Dundee

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.

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• After their 2-0 win in October, Dundee could enjoy back-to-back home league victories over Celtic for the first time since March 1958.

• Celtic have failed to keep a clean sheet in their past seven league matches, last going longer without a shutout in February 2006 under Gordon Strachan (10 games).

• Dundee are unbeaten in four home league games (W1 D3) and haven't gone longer without losing at Dens Park within a single season in the Scottish Premiership since February 2017 (seven).

• Celtic have only lost one of their past 49 meetings with Dundee in all competitions (W41 D7), winning their most recent two this season in the league in December (1-0) and Scottish Cup in February (2-1).

• Dundee's Jon McCracken has made 119 saves in the Scottish Premiership this season, the only goalkeeper on 100+. He has also prevented 7.1 goals based on his expected goals on target faced (54.1 xGoT to 47 goals conceded, excluding own goals); only Calum Ward (10.3) and Jack Butland (7.5) have a higher xGoT prevented figure in the 2025-26 competition.

Linked heavily with Rangers, Scotland Under-21 defender Luke Graham insists he is giving no thought to transfer speculation and is only focused on keeping Dundee safe in the Scottish Premiership. (The Courier), external

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee head coach Steven Pressley is hoping his players will see the best version of their boss after the international break.

The Dark Blues, who are eighth in the Premiership, welcome Celtic to Dens Park on Sunday.

Pressley's men were unbeaten in their previous five matches before a 1-0 defeat at Hearts just before the break and sit five points above the relegation play-off spot and 17 points off the bottom with seven games to play.

And the Dundee boss has used the international break for a much needed rest.

"From my own perspective I took a week off, I went down south to the family and completely switched off from football," he said.

"The players and the other members of staff, they were in until the Wednesday and then had four days themselves off to recharge.

"I think it was very productive. I think, at times, the most important thing is that the players don't just see you, they see the best version of you. Sometimes in order to see that you need to recharge the batteries.

"During my week off I virtually spent no attention to football and the first time I really switched back on to football was when I went to watch my son on Saturday at Gillingham.

"That aside I really turned off and it was, I hope, a productive period for me."

The 52-year-old spent four years in England with Premier League side Brentford as head of individual player development.

And Pressley admits that's where he learned the importance of rest.

"It is something that I am always trying to learn as a coach and from my early jobs I was 24/7 and then never took any time off," he added.

"I thought I always had to be seen and in the end you wear yourself down.

"But when I was at Brentford during international breaks Thomas Frank would always take a week off and it is very much what I have tried to do.

"Outwith the international breaks I work exceptionally hard but then that one week where I can recharge the batteries is vitally important."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Dundee head coach Steven Pressley has been speaking to the media ahead of Sunday's Scottish Premiership visit of Celtic, here is what he said:

• Pressley says he "completely switched off from football" during the international break adding he needed to "recharge the batteries" to ensure players keep seeing the best version of their boss.

• The head coach says there is pressure on both teams this weekend with Dundee "playing for our survival" and Celtic playing to be champions and knowing they can't really afford any more slip ups in the title race.

• With regards to his own side, who are eighth in the table and five points above the relegation play-off spot, Pressley says he has been consistent in the message that Premiership survival is their main priority adding they are "far from safe".

• He adds that if it takes until the last day of the season to secure their top division status then so be it.

• Pressley believes they will need a "perfect" and "courageous" performance if they are to beat Celtic at Dens Park for the second time this season.

• After the Hoops lost to Dundee United in the final game before the break, Pressley believes they will be facing a "wounded animal" who will be coming to Tayside looking "to put some wrongs right".

• He confirmed that talks are ongoing with a number of the players who are out of contract in the summer saying "the more players we can retain from this current group the better".

• Team news: a calf niggle has set back defender Clark Robertson's return from injury, but he should be back in the next two to three weeks.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Another curious sub plot in what has been a remarkable story in this Scottish Premiership season has been the impact the City of Discovery has had on Celtic's hopes of retaining the title.

Dundee United have already beaten the Hoops twice at Tannadice and, with a home win over Celtic already under their belt, Dundee have the chance to complete a notable Dens Park double by doing the same again this weekend.

If they can, the headlines would largely centre on the fact it would represent a potentially fatal blow to the Parkhead club's already flickering title aspirations.

