Dundee

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

To say I am relatively upbeat after a 3-0 defeat would make me sound like a madman.

Yet beneath the surface of the result at Ibrox was a spirited Dundee performance, one where we attempted to go toe-to-toe with Rangers.

It was a breath of fresh air. Dundee sides of the past have gone to Ibrox, dropped into a back five and attempted to absorb pressure on the back foot.

On Sunday, we saw Dundee line up with a back four and, for the most part, show bravery on the ball.

What was missing was that cutting edge in the final third - particularly with the final delivery. That feels uncharacteristic of this team given the form our wide players have shown across the season.

Regardless of results, Dundee are developing some very good habits, and that will bode well as we approach the business end of the campaign. My feeling remains that we are still yet to see the very best of this side.

We await the debut of new signing Brad Halliday, who arrives from Bradford with glowing reviews from their supporters, while one or two further additions may still arrive before the window shuts.

Away to St Mirren next. If we can maintain our groove, Dundee will be more than capable of taking all three points.

Dundee manager Steven Pressley has spoken to Luke Graham's agent amid speculation linking the Dens Park defender with a move, while Pressley is keen to sign two players before the end of the January transfer window. (Courier - subscription required), external

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

We asked for your views on Dundee's 3-0 defeat at Rangers.

Here's what some of you said:

Gary: Game changed on the penalty but we were hanging on by half-time. Mistakes cost the three goals and I wish we would've had a go, but risks were taken in the wrong areas of the field today. We need different options in central attack and defence, we're light in those areas with what we have in house at the moment. Still time to bring in a proven goalscorer and in defence to cover injuries.

Bob: Some of the (over) optimism is a bit misplaced. This team is capable of losing multiple games on the trot. Relegation is still a distinct threat. Going to Ibrox and setting your stall out for 0-0 is pathetic. Got what they deserved.

Albert: Great performance by Dundee, the scoreline flatters Rangers. Hopefully Aberdeen don't come in for our manager now that all his good work is showing on the park...

Watch highlights as James Tavernier's 100th league goal for Rangers helps Danny Rohl's side narrow the gap at the top with a Scottish Premiership win over Dundee.

MATCH REPORT: Rangers 3-0 Dundee

A bid by Queens Park Rangers for Dundee defender Luke Graham, 21, was "news to us", says Dens Park manager Steven Pressley. (Courier - subscription required), external

An issue with VAR caused the kick-off of Rangers' Sunday win over Dundee to be delayed by six minutes. (Sun), external

Monday's Scottish gossip

James Tavernier scored his 100th league goal for Rangers as they beat Dundee to overtake Celtic and move within four points of Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts.

Match report

Have your say

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Dundee manager Steven Pressley: "One-nil down with nearly 90 minutes on the clock, I was still disappointed because I genuinely believe we're a better team than we showed.

"There wasn't a lot in the game. Rangers deserved, on chances created, to win the game. We didn't create enough. With the ball, we showed some courage but not enough.

"We've got some good players within our dressing room that are growing all the time. The lesson for today is we want to be coming to places like Ibrox and winning and to do that, you need to grow as a team. We'll do that over the coming months ahead.

"We can come here and get a result. We can certainly come here and cause an upset but it was a step too far for us today. Hopefully, the next time we come back here, we'll be in even better shape."

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Denmark winger Andreas Skov Olsen could make his Rangers debut while fellow new signing Tochi Chukwuani could make his first start. Belgian left-back Tuur Rommens, the third January signing, is catching up on fitness.

John Souttar and Dujon Sterling will miss out again but could return next week. Connor Barron is out long term with a knee ligament problem while Derek Cornelius and Nedim Bajrami remain out with muscle injuries.

Dundee have lost Billy Koumetio to a knee injury for several months while forward Joe Westley (ankle) remains out.

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• Thelo Aasgaard has scored in three of his past four starts in the Scottish Premiership (three goals), including both of his latest two at Ibrox, with three of his four league goals for Rangers this season coming at home (75%).

• Just 27% of Dundee's points in the Scottish Premiership this season have come away from home (six out of 22), the lowest ratio of any side, although they did pick up their first away league win of the season most recently at Dundee United (1-0).

• Rangers have won their past five league matches, last winning more on the spin in February 2024 under Philippe Clement (nine).

• Dundee are winless in 20 away games at Rangers in all competitions, although their 1-1 draw most recently (August 2025) ended a 19-game losing streak.

• Rangers are unbeaten in 19 meetings with Dundee in all competitions (W15 D4) since a 2-1 defeat in November 2017.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee head coach Steven Pressley believes there are similarities between the progress Rangers have made under Danny Rohl and that of his own side over the past few months.

