Dundee

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• Kilmarnock's Scottish Premiership games this season have seen more goals than any other side's (98 - 35 for, 63 against). Killie last saw 100+ goals in their matches at the split after 33 games in the top-flight in 2005-06 (115 - 59 for, 56 against).

• Dundee have lost both of their last two league matches; only once this season have they endured a longer losing streak, losing four in a row from October to November.

• Kilmarnock have won four of their last five home league games (L1), including both of their last two without conceding. Killie last won and kept a clean sheet in three successive home league matches in January 2025.

• After their 2-1 win in December, Dundee could enjoy back-to-back Scottish Premiership victories over Kilmarnock for the first time since August 2015 (three in a row).

• Kilmarnock have avoided defeat in each of their last seven Scottish Premiership home games against Dundee (W3 D4) since a 0-1 reverse in May 2017.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Defender Brad Halliday says there is "real belief" that Dundee will start getting the wins their strong performances have merited between now and the end of the season.

The Dark Blues have been praised following a number of good showings in recent months.

Despite that, they have won just two of their last 10 league games and are five points above the Premiership's dreaded relegation play-off spot, currently occupied by Kilmarnock.

Steven Pressley's side are away to Killie on Saturday in their final pre-split fixture and know a defeat would narrow the gap between the sides to just two points.

"That is maybe where a little bit of frustration may lie, because I do believe we are playing good stuff and we are playing well, we are just not picking up the points," Halliday said.

"Albeit the last two games [narrow defeats to Hearts and Celtic] are against two teams at the top end of the league, so we can't be too disheartened with that.

"I believe we played really well in both games and probably deserved a point in both of them, but if we keep performing like that going forward hopefully it will put us in a good place come the end of the season.

"There is a real belief within the team, within the changing room, that we can get results.

"These [final six] games are against teams around us, so they are big games, but they are games we want to play in. We want to play where things are on the line.

"They are pressurised games and this is where we should stand up and really be enjoying it and hopefully win as many games as we can."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee head coach Steven Pressley has praised "outstanding" Luke Graham for the way he has handled speculation over his future, insisting the player "has got better" amid the uncertainty.

The 22-year-old defender has been a standout for the Dark Blues this term, so it is unsurprising he has been linked with a move away from Dens Park.

Dundee rejected a bid from south of the border during the January transfer window, but that hasn't stopped links with possible summer moves to both Rangers and Celtic.

"I have a strong relationship with Luke and he is a player that is showing incredible personality for one so young," Pressley said.

"He has had to deal with this speculation now for a number of months and the argument hasn't been has it affected him - he has grown during this period, he has got better and better. His performance at the weekend was outstanding again.

"So it certainly doesn't seem to affect him, and at this moment in time whether his mind is on moving or not, it is certainly not showing in his commitment to this football club.

"But we know, we are a club that understands if players accelerate at the rate Luke Graham has, there will be interest in him and if the right bids come in then of course, like any club outwith maybe one or two in the world, we are a selling club.

"But the club turned down a substantial offer for Luke in January because he will not be sold unless the [buying] club reaches the correct valuation."

Dundee remain in talks with a number of players who are out of contract in the summer over new deals.

However, with the team just five points above the Premiership relegation play-off spot, Pressley admits the current lack of clarity over what league they will be playing in next season will be in the thoughts of some of those they want to keep.

He said: "There must be a degree of that with the players, certainly not with the club.

"We are in negotiations with the likes of Jon McCracken, Ryan Astley, Billy Koumetio, Charlie Reilly and we are pushing for all of these players to re-sign because I have gone on record so many times talking about the importance of stability and continuity.

"But equally although the club is in negotiations there is bound to be a degree of trepidation from them about re-signing if we are not in the Premiership so I am sure that is a factor but the club are really trying to tie these players up."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee head coach Steven Pressley has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Scottish Premiership trip to Kilmarnock.

