ended up in hospitality with his celebration, but it was a big moment.

Stephen Welsh - Motherwell

Outstanding again after his goalscoring heroics midweek. An assist for Just as well. Not sure what Celtic don't see in him.

Ross Graham - Dundee United

Goal and a doughty warrior at the back. His four touches in the opposition box was only bettered by teammate Kristijan Trapanovski, while he made more clearances than any other player.

Cameron Congreve - Dundee

A continuous threat down the right for the Dark Blues. What a good loan signing he has been by Steven Pressley. Took eight shots and created three chances.

Craig Sibbald - Dundee United

Pulled the strings in midfield and scored a vital goal. Set up four chances, the most of any United player, and won more duels than any of his teammates.

Elijah Just - Motherwell

For me, Elijah Just has to be in with a shout of player of the season. The New Zealand international has been consistently excellent, showing guile, creativity and goalscoring ability. On the scoresheet again this weekend, against Aberdeen. Ghosts around the pitch with elegance, class and endeavour.

Sebastian Tounekti - Celtic

Loves Rugby Park. Great on his debut there, scored there against Auchinleck Talbot and sparked Celtic's comeback on Sunday with a goal of the season contender.

Simon Murray - Dundee

Murray in a hurry at Dens Park. After a barren spell, the Dundee captain looked pumped for action with his quick fire double.

Youssef Chermiti - Rangers

Michael Stewart told me on Sportscene he doesn't think Chermiti has the potential to be a top striker. But he has scored six of his seven goals this season against Celtic and Hearts, including his hat-trick yesterday on what was a huge occasion.

The challenge for the 21-year-old is to start delivering this sort of performance more consistently against the other sides in the Premiership.

Tyreece John-Jules - Kilmarnock

The former Arsenal youth - and nephew of Red Dwarf star Danny John-Jules - was a force of nature for Kilmarnock against Celtic, following on from his midweek hat-trick.

Scored a great goal, clipped the crossbar from a free-kick and just generally showed star potential. Such a shame he limped off with what looked like a thigh muscle strain.

Watch highlights as Dundee and Livingston share four goals in the Scottish Premiership (UK users only).

We sought your views after Dundee's 2-2 draw with Livingston...

Danny: We are capable of playing some very good football but lack physicality in midfield and are too easy to play against. We also need to adopt a better mentality both in and out of possession, with McCracken's mistake being a prime example of a need for better concentration.

Darren: Need a reliable goalkeeper. Jon McCracken has too many mistakes in him. This has been the case since joining.

Lammy: Poor result but not disastrous. Two extremely bad goals to lose (again). The second goal was the type lost by many teams trying to play out of the back instead of clearing it up the park. At least Murray is back scoring, let's hope he continues. Did we deliberately stop using Congreve in the second half? Certainly seemed like it. The joys of being a Dee!

Albert: A bit disappointed after the great start on a beautiful day for football. At least we've some daylight between ourselves and Livingston. Glad for Murray to get amongst the goals again.

Iain: It's games like this that make you want to tear your hair out. 2-0 up at home against the bottom side and we end with a draw?? It's unacceptable. Livi are very likely to be relegated, and we can't force a 2-0 advantage. Really shocking.

Mark: Simply not good enough. Both goals totally avoidable. The good run we were on simply papering over the cracks.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Dundee striker Simon Murray says he hopes to kick on after getting "that monkey off the back" by scoring both his side's goals in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Livingston.

The 33-year-old has been one of the country's most prolific scorers in recent seasons, but his early double represented his first goals since September.

"It has been a really frustrating season for myself in terms of goals and a few niggling injuries, but it sometimes happens," he said. "You just need to keep plugging away and I am glad to get a couple of goals today.

"It is nice to get that monkey off the back and just kick on now."

Dundee, who are ninth in the Scottish Premiership, have struggled for goals this season and Murray admits "we probably shot ourselves in the foot" by squandering their early two-goal advantage against the bottom-placed visitors.

The Dark Blues missed a chance to oust Celtic in the Scottish Cup last weekend thanks to two late goals for the hosts last weekend then went down to a single goal in Falkirk in midweek.

"It has been a tough week, a disappointing week in terms of we put in a lot and maybe never got out what we maybe deserved, but sometimes that is football we just need to move on to next week," Murray added.

"We have been working really hard to get that final cutting edge, but in terms of defensively, it wasn't necessarily we were really bad defensively we maybe just gave the ball away in areas which left ourselves open at times."

Celtic and Rangers are both eyeing respective summer moves for highly-rated 22-year-old Dundee centre-half Luke Graham. (Football Insider), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Simon Murray's early double wasn't enough to earn Dundee a first win in five games as bottom club Livingston fought back to salvage a point in their desperate fight for Scottish Premiership survival.

Read the match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.