Dundee

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Midfielder Ethan Hamilton is urging Dundee to back up their historic victory over Celtic with another impressive performance at Falkirk.

Dundee's 2-0 win over the champions last Sunday was their first at home to Celtic in 37 years.

The victory moved Steven Pressley's side up to ninth in the Premiership, ahead of Motherwell, Aberdeen and Livingston, and Hamilton is hoping Dundee can keep their momentum for Saturday's trip to Falkirk.

"Football moves quickly," the 26-year-old said.

"You've got to be ready for the next game and that's what we've been focusing on in training to back that performance up and go and really try and take the game to Falkirk, which we know will be another difficult game.

"The work the manager and the coaching staff do is excellent and it's down to us players to take that on to the pitch.

"The Aberdeen result [4-0 defeat for Dundee] was really frustrating and I think the lads felt we had to try and put that right and show that we're going to be really competitive and aggressive.

"I think we showed that in the game against Celtic so we just need to keep that up moving forward."

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John McGlynn expects Dundee "to be pragmatic and try to deny" Falkirk when the sides meet on Saturday.

Bairns boss McGlynn worked with Dundee counterpart and ex-Falkirk manager Steven Pressley at Hearts and the latter masterminded a 2-0 win over champions Celtic last weekend.

"Dundee are off the back of an amazing result," said McGlynn. "I know Steven very well from working with him at Hearts.

"The way he set up against Celtic was different class, everything you would expect from a defensive-minded coach in terms of organising a team.

"I'm not sure exactly if they're going to come here and do the exact same, or if they've got some kind of tweak in it, but I don't think they'll be expansive and open.

"I think they'll want to be pragmatic and try to deny us and hit us on the counter-attack, as they did against Celtic."

Pressley briefly assisted McGlynn in caretaker charge of Hearts in 2005.

"He was always a talker on the game," said McGlynn.

"He's obviously very opinionated and he would always be talking about the game and what he would do, what formation he would play back in the day. So, yeah, it was a certainty that he would be involved in coaching and management, that was a gimme."

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• This is the first time Falkirk and Dundee have met in the top flight since a 1-0 win for the Bairns in March 1993.

• Dundee have won their past two league games against newly-promoted opponents, last winning three in a row against such sides in the top flight in August 2000.

• Falkirk have drawn five of their past six home games in the top flight (L1), including three of four games this season.

• After their 2-0 victories over Celtic, Dundee could earn back-to-back wins in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since March 2024.

• Against Motherwell last time out, Scott Arfield scored his first top-flight league goal for Falkirk since May 2010 against St Mirren, 15 years and 170 days beforehand. It was the longest gap between Scottish top-flight goals by a player for a specific side since Charlie Mulgrew for Dundee United in October 2021 (15y 247d since his last).

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Dundee manager Steven Pressley says he is a "very different manager and person" from when he took charge at Falkirk in 2010 as he prepares to face the club who gave him his first managerial opportunity on Saturday.

Pressley was appointed Falkirk manager in February 2010 following the resignation of Eddie May.

The Bairns were relegated to the first division at the end of that season, but Pressley stayed on until 2013, winning the Scottish Challenge Cup in the 2011-12 season.

"I'm very grateful to the club, it was my first real step into coaching and management," he said, reflecting on his time at Falkirk.

"I managed there for almost three and a half years, and it was a great learning experience for me.

"I really enjoyed working with the board there and I hope I eventually built a good rapport with the support, so I'm looking forward to going back. I've not been back for a very long time.

"But a very, very different manager and a different person returns. Through time, experience and life, in general, you change a lot and I've changed a great deal from the manager who walked through the door.

"I was a very emotional young manager, a manager with exceptional drive, determination and very passionate on things. I've not lost a lot of those things but I'm far more controlled than ever before, more considerate and understanding than I was as a young manager.

"It's just natural progression and a lot of education.

"It doesn't mean you get better results but I like to think I'm a more complete leader than I was then."

Claire Thomson
BBC Sport Scotland

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Dundee manager Steven Pressley has been speaking to the media as his side prepare to travel to Falkirk in the Premiership this weekend.

Here are the main points:

• Pressley enjoyed celebrating Dundee's win over Celtic on Sunday but says his side have to "reset and go again".