Here are the main points:

• On the post-split fixtures, Pressley insists "I don't read too much into the fixtures", adding "a fixture is only a good fixture if you win it", but he is "pleased" three of Dundee's final five games are at home.

• With Dundee just five points above second-bottom Killie in the table, Pressley admits it is "a really important game", adding they are a "hugely improved side under Neil McCann".

• Pressley admits Dundee "really took some time to find our way in the season" but stresses "you have to give credit to other teams" who have also been picking up good results.

• The upturn in the teams around Dundee "makes it a really pressurised end to the season", but Pressley stresses "my message is clear, we have to do what we did against Celtic and really attack these final games. We want to be brave and bold in the way we play, we want to have no regrets come the end of the season".

• The Dundee boss stresses their fate "won't be decided this weekend" but insists they are really focused on maintaining their Premiership status for next season.

• He adds "you don't get any points for being proud of players" but believes if his side can "show resilience" and "attack each game before the end of the season" he feels they can retain their league status.

• Pressley reiterates that they are in contract talks with a number of key players but accepts "there is bound to be a degree of trepidation" about signing just now until there is clarity over what league they will be playing in next season.

• Defender Luke Graham has "got better and better" amid continued speculation over his future. "Whether his mind is on moving or not, it's certainly not shown in his commitment to this football club".

• Team news: Tony Yogane is a doubt with an Achilles issue.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

After their weekend defeat to Celtic, Dundee head coach Steven Pressley spoke of the "bravery" his side will need to keep showing during their final six league games, fixtures he admitted "are going to challenge us greatly".

The Dark Blues go into their last half-dozen matches precariously placed in eighth in the table - just two points above Aberdeen and St Mirren, and five above Kilmarnock, who are the current occupants of the dreaded relegation play-off place.

They go to Killie on Saturday in an encounter that could go a long way to securing their top-flight status should they win it, but will leave them very much in the mire should they lose.

How worried should the Dundee fans be, though? With just two wins from their last 10 league games, things may appear perilous, but that doesn't tell the whole story.

Pressley's side have had some really tough games in that sequence, tackling trips to Rangers, St Mirren, Falkirk, Aberdeen and Hearts, as well as home dates with Livingston, Hibernian, Motherwell, Dundee United and Celtic.

While they have won just two of those games, they have also only lost four and, barring the trip to Ibrox, those defeats have been by a single goal.

So while you can certainly make a case for it not all being doom and gloom, it is all about getting points on the board, and for all the praise they have rightly been getting for an eye-catching way of playing, Pressley knows there is still work to do.

If they keep playing the way they have been, then you get the feeling all will be well. That feeling would certainly be strengthened if they can muster a win at Killie this weekend.

Luke Graham is very keen on a move to Rangers, who are working to get ahead of their rivals in the race for the Dundee centre-half's signature, but competition remains fierce, with Celtic and English clubs also interested in the 22-year-old. (TeamTalk), external

Head coach Steven Pressley says Dundee will stick to their valuation of Luke Graham this summer, having already turned down big offers from Portsmouth for the 22-year-old centre-half in January. (The Courier), external

Dundee centre-half Luke Graham has a better chance of being a consistent starter for Rangers than he does with Celtic next season as both clubs eye a move for his services. (Football Insider), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Dundee's Drey Wright is sure his side will remain full of confidence for the relegation battle despite back-to-back defeats against two of the title challengers.

Steven Pressley's side came close to taking a point against defending champions Celtic on Sunday at Dens Park, until Kelechi Iheanacho made it 2-1 in the 82nd minute with a close-range finish.

Dundee had been on a five-match unbeaten run, winning twice, before a narrow 1-0 loss against Hearts in the previous game, and are still not out of danger at the foot of the table.

Defeat at Kilmarnock this weekend, before the split, would leave them just two points above the Ayrshire side in the play-off place, and they are currently just two points above both St Mirren and Aberdeen.

"Obviously now, one more massive game for us next week down at Kilmarnock and then we'll see what the fixtures come out the split," Wright said.