The teams meet at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday aiming to continue strong form.

Rohl, having replaced Russell Martin in October, has Rangers on a seven-game winning run while Dundee have four victories in their past five fixtures.

"Rangers' situation on a greater scale is similar to our own," said Pressley.

"Danny went in there, they became a little bit more pragmatic, they addressed some of the outstanding issues like their vulnerability from set-plays and now that is a real strength.

"I think once you start taking small steps and seeing the results from that, a confidence grows within the team and just organically things improve. I think Rangers, it is a bit like our own journey.

"So very similar but a really good Rangers team just now."

Dundee drew 1-1 at Ibrox last August during Martin's calamitous Rangers tenure.

"Any time you go to Ibrox it is a really big challenge for ourselves," added Pressley.

"But to face a Rangers team that are on the back of six [now seven] straight wins, five of those in the league, that are growing in confidence, have a lot of momentum and have just recruited a number of very talented players makes the job in hand very difficult.

"But equally we go there with a little bit of form ourselves so it is a game we are excited about. Like we did the last time we went there, we need everything to go right and if that happens you never know."

While Dundee are deservedly getting plenty of plaudits, Pressley is keeping his feet on the ground.

"There are so many other aspects that we still need to improve around the club and in our own performance," he said.

"That is what excites me, we are making progress but a lot more to come."

Queens Park Rangers have made a £1m offer to Dundee for centre-half Luke Graham, but Portsmouth are expected to come in for another bid after having a £400,000 offer rejected, while Aberdeen, Hearts and Sheffield United are also interested in the 21-year-old. (Sportsboom), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee defender Ryan Astley says the squad have always been "100% behind" head coach Steven Pressley and "it is nice to get a few wins for him".

Pressley was under pressure after a disappointing start to the campaign but his side have sparked a revival in recent weeks and risen to ninth place, eight points clear of the relegation play-off spot.

Astley said: "You could hear the outside noise about the gaffer, but inside here everyone was 100% behind him and wanted to play well for him. That has never changed.

"He works really hard and gives us so much detail on the teams we are playing, so it is nice to get a few wins for him.

"At the start of the season we weren't performing to the levels we know we could have reached, but we have been working hard, listening to the gaffer and his staff, they have been brilliant.

"Everyone has bought into how he wants us to play and it is just slowly coming and that is because confidence is there with the lads at the moment. We are a young group so it was always going to take time."

Dundee face a difficult assignment this weekend – a trip to Ibrox to play a resurgent Rangers side who have won six on the spin.

Astley said: "We know it will be a tough game but with our threats and at the moment we are defending well too, so as a team we are doing okay and are slightly confident we can get something.

"We are going to need, as the gaffer always says, a perfect 90-minute performance."

Dundee are braced for bad news over defender Billy Koumetio's injury. (Courier - subscription required), external

Thursday's Scottish gossip

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Steven Pressley believes Luke Graham can gatecrash Scotland's World Cup squad and says it would make "real sense" for the defender to remain at Dundee until the end of the season.

The 21-year-old, who is under contract until summer 2027, has been a standout in Pressley's improving side over the past few months and was reportedly subject of a rejected bid from Portsmouth, external last week.

Head coach Pressley said: "He has really excelled, he has really grown.

"Some of his performances just now are of a really high level, but again he comes into that category where we don't want to lose him and only a bid of what we believe is the market value would change our mind on that.

"It would make real sense for him to remain at the club between now and the summer. I think in this form he can push his way into Steve Clarke's thoughts if he keeps progressing in the way he is doing.

"And then I think with that type of experience behind him, there will be some great opportunities for him in the summer.

"In the last three months his level of performance has been at such a high level for a 21-year-old. And in his performance at Kilmarnock at the weekend you saw he has taken his game to another level, so he should be really proud himself.

"But we just hope, like all our players, they can remain at the club."

Dundee are ninth in the Premiership and have won four of their past five games before Sunday's trip to face Rangers at Ibrox.

"Although we have had some really positive results of late we are far from safe and we can be drawn right back in there very quickly, so a lot of work to do to remain in the league, we can't take our eye off the ball in that respect," added Pressley.

"So retaining a lot of our players is going to be really important but we are like every club with the exception of maybe one or two within the world, we are a selling club.

"But the one good thing is, and I know this from speaking to the people above me, no player will leave this building this transfer window without us achieving what we consider to be their market value."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee boss Steven Pressley has been speaking to the media as his side prepare for Sunday's trip to face Rangers.

Here are the main points:

• When asked if he can hang on to his best players during this window, Pressley said: "I certainly hope so", adding: "No player will leave this building this transfer window without us achieving what we consider to be their market value."