• "It's a really important result for us, you can see the confidence gained in the players, but now we must demonstrate we can take that into the next game," he says.

• Pressley believes it is a "pivotal weekend" for the Dens Park club as Falkirk are a "well-organised and progressive" side.

• He says: "We could make real progress and find ourselves in the upper half of the league but if we don't get a result, we'll find ourselves near the bottom."

• The former Falkirk boss wants the team to play with an "elite mindset" and show "resilience" while they continue to make progress, but emphasises that progression will happen in "baby steps".

• Simon Murray has had a stop-start season so far due to injury, but the Dundee manager describes him as a "talisman and key character" and says the club have a "duty" to get the striker back to full fitness.

• Pressley insists he is now a "very different manager and person" to the one who took charge at Falkirk in 2010.

• "I'm far more controlled and considerate in my understanding than I was as a young manager. It's just natural progression and a lot of education. It doesn't mean you get better results but I like to think I'm a more complete leader than I was then," he admits.

• Pressley says every player trained on Wednesday, with Paul Digby the only concern after he suffered a knock during the session.

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

Dundee delivered an historic and unexpected victory that will live long in the memory.

I was braced for defeat against the reigning champions, only for the Dark Blues to catch everyone off guard and put Celtic to the sword at Dens Park for the first time since 1988.

It was the perfect reaction to the horror show at Pittodrie. The players owed the fans a response, and how they delivered.

Several players can claim to have turned in their best performance in dark blue, but Cameron Congreve merits special mention. Celtic simply couldn't handle the tricky winger.

Ethan Hamilton was another star on the scene and, coupled with the return of Paul Digby, we had our best midfield combination available for the first time this season.

The players have proved they can beat the best - now they must look ahead with no fear.

Steven Pressley has already achieved Dundee's first point at Ibrox in 24 years and our first home win over Celtic in 37. After a shaky start, these are the kind of results that build a rapport between the supporters and the team.

A trip to Falkirk awaits, Dundee's first Premiership visit to the Bairns since 1993. We haven't beaten them away from home in the top flight since 1987.

Hopefully there are more historic results to record in the foreseeable, but what we will wait to see is how Dundee line up. Have we finally found the right mix to get into rhythm? Or will we require tweaks with the change of opposition?

Dundee captain Simon Murray was happiest for manager Steven Pressley following Sunday's win over Celtic. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Dundee claimed a famous win on Sunday afternoon as Steven Pressley's side beat Celtic for the first time at home in 37 years.

Four players from the Dens Park club make my team of the week.

Jon McCracken had little to do from a poor Celtic until the last chapter of the match at Dens but his finger-tip save at the end was a thing of beauty.

Rising to the Celtic challenge quite literally, Clark Robertson's header gave Dundee the lead. He led like a true captain at the back to seal a clean sheet against the champions.

Luke Graham kept Celtic at bay, putting his body on the line at the end. Yet another hero of Dens.

A powerful, skilful, attacking presence down the right hand side for Dundee. Cameron Congreve on loan from Swansea has looked a shrewd addition by Pressley and he reached a different level as the Dark Blues put Celtic to the sword in a historic victory. The 21-year-old took the corner for the first goal and the second goal came after his marauding run and cross. The Welsh under-21 international looks like he has a big future ahead of him.

We asked for your views on Dundee's 2-0 victory over Celtic at home for the first time in 37 years.

Here's what some of you said:

Gary: Excellent effort by everyone and good old-fashioned football. Dundee did all the good things well, the subs didn't weaken the team and each player put in a proper shift. Well deserved.

Peter: A very unexpected win but so well deserved. The players executed the game plan to a tee and hopefully this can be the standard going forward.

John: Who saw that coming? Great performance and long overdue a win over Celtic at home. Not only were we struggling badly, Steven Pressley was sinking but whatever he's done after the Aberdeen disaster has been phenomenal. Totally different team and attitude. More of the same and we will be flying high.

Paul: I don't think even the most optimistic of Dundee fans saw that coming. We were resolute and determined.

Andy: What a fantastic performance and a huge three points for Dundee.