"I think for the last few months especially, we've gone on a good unbeaten run, beat some good teams and we've lost to Hearts and Celtic, which generally should be the case.

"Obviously, it's not what we want. It's not how we approach the game at all. I don't think we can get too disheartened by it.

"There's a lot of good things and we'll be taking that into next week and the split."

Since Wright spoke, Dundee discovered they will begin their post-split fixtures at rivals Dundee United, while they wrap up their campaign at home against Aberdeen.

"I'm fully confident in the group of players and the staff that we have enough over that stretch of fixtures," Wright added.

"It's not been easy. It's been a lot of hard work over the season to get to this point, where we are so comfortable.

"But I think why teams find it difficult playing against us, a lot of it is our out-of-possession work as well.

"Obviously, the two go hand in hand if you want to be winning games and picking up positive results, so we've just got to try and find that balance.

"There's a lot of positivity within ourselves that we're confident we can go and get results against teams around us."

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

Another week passes with Dundee left reflecting on a performance that ultimately yielded nothing.

The main takeaway is simple: the defending for both goals simply wasn't good enough.

Dundee are worth their praise in playing bravely with a high line against a side like Celtic, but when they had their chances, it felt all too easy.

Billy Koumetio is expected to return to the starting XI following his injury, while Ryan Astley will miss the trip to Rugby Park through suspension.

Koumetio's return could prove crucial.

When he partnered Luke Graham earlier in the season, it marked our most stable defensive period.

At this stage of the campaign, clean sheets are invaluable.

With all remaining fixtures against bottom-six opposition, Dundee have already shown enough to suggest they are capable of finishing the season strongly.

The team just need to use the disappointments of the last few results as fuel to strive for wins going forward.

Dundee goalkeeper Jon McCracken is among the signing targets being assessed by Celtic, with the 25-year-old out of contract in the summer and available without a transfer fee. (Football Insider), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full

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Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

GK: Raphael Sallinger (Hibernian)

Almost seems to get in by default at the moment because of another weekend lacking any outstanding goalkeeping performances. A couple of saves and a clean sheets means the Austrian gets the gloves again.

RB: Dujon Sterling (Rangers)

A solid performer at Ibrox and nabbed a goal in the vital 4-2 win over Dundee United.

CB: Luke Graham (Dundee)

A colossus at the back for the Dark Blues all afternoon. Unfortunate to be on the losing side.

CB: Alex Gogic (St Mirren)

Seldom a weekend goes by when this team of the week favourite doesn't find his way into the starting XI. His brilliant headed goal against Aberdeen and a clean sheet earns him another call-up.

LB: Jordan Obita (Hibernian)

Set up the goal for Felix Passlack after Owen Elding's pass unlocked the Kilmarnock defence. An effective presence down the Hibs left.

CM: Felix Passlack (Hibernian)

Another big goal for the former Borussia Dortmund man. The German has a knack for arriving in the box at just the right time.

CM: Stevie May (Livingston)

Once upon a time had the flowing locks and the killer touch of a goal machine number nine in his glorious St Johnstone era. These days he has refashioned himself into one of Livingston's most versatile players.

Age and injuries take their toll on all players but his precision finish and general clever play were fundamental for Livingston in their draw with Hearts.

FW: Owen Elding (Hibernian)

What a prospect he looks for Hibs. The 20-year-old who arrived from Sligo Rovers opened the scoring after 13 seconds against Kilmarnock and his pass to unlock the Killie defence for the Passlack goal was a measured thing of beauty.

FW: Lawrence Shankland (Hearts)

Powered in his headed goal and looked the part all afternoon against Livingston. Full of invention, poise and confidence. But, crucially, it's his killer instinct in the box that counts most.

With the national team struggling for goals, will he be Scotland's go-to man for the World Cup opener against Haiti?

FW: Claudio Braga (Hearts)

Player of the season? A joy to watch, every part of his game looks great right now. Never a doubt the goal would be scored when the chance came his way.

