Dundee

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

The Premiership table looks a little better for Dundee after their win at Hearts moved them out of the relegation play-off spot.

While nobody will be taking anything for granted at Dens Park, they will certainly be breathing a little bit easier.

So please indulge me as I take out my crystal ball and look ahead to what will be a massive summer for Tony Docherty.

With the mercurial Lyall Cameron off to Rangers and speculation continuing about the future of the equally impressive Josh Mulligan, who is out of contract at the end of the campaign, Docherty could well have to find two playmakers.

While one or two players don't make a team, they are critical component parts and their importance is often best highlighted once they are gone.

Dundee have recent history of that. When Luke McCowan left for Celtic last August, the Dark Blues won just three of their following 12 games.

Of course, there were other contributory factors to that form, but the loss of McCowan was definitely a major one.

So the prospect of having to replace Cameron, and possibly Mulligan, in the next window appears a daunting one.

There is cause to be optimistic – Docherty has proved a shrewd mover on the signings front.

And the club have also been pretty good when it comes to promoting players from within – the likes of Cameron, Mulligan and Finlay Robertson being cases in point.

And if that formula continues to prove successful then you suspect all will be well in the Dundee garden, whatever happens in the summer.

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It will come as little surprise to anyone that the latest attempt at reconstruction of the Scottish Premiership has failed to get off the ground.

A change from the current 12-team set-up to one of 10, 14 or 16 were the options being discussed but the SPFL said "there was no reasonable prospect of achieving consensus".

Maintaining the status quo is a consequence of there being "no perfect option" for change, according to The Herald football writer Stephen McGowan.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish football podcast, McGowan said: "If you look at the options for expanding the Premiership, for 14 you would have to have probably a top six and a bottom eight and a different number of fixtures. So that's less than ideal.

"Look at the 16, which is the one that supporters really want. But Neil Doncaster has been saying consistently that you would then have to find a way to still preserve your four Celtic v Rangers games because Sky sports are not a charity. They're a subscription network who want to get the biggest numbers for games. So they want more Celtic and Rangers games.

"So it's how you square that circle with the 16 that's the problem. So it's not so much I don't think there's no great desire for expansions. There's no such thing as a perfect option and one that they can all vote for. That's the problem basically."

Former Scotland defender Maurice Ross, meanwhile, has accused Premiership clubs of "self-preservation".

"If they're going to remain the same, okay, let's put two clubs [automatically] down then and have a third-place play-off," said Ross.

"And we'll see what the reaction is of the clubs in four or five years' time. Then they'll want reconstruction."

Dundee manager Tony Docherty is still hopeful of keeping midfielder Josh Mulligan despite interest from Rangers. (Daily Record), external

Read all of Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

Before I arrived at Tynecastle last Saturday I had a conversation about what it would take to stay in the league and avoid the relegation play-offs. I estimated seven points would guarantee that desired automatic safety.

Which means beating Hearts is a real statement victory for the rest of the split. With four games left, two of which are at home, the task of gaining four points to meet that target is a very promising prospect.

If we can beat Motherwell this Saturday - and we're more than capable of doing so against a side with practically nothing to play for - it will leave us with a foot in the door towards keeping our Premiership status.

I didn't expect to walk out of Tynecastle with all three points to be entirely honest. It was like watching the Dundee team of last season responding to a crushing result with a well-earned and hard-fought victory.

Trevor Carson at 37 is still providing goalkeeping excellence. Not one, not two but three outstanding saves - displaying cat-like reflexes - had the Dark Blues purring in Edinburgh. He was the undisputed man of the match.

We have to hope talks for a new contract with Joe Shaughnessy have commenced as once again he provided a vintage captain performance.

His pairing with Clark Robertson has now claimed two of the team's three league clean sheets this season. The maturity their partnership provides for the team is eye-catching and I can't help but think how much better we could be doing if we had both of them fit for much more of the season.

Then of course comes the goalscorer. Simon Murray is the signing of the season. A nominee for the PFA player of the Year and he could very well claim the golden boot in May.

If he can finish the campaign as the league's top scorer he will be the seventh Dundee player to accomplish this feat, the first to do so since Tommy Coyne in 1988. It would be special to see him claim that prestigious award.

Simon Murray says his "special" PFA Scotland player of the year nomination is a reward for hard work and belief.