But just as important would be the fact it would deliver a shot in the arm to the Dark Blues' top division survival hopes.

For all that there has been to like about Steven Pressley's side in recent months, a run of just two wins from their last six league games leaves them eighth in the table – five points above second bottom Kilmarnock and still with work to do as they aim to avoid getting sucked in to the battle to avoid the dreaded relegation play-off place.

So a win over Celtic would represent a significant step in the right direction with regards to that – as well as the completion of what would be a landmark double over the Glasgow giants.

Dundee manager Steven Pressley is wary of a Celtic backlash when the sides meet at Dens Park on Sunday, with the defending Scottish Premiership champions having lost their last fixture at Dundee United. (Record - subscription required), external

Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

Depending on Saturday's results, Dundee could kick off against Celtic just two points above the relegation play-off spot.

Only a couple of weeks ago there was daylight between us and the bottom end of the table. Being dragged back into that fight brings a pressure we could do without.

At the time of writing, our aggregate score with Celtic this season stands at 3–3.

In every meeting Dundee have given a strong account of themselves. More notably, Celtic have lost on each of their visits to the city this campaign - at both Dens Park and Tannadice.

There should be no fear about this fixture. The last meeting at Dens had Celtic well beaten and that performance should serve as a reminder of what this side is capable of.

Celtic are not invincible but will raise their game for this one as the title race is becoming more of an uphill battle for them.

We're more than capable of getting a result, we probably should have gotten better results in our previous meetings with them in Glasgow.

This weekend is the chance to settle the score on that front, it's the final stretch of the season with no more international breaks - the momentum in this run-in dictates this season's value.

Two victories in the remaining seven games sees us hit the desired 38 points that Steven Pressley has targeted - the sooner we hit that mark the better.

Dundee goalkeeper Jon McCracken, 25, is in talks over a contract extension. (Courier - subscription required), external

Defender Clark Robertson, 32, has encountered a setback in his attempts to return from injury at Dundee. (Courier - subscription required), external

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Despite their improving performances and upturn in results over the past few months, Dundee head coach Steven Pressley has never veered from his "staying in the division is our priority" mantra.

I have seen a lot of the Dark Plues this season and watched them grow into a side who play attractive football and are capable of causing any team problems.

In recent times more often than not I have left their matches thoroughly entertained and believing they won't find themselves in any bother at the bottom.

Despite all that, Dundee are now embroiled in the fight to avoid the dreaded relegation play-off spot.

Pressley's team are eighth in the table, five points above second-bottom Kilmarnock and St Mirren and two above Aberdeen.

There are seven games left and Dundee's final pre-split fixtures are tough - at home to Celtic then a potentially pivotal trip to Killie.

Pressley has plenty to ponder during this international break, which his side went into following a difficult run of matches – a trio of home games with Hibs, Motherwell and Dundee United sandwiched between trips to Aberdeen and Hearts.

Dundee only lost one of the above fixtures, and won two, but it hasn't been enough to pull them clear of the danger zone.

The Dens Park side have spent a large part of the campaign playing catch-up after a difficult start to Pressley's reign.

They have shown enough quality to suggest survival can be achieved without a nerve-shredding finale - but no one at Dens can relax in the meantime.

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

Dundee made Hearts work for their victory on Saturday and, on another day, could have left with a point.

There wasn't much more you could ask from Dundee when playing away to the league leaders.

We did well to restrict Hearts to a small number of chances, but the solitary goal conceded was very cheap.

And even when Hearts were reduced to 10 men in the closing stages, we still couldn't test Alexander Schwolow.

Despite heavy changes, it was arguably our strongest available XI. The major drawback was the substitutes failed to affect the game.

We're only five points above the relegation play-off spot and the league is tightening up.

Every match at both ends of the split is set to carry real significance. If we're not careful, we could slip into a dogfight.

Steven Pressley is right to emphasise that maintaining our league status must remain the priority.

We've seen character from this Dundee team several times, but now we need to see maturity as we approach the finishing line.

It's a young side, and it's crucial they don't panic or fall into complacency.

When the Celtic game comes around, it can't be viewed as a free hit. Every match between now and the end of May is winnable.