Could the partnership with Shankland be the key ingredient that gets the Hearts title tilt over the line? Earns extra points for me for his desire to stay on his feet in the box rather than look for a penalty.

FW: Calvin Miller (Falkirk)

A contender for the Scotland squad? The national team could do with a creative winger with pace and Calvin Miller has been providing that all season in the Premiership for Falkirk.

The stats add up as well, seven goals and 10 assists in all competitions.

We asked you Dundee fans for your views on the narrow loss to Celtic at Dens Park.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Danny: We could and should have taken something from this match. Unfortunately, although Steven Pressley is doing a decent job overall, he is just far too cautious in his approach to games.

Albert: Remarkable performance given the difference in resources. Our manager is doing wonders this season and everything is looking good despite the defeat.

Brian: Celtic won even though Kelechi Iheanacho had pushed Ryan Astley out of the way to score? Where was VAR on that incident? I am sure if it was at the other end it would have been disallowed. Yet again the referee and VAR fail Dundee FC.

John: This was a poor Celtic team and I felt Dundee were a bit unlucky not to sneak a draw. Dundee should be safe from a play-off place.

Michelle: Unlucky not to take something from the game. Second half we were the much better side and deserved it more than Celtic. We were very brave in possession and weren't scared to take the game to them.

Watch Celtic narrow the gap at the Scottish Premiership summit with a late victory at Dundee.

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Dundee head coach Steven Pressley tells BBC Scotland: "I don't think we started the game in the fashion we hoped. That was credit to Celtic.

"We settled into it and especially in the second half we played particularly well. We didn't come out to sit in, we wanted to impose ourselves on the game and that takes bravery.

"The players are showing a lot of bravery in the way they play.

"There was a definite weather factor in the game with the strong wind.

"To stay in this league, you're going to have to endure difficult games and difficult periods.

"The last six games are going to challenge us greatly. We need to attack them and keep showing the bravery we showed today."

Celtic capitalised on Hearts' earlier slip-up to move within three points of the Scottish Premiership leaders as Kelechi Iheanacho slammed in a dramatic late winner at Dundee.

Read the match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

Hearts inched back to the top of the Scottish Premiership but could only muster a disappointing draw against the league's bottom dwellers Livingston.

Read the full match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

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If Dundee beat Celtic at Dens Park on Sunday it will be the first time they have recorded back-to-back home wins over the Glasgow outfit in the league since 1972.

And head coach Steven Pressley is hoping the chance to create history will be "ammunition" for his players.

Celtic had been on a 36-game unbeaten streak at Dundee's home ground when they made the trip in October.

Thanks to Clark Robertson's header and Cameron Carter-Vickers' own goal, Dundee ended a 37-year wait for a victory over the Parkhead club on home soil.

"I like throwing statistics at the players," head coach Pressley said.

"It's like ammunition for myself and I think the players like that, they like the challenges that we put in front of them.

"The reason we've improved a lot as a club is the attitude of the players has been terrific over the period.

"The Hearts result [a 1-0 defeat before the international break] was our first defeat in six games.

"I think it was the longest period the club had gone for some years in the Premiership without defeat, so that says a lot about the players."

Dundee have eased their relegation concerns with an upturn in form since late December but manager Pressley is leaving nothing to chance.

"As long as we focus on doing what's required and performing and improving then hopefully we can get over the line, but if it takes to the last game of the season, that's what it takes, and we have to be aware of that," he said.

"My time in football tells me that anything meaningful that you ever achieve, you'll never get there without struggle, without uncertainty, without difficulty."

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Dundee have Yan Dhanda back in contention after he was ineligible against parent club Hearts so Clark Robertson (thigh) is likely to be the only player unavailable.

Arne Engels could return for Celtic, while Auston Trusty and Colby Donovan are expected to shake off knocks. Alistair Johnston is still making his way back after a long-term hamstring injury, while Julian Araujo (thigh), Jota (knee), Callum Osmand (hamstring), Kasper Schmeichel (shoulder) and Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles) remain out.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee striker Ashley Hay insists there is a lot more to come now he has found his feet in the Scottish Premiership.