The Dundee striker is shortlisted alongside Celtic trio Daizen Maeda, Callum McGregor and Nicolas Kuhn, having scored 22 goals in all competitions since signing from Ross County last summer.

Murray has had a somewhat unique path to the top flight, having played for Queen's Park after a spell abroad.

"When I came back from South Africa, I had my bad knee injury and the aim was to try and climb up to playing in the Premiership again, which I knew I was capable of," Murray said.

"But over the last few years it went pretty well and I'm just happy with how my performances have been, pretty consistent and adding more goals to my game.

"I just keep working hard on the training pitch and just keep doing what I do, keep believing in myself and, as you get older you learn maybe the runs to make, when to make them and maybe it's just a bit of experience and a bit of game knowledge that's starting to fully click now.

"Obviously, the team of the year was put out a couple of weeks ago so I feel like I've had a good season, but to maybe get this award has made it quite special."

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Dundee striker Simon Murray has been nominated for this season's PFA Scotland player of the year award.

Murray joins Nicolas Kuhn, Callum McGregor and Daizen Maeda on the shortlist for the top prize.

Maeda and Murray top the Premiership scoring charts with 16 goals, with Murray netting 22 in all competitions this season.

Watch Sportscene pundits Peter Grant and Michael Stewart analyse Dundee's display in their vital win at Hearts.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Dundee's 1-0 win over Hearts on Saturday put a bit of breathing space between them and Ross County and St Johnstone below - they've got two players in my team of the week.

Goalkeeper Trevor Carson was assured and did what he had to do, while the return of Joe Shaughnessy at the back for the relegation fight is a huge boost.

A special mention goes to Simon Murray. I was gutted to leave the Dundee goal machine out of the starting XI, but there was stiff competition this week. After a 22nd goal of the season, I would definitely send him on for the last half hour at least.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Striker Simon Murray says Dundee must maintain their current levels of performance to end the season on a high.

Murray scored the only goal of the game against Hearts at Tynecastle to elevate Dundee out of the relegation play-off spot in the Premiership table.

It was Murray's 22nd goal of the season for Dundee and he says to keep a clean sheet in defence was one of the key elements of their game plan on the day.

"We knew how tough it was going to be," he said. "But we felt in the last few weeks, bar the Hibs game, we've been in pretty good form. We've shown good performances.

"We had to be patient. We had more of a game plan without the ball and used our strength on the counter really well.

"Obviously, clean sheets isn't something we've done a lot of as a team this year and today I thought we were absolutely solid. They never really threatened us, even though they had a bit of the ball."

Murray's goals have brought about calls for him to be included in the Scotland squad for the summer friendlies against Iceland and Lichtenstein.

However, he says his sole concentration is on his club football and ensuring Dundee retain their Premiership status for next season.

"When you grow up as a kid, to play for your national team's the goal, isn't it? That's the dream for every player," added Murray.

"It would obviously be amazing, but I know how good the players are on that team. I just need to keep doing what I'm doing for my club. Just keep working hard and whatever happens, happens."

We asked for your views on Dundee's 1-0 win against Hearts.

Here's what some of you said:

Gary: There'll have been some raised eyebrows with that team selection (mine included) but the spine of the team was really solid and with other strong performances around the park it turned out to be a great three points! Let's hope they can continue at home next weekend!

Ally: Simon Murray is an absolute star, he has got Dundee a good few points.

Carl: Deserved victory for us, good team formation, great effort from every player, and a spot of good luck now and again got us three vital points. To see us playing for each other as a team was the icing on the cake. Thanks guys, onward and upward!

Mark: Best result of the season. We have now beat Hearts away and Dundee United away. These two results buck the trend of many a year. Win our two home games and we will finish best of the rest. Sir Tony Docherty arise.

Kevin: Great gutsy display, tactics spot on and I thought it was a masterstroke using Antonio Portales in midfield, a steady display, and with Murray up top we always have a chance.

Ross: We got it right. Defensively we were immense. A win next week should be enough to keep us up.

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• Hearts have failed to win in their last four games in the Premiership, their last longer winless streak was from 15 May 2024 to 6 October 2024, a run of 10 games.

• Simon Murray has scored 16 goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Dundee player.

• Hearts attempted 624 passes in this match, higher than their season average of 436.7 in the Premiership.

• Dundee have a record of W6, D0, L3 when leading at half time in the Premiership this season.

Dundee boost their Scottish Premiership survival hopes with a slender but deserved victory as Hearts are jeered from the pitch by a furious home support.