Midfielder Fin Robertson reveals training with Dundee's partner club Monterrey last summer instead of going on holiday has transformed his season. (Courier - subscription required), external

Dundee United captain Ross Graham did not want to show his face locally following his equalising own goal in the recent 2-2 draw with Dundee. (Courier - subscription required), external

Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Scotland's transport chiefs say "further clarification and evidence" is still needed over Dundee's plans for a new stadium at Camperdown. (Courier - subscription required), external

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Dundee lost £1.8m in the last financial year, but that was £1m less than the previous season and the Scottish Premiership club's majority shareholder promised to continue to make up the shortfall.

They expect the next two seasons to improve further.

"These projections have been drawn up on the basis of conservative assumptions as to the league position to be achieved by the football club, attendance levels at matches, and the management of all costs, including expenditure on players costs," Dundee said in their financial statement to 31 May.

The latest losses came during a season when a side under then manager Tony Docherty avoided the relegation play-off on the final day of the season by finishing 10th.

The previous season's larger loss came as they won promotion back to the top flight.

While Dundee directors "elected not to include a copy of the profit and loss account within the financial statements", it does reveal that the club spent £282,500 in transfer fees during their first season back in the Premiership as staffing increased from 80 to 85.

Among those signing for undisclosed fees were striker Simon Murray from Ross County, defender Aaron Donnelly from Nottingham Forest and left-back Imari Samuels from Brighton and Hove Albion.

Meanwhile, midfielder Luke McCowan was sold to Celtic, youth centre-back Seb Lochhead went to Wolverhampton Wanderers and teenage goalkeeper Ally Graham to Nottingham Forest.

"The financial projections which have been prepared anticipate that the company will be able to meet its ongoing financial commitments from funds generated from operations", Dundee add.

Any financial deficits would be covered by Football Partners Scotland, the company set up by chairman Tim Keyes and managing director John Nelms to buy the club.

Watch 10-man Hearts return to winning ways at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a narrow win over Dundee.

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We asked you Dundee fans for your views on the narrow loss to Hearts at Tynecastle. Here's a taste of what you had to say...

Albert: A narrow defeat to the potential champions is acceptable in my eyes. We are lacking striking options but overall are moving in the right direction.

Alex: Unlucky not to take a point there, the substitutions were the right idea from Steven Pressley but they couldn't change the game. Fin Robertson was really good and deserves to be in the lineup every week now. Two big games before the split and still very confident we will finish at the top of the bottom six.

Alan: Dundee were really well organised. They cancelled out Hearts threat for most of the game. Our only real mistake was not defending the set piece they scored from. With Killie and St Mirren winning, it was a bad week for us. But if we keep up that level of performance till the end of the season we should be okay.

Carl: It's debatable that either team deserved victory, but one lapse of concentration robbed us of a vital point.

Can't complain about effort or tactics, it just wasn't our day. Wish Lady Luck would visit us one day. Won't criticise any of our players and, for me, the standout was Luke Graham - an old head on young shoulders. He is destined for bigger things.

Looking at the league table and our run of upcoming games, it's squeaky bum time.

Brian: Poor forwards performance today, not enough class going forward. Two weeks rest to work on more graft.

Oisin McEntee's towering header gave leaders Hearts a vital victory over Dundee to ensure they head into the international break top of the Scottish Premiership.

Have your say on Dundee's performance.

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Dundee manager Steven Pressley: "It was a very tight game. There weren't a lot of great opportunities. It was fiercely contested with both teams very aggressive in their play.

"I'm disappointed because we had a number of moments where we were in good positions, on the counter attack especially, and didn't quite execute that final pass.

"Teams are trying to stop us building and playing and we need to improve on that. We need to find better solutions and work hard.

"The most important thing for ourselves is retaining our Premiership status.

"We have to get to a minimum of 38 points. We've still not achieved that as yet. We've got seven games to go and we have to ensure we pick up the adequate points required."

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Hearts welcome back Cammy Devlin and Lawrence Shankland but Tomas Magnusson is out with a broken cheekbone and Beni Baningime (knee) and Harry Milne (calf) face late checks.

Stephen Kingsley (calf), Craig Gordon (shoulder), Ageu (thigh), Stuart Findlay, Calem Nieuwenhof and Finlay Pollock (all hamstring) are still unavailable.

Dundee defender Clark Robertson is in contention to return after a thigh injury, so Yan Dhanda - ineligible to face his parent club - might be the only absentee.