The 22-year-old, who arrived on a two-year deal from Brentford last summer, failed to net in his opening 19 games for the Dark Blues, but has since scored four in his past nine.

Speaking before Sunday's Premiership visit of Celtic, Hay said: "I didn't have the start I exactly wanted but I feel like I have found my feet now, especially in the last few months.

"Since the new year I have started playing a bit more and when you play more you get more confidence and you really start to gel to the league.

"It is a whole new league for me as well, but I am happy with where I am at and where I am heading and I am very confident in my own abilities.

"Definitely [my game has improved], you are playing against harder opposition.

"I went on loan last year for the first time in League Two and that was an experience in itself, but now coming to a league where there is so much more technical ability and such a physical league and high expectations, I feel like I am really adjusting to it and I am happy with how it is going."

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Dundee boss Steven Pressley expects more interest in Luke Graham this summer with fellow Premiership side Rangers reportedly closing in on a deal for the centre-back.

The 22-year-old has come through the ranks at Dundee and, after spending last season on loan at Falkirk and helping them secure promotion to the top flight, has become a mainstay in Pressley's first team.

The defender's 201 clearances and 38 interceptions this term are among the highest in the division. He's also scored two goals and set up one.

Pressley admits the club rejected a sizeable offer for Graham, who has a year left in his deal, in the January window but the defender is reportedly closing in on a move to Rangers.

"We received a substantial offer for him in January and the club turned that down," Pressley told Sky Sports.

"Since then his form has been terrific, he's got better and better. He's a credit to himself and his family the way he's conducted himself through all of this speculation.

"Am I surprised by the speculation? Absolutely not. We've received no further offers. Do I expect us to receive them in the summer? Probably, based on his form. The club will only sell Luke if we receive the finance we feel he's worth.

"He's a great talent who I think can go on and play right at the very top. A player like Luke Graham probably, in his own mind, wants to play at a top club. A club in the English Premier League, that's his ambition. At Dundee we can't provide that ambition.

"The most important thing for us is the player and we should be proud around his progression and we should want a young player like him to play, eventually, at the very top."

Martin Watt
BBC Sport Scotland

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Will the City of Discovery prove a graveyard for Celtic's title defence?

In three prior visits this season (two to Dundee United and one to Dundee), Celtic have returned home with zero points.

And having watched their team sink on the sandpit of Tannadice last time out, Celtic fans would be forgiven for carrying a sense of dread with them to Dens Park on Sunday.

Much has to improve from that dismal defeat to United that leaves Martin O'Neill's men five points off leaders Hearts with only 21 left to play for.

Just when Celtic had gained enough ground to breathe down the necks of long-time leaders Hearts, they threw in an absolute stinker of a performance and then had a fortnight to stew over it.

There may be (badly needed) reinforcements to pep up O'Neill's side this weekend, with right-back Alistair Johnston, midfielder Arne Engels and striker Callum Osmand all in contention for a comeback.

Expectations must be tempered, though, for a returning trio bereft of match sharpness.

Celtic will need all the help they can get to overcome a Dundee team who have already provided plenty of problems this season.

Celtic were beaten 2-0 at Dens Park in October during the dying embers of Brendan Rodgers' reign. That was Celtic's first loss at Dundee in 37 years and the first of their eight league defeats this season.

There was a scratchy 1-0 victory over Steven Pressley's side in December to give O'Neill a winning send-off first time round on the day Wilfried Nancy was announced as the new manager. As we all know, that did not go well.

Then came a dramatic Scottish Cup win over the Dark Blues in February where Celtic trailed at home until Junior Adamu flicked in an an outrageous backheel equaliser in the 97th minute and Sebastian Tounekti completed the comeback in extra time.

This time Dundee, hovering five points above the relegation play-off spot, are still scrapping for Premiership survival. Celtic, who can ill afford any more slip-ups, have been well warned.