• On further new recruits, Pressley says "we have to consider another few" but also "move a couple" of players out.

• He admits "it is going to be difficult" to hold on to "pivotal" defender Luke Graham amid reported interest from elsewhere.

• But Pressley believes "it would make real sense" for Graham to stay until the summer and believes he can push his way into Scotland boss Steve Clarke's plans "if he keeps progressing the way he is doing".

• On his side's Ibrox test: "To face a Rangers team that are on the back of six straight wins, five of those in the league, that are growing in confidence, have a lot of momentum and have just recruited a number of very talented players, makes the job very difficult."

• But Dundee have found "a little bit of form ourselves" although Pressley says they "need everything to go right" on Sunday.

• He says Rangers' evolution under Danny Rohl is "similar to our own" in the way they "became a little bit more pragmatic and addressed their vulnerability from set-plays".

• On the Scottish Cup win over Kilmarnock, the Dundee boss thinks his side took "strength and belief" from their previous performance against the Rugby Park men when they also came from 1-0 down to win 2-1.

• Pressley praises striker Ashley Hay as being "a shining example" of a player who worked hard to get into the team having been "starved of opportunities" and was "ready to take the opportunity when it came".

• Team news: Billy Koumetio and Joe Westley are out injured, while Clark Robertson is a doubt.

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

It's not often Dundee fans get to truly enjoy a Scottish Cup weekend, yet on Saturday we recorded our first victory in Kilmarnock in five years - and our first there in front of supporters in nine.

My initial reaction to a trip to Rugby Park was one of unease. Yet as matchday approached, that feeling steadily gave way to a growing sense of confidence.

History now threatens to repeat itself; the draw for the fifth round brought familiar anxiety with Celtic lying in wait. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

For now, Dundee look a better side with each passing week. There are clear improvements across all thirds of the pitch, with Ash Hay thriving as our main attacking outlet. The impact confidence can have on a striker is remarkable.

Between Hay and our wide players, opposition defences have been stretched to the point where we've seen defenders hauled off at half-time in three consecutive matches.

Ibrox awaits. Confidence is soaring. In 180 minutes of football at Parkhead and Ibrox this season we have only conceded one goal from open play.

Even with Rangers coming into this game in strong form, I wouldn't put it past Dundee to frustrate them again.

We'll either fly too close to the sun and come crashing back to earth - or cast the shadow of a giant.

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Bulgarian defender Plamen Galabov has ended his Dundee contract by mutual consent, just seven months after joining the Dens Park club.

The centre-back joined Steven Pressley's side back in June following the expiration of his contract at Maccabi Petah Tiva but made just two appearances during his brief spell in Scotland.

The 30-year-old made his debut in Dundee's 1-0 defeat at Alloa Athletic in the Scottish League Cup at the start of the season. His only other Dundee appearance came in the same competition, a 45-minute cameo in the 5-0 victory over Montrose.

We asked for your views on Dundee's 2-1 win against Kilmarnock, which sealed their place in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup.

Here's what some of you said:

Alex: Another outstanding performance, the score flattered Kilmarnock. I must admit I thought Steven Pressley was not the man but after a consistent run of great performances and efforts we need to back Pressley and get right behind him. He did say performances will come over time and he has proved that has happened.

Brian: Totally controlled the game, should have been well ahead before getting the equaliser and winner. Team played really well, maybe, just maybe we are on the up.

George: This must be the first time Dundee have got past the fourth round for some considerable time. Good team effort, hope we get an easier home draw in the next round. Then maybe we can get to the final.

Gary: It might've been an error that decided the game but Dundee were definitely good for it. Finally little breaks are going our way and the good play that Pressley has grown into the team makes these things happen. Hoping for a good draw and a positive remainder of the transfer window.

Carl: Fantastic watch for our fans, spurred on by a noisy support who appreciated every player giving their all and playing some very fine football. I'd go so far as to say this was our best performance this season, we completely dominated Killie and created so many scoring opportunities. Tactics, formation and substitutions were all perfect making for a happy trip home.

John: Great performance, a bit of fortune and we could've been a couple up before Killie scored a decent goal. Certainly deserved our win, great goal from Ashley Hay and Drey Wright in the right place at the right time!

Dundee rejected a six-figure offer from Portsmouth for 21-year-old centre-half Luke Graham before the Dark Blues' Scottish Cup win over Kilmarnock on Saturday. (Daily Record), external

Dundee head coach Steven Pressley has confirmed a bid from Portsmouth for 21-year-old centre-half Luke Graham has been rejected. (The Courier), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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