Simon Murray's goal, his 21st of the season, pushes Dundee up to 10th in the division and two points clear of Ross County, who lost at Kilmarnock.

What did you make of that, Dundee fans? Do you feel that's you safe now?

Who impressed you? And how good is Simon Murray?

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty told BBC Scotland: "Huge credit to the players, I'm absolutely delighted with the endeavour they showed, the intelligence and work rate they showed. You saw a team with a real team ethic there.

"We executed that game plan to the letter and I couldn't be more proud of them, putting in that level of performance. It's been a tough two weeks, we let our standards drop against Hibs.

"Hearts have got excellent players, and they kept changing and trying to find the answers. But we limited them and as the game went on, they crossed from deeper and we became more comfortable.

"We've faced a lot of adversity in terms of injuries. Joe Shaughnessy has missed 31 games for me this season. Clark Robertson and Trevor Carson. When they're back, they give a solidity to the team.

"They allow the young talent, Cameron, Mulligan, Adewumi, a chance to express themselves. We're in good form, excluding the Hibs game, and that's important. We can take pride in that performance."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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There won't be many happier than Tony Docherty tonight. His side had a game plan and executed it to perfection.

Absorb the Hearts attack, sting them on the counter. It almost paid off a few times, before Murray's simple strike.

He's the kind of talisman that inspires teammates, especially in times of trouble. He fights for every ball, noises up fans, pesters opposition defenders. The kind of player every fan wants on their team.

At the back, the return of Joe Shaughnessy has been heralded and he's been helped aptly by Clark Robertson, the veteran defender who is finally returning from injury.

Trevor Carson, who has been in and out of the team so often this season, also stood up when it counted.

The old guard are providing Dundee with just the experience they need to steer them to safety.

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Simon Murray. Never has his influence been more apparent. Dundee looked doomed at one point but as his form has picked up, so has the Dee's. Eight in eight for him now.

A word for Seb Palmer-Houlden, too. The target man was a nuisance and filled in for the injured Oluwaseun Adewumi very well.

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Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland is a doubt after going off with muscle tightness in the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Aberdeen.

Michael Steinwender and Cammy Devlin are both available despite being sent off in that match as their suspensions are competition-specific, but James Wilson is still suspended. Gerald Taylor (knee) and Aidan Denholm (hamstring) remain out.

Dundee have doubts over Ziyad Larkeche, Lyall Cameron, Charlie Reilly, Jordan McGhee and Oluwaseun Adewumi, but hope most if not all of the players will make the game.

Scott Fraser is pushing for a comeback after groin trouble.

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Dundee defender Ryan Astley says there is a steely belief among the club's players as they attempt to secure their top-flight status.

Tony Docherty's side occupy the relegation play-off spot with five league matches remaining, five points ahead of bottom side St Johnstone.

They start their post-split fixtures away to Hearts and for Astley, the situation is simple.

"It's five cup finals for us now, everyone is aware of that," he said. "I'm looking forward to it, to show what we can do.

"The mood's great. Everyone is just focused and ready for it. Obviously the game against Hibs was a bit of a dip but before that we were in good form and we are hopefully going to carry that into this game.

"We are all confident we can get out of this with hard work. You can see that we core goals, we have great attacking players. We just have to be more solid at the back, which I know we can be. We know we can turn it around."

Dundee manager Tony Docherty is unsurprised Josh Mulligan, 22, is attracting interest amid reports Rangers are interested in the versatile Dens Park player. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

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• Hearts have won their past three Scottish Premiership home games against Dundee, last winning more in a row on home soil against them in the top fight from September 1999 to November 2001 (six).

• Dundee have lost five of their past six league meetings with Hearts, winning the other 3-1 in August this season.

• Hearts have failed to score in their past three league games despite attempting 34 shots (11 on target) worth 3.35 expected goals. Hearts last went four without scoring in the Scottish Premiership in November 2018.

• Only Kilmarnock have kept fewer clean sheets (0) and conceded more goals (41) away from home in the Scottish Premiership this season than Dundee (one clean sheet, 35 goals conceded), who have shipped 2+ goals in each of their last five on the road (17 in total).

• Dundee's games in the Scottish Premiership this season have seen more goals (121 – 50 for, 71 against) than any other side, while only Dundee United's (81) have had fewer than Hearts' (87 – 43 for, 44 against).