Danny: Terrific battling performance from the whole team and just what we need if we're going to make an impact this season. However, this will mean nothing if we can't follow it up against Falkirk.

Iain: Fully deserved and completely unexpected given our form so far this season. Every player stuck to their task and Pressley obviously had a clear plan that worked a treat.

Watch highlights as Dundee provide the shock of the Scottish Premiership season so far by beating Celtic 2-0 at home.

Beleaguered Dundee provided the shock of the Scottish Premiership season so far by beating Celtic at home for the first time in 37 years to leave Brendan Rodgers' side five points off top spot.

Read the match report here

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Dundee head coach Steven Pressley: "Proud is the word.

"We came into the game, we've worked exceptionally hard over the last couple of weeks. There was a lot of suffering [after Aberdeen result] but we've reacted in the best possible manner. You can work on certain aspects but the execution of it is down to the players. I thought to a man they were brilliant today.

"We need to be more aggressive as a team, aggressive in our duels, and I thought we did that to a man today. We asked more questions of Celtic today than we have in previous games. We crossed more, we countered with more intent. When you see that coming together you're exceptionally proud.

"Playing against a Brendan Rodgers team you need a bit of luck and we had luck on our side today and resilience.

"An outstanding performance from a young player [Cam Congreve]. He's come in, settled into the group extremely well. He's a player that can make the difference and he certainly made the difference today.

"It's a challenge playing for Dundee but we have to enjoy the win today. For where we are, for the transition of the club, survival for us would be an achievement. Many of the pundits have tipped us for relegation and I understand why. But for us it's about taking small steps, not big steps, and today was a small step in the right direction.

"Football management is not easy. I have spoken a number of times that I do not enjoy the job at times but the one comfort I have is a terrific group of players and that gets me out of bed in the morning."

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Dundee have Cesar Garza back in contention after his involvement at the Under-20 World Cup, so Billy Koumetio is set to be the only absentee.

Celtic forward Daizen Maeda misses out with a hamstring injury picked up against Motherwell.

Meanwhile, Paulo Bernardo has been ill and will be assessed while Alistair Johnston could be added to the squad after returning to training following a hamstring problem.

Jota (knee) is a long-term absentee.

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Manager Steven Pressley hopes "open and honest" discussions with his players will help Dundee bounce back from their humbling defeat by Aberdeen.

The Dens Park boss described the 4-0 loss at Pittodrie in their last outing before the international break as a "real hammer blow" as Dundee slipped to 11th place on the table, just two points off the bottom.

But Pressley insists a "really productive meeting" the following day has encouraged the group to put in a better performance as his side prepare to host Celtic on Sunday.

"It certainly wasn't a crisis meeting but it was a productive meeting," the manager said.

"It's a meeting that I like. I talk very openly and honestly to the media, and I'm the same with my players.

"If I've got anything that I want to speak to them on, I'll speak to them directly. That's how I want this club to operate and I also encourage players to speak.

"I want players to have the ability to talk about any concerns or any things that they don't understand or are not in agreement with. I want the players to be driving the vehicle forward.

"All the meetings that I have post-game are always opened up to the floor because I want them to speak, I want them to take ownership. But I encouraged it even more after Aberdeen and the players felt on the back of that they had more to say.

"We're trying to learn, we're trying to improve. And as a group, we're very unified, the players, the staff, everybody.

"We have to do better but we're working tirelessly as a group to do better."

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• Dundee are winless in their last 46 meetings with Celtic in all competitions (D7 L39) since a 2-0 victory in May 2001 under Ivano Bonetti. Indeed, Celtic have only ever had longer unbeaten streaks against two sides in their history: Partick Thistle (50 from Dec 1897 to Apr 1923) and Dumbarton (50 from Oct 1892 to Jan 2007).

• Celtic are unbeaten in their last 36 visits to Dundee in all competitions (W28 D8) since a 0-1 defeat in September 1988 under Billy McNeill – it's their longest ever away unbeaten run against any side in their history.

• Dundee have lost both of their last two league games by an aggregate score of 5-0, last losing three in a row without scoring in December last season.

• Celtic haven't conceded more than one goal in any of their last 10 away games in all competitions (five goals conceded), their longest such run since going 11 without shipping twice from February to September 2022.

• Dundee have both had the fewest shots (58) and faced the most shots (115) of any side in the Scottish Premiership this season. Celtic, meanwhile, have fired in the most shots (114) and faced the fewest (41).

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

The last time I wrote a piece while bracing myself for defeat was before Dundee's trip to Ibrox - and they stunned everyone by holding Rangers to a stalemate.

I'm preparing for defeat again, but this time it's harder to find the wiggle room for optimism as Dundee host Celtic on Sunday.

The faint hope I'm holding onto is that Celtic are still struggling to get out of first gear - maybe they'll have another off day like we've seen against Hibernian, Rangers, and Kilmarnock.

Our last outing at Pittodrie felt like watching lambs to the slaughter, and there's a real danger things could get worse if Sunday ends in defeat as Dundee could potentially drop to the bottom of the table.

The players owe the fans a far better performance.

Hopefully, the international break has served as a reset and that our form, for once, truly goes out the window.

Boss Steven Pressley has asked Dundee fans for patience with his summer signings after the Dark Blues came under fire from supporters following the heavy defeat at Aberdeen. (The Courier)

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Scottish FA head of referees Willie Collum has backed Ross Hardie's decision to give Dundee a stoppage-time penalty in their 3-2 victory over Livingston last month.

The decision had enraged Livingston manager David Martindale.

Referee Hardie was called to his monitor after the video assistants claimed Dundee forward Charlie Reilly had initiated contact with Danny Wilson after the centre-half initially put his boot out then planted it.

"We can fully support the penalty," told the Scottish FA's VAR Review Show. "What we don't want in this exact scenario is a referee brought to the monitor.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Whether it is in the stands or on social media, Dundee fans are getting restless.

The surprise appointment of Steven Pressley in June didn't go down well with a large portion of the support and it felt like he had to hit the ground running to win them over.

Crashing out of the Premier Sports Cup in the group stages didn't help, and neither has a stop-start opening to the league campaign.

Pressley's side are second bottom having won just won of their eight games.

They sit two points above Aberdeen – who battered them by four (going on many more) at Pittodrie at the weekend – having played a game more.

That thrashing in the Granite City to a side who until then had failed to win or score in the league has ramped up the pressure.

The worrying thing for Dundee is a bruising run of upcoming fixtures suggests it could get a lot worse before it gets better.

Three of their next five games are away from home – at Falkirk, Hearts and Hibs – with home matches against Celtic and Rangers also looming.

It is difficult to see where the points will be coming from on current form.

It is also a very young Dundee squad and with that often comes inconsistency, which may make a positive run all the harder.

Talismanic striker and captain Simon Murray cut a frustrated figure as he was substituted midway through the second half at Pittodrie.

That perhaps summed up where this Dundee side are at the moment.

Pressley has plenty to ponder, and lots to work on, during the international break as he tries to find a way of turning things round.

If he can't do that, and fast, the pressure and outside noise is going to intensify even more.

Livingston defender Cammy Kerr says leaving Dundee earlier this year was the hardest thing he has ever done. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

After eight league games Dundee sit second bottom of the table without a constructive style.

What has been consistent is the stand-off approach: sitting deep, playing on the back foot and waiting for chances that never come.

This strategy is understandable if there's quick counter-attacking football as the pay-off, but right now Dundee are absorbing pressure with all the consequences and none of the rewards.

At Pittodrie - where Dundee once again revived fragile opponents - we stood off Aberdeen, letting them dictate tempo, grow in confidence, and pass freely under little to no pressure. It's not sustainable.

The fix isn't complex - Dundee need to be tenacious, press high, force mistakes and take the initiative. This reductive style is actively draining belief from the stands. The tactics must change.

Dundee have been beaten in half of their league games and are averaging just two shots on target per match while scoring once in every eight attempts. This makes grim reading for neutrals and an abysmal one for season-ticket holders.

After the international break we host Celtic and face the prospect of dropping to the foot of the table.

The onus is on the players and Steven Pressley to eradicate the sense of impending doom among supporters and inspire some faith. The worry comes from the performances more so than the results.

Watch all the highlights as Aberdeen recorded their first Premiership win of the season and put four goals past Dundee.

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