Dundee

With survival secure, the inquest into how Dundee got themselves embroiled into such a battle can begin.

Having been promoted from the second tier, they really impressed in the Premiership last term, finishing sixth.

This has been a strange campaign for Dundee – when they are on it, they have proved they are a match for anyone in the division. The problem has been they haven't been on it often enough.

A team bursting with goals has too often been undone by a porous defence.

It is important to point out, though, that this is the end of what is only Tony Docherty's second season as a manager in his own right. It is perhaps unsurprising that there will be ups and downs along the way.

But the Dark Blues fans will be hoping the lessons learned from the past few months can put them back on a good footing to be challenging higher up the table next season.

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Only one candidate - Lyall Cameron, with the Dundee midfielder marking what turned out to be his final appearance for the club with a double.

Cameron will Rangers this summer.

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• St Johnstone have won just one of their past nine league games against Dundee (D4 L4), a 2-1 away triumph in October this season.

• Dundee have won both of their past two away league games at St Johnstone, as many as their previous 13 in the top flight beforehand (W2 D3 L8).

• St Johnstone have won on the final day of both of their past two league seasons, beating Livingston 2-0 in 2022-23 and Motherwell 2-1 in 2023-24.

• Dundee are winless in the final game of each of their past nine top-flight campaigns (D2 L7) since a 2-1 win at Aberdeen in 2003-04.

• St Johnstone have been relegated after losing 23 league matches this season, with the last side to lose more in a single Scottish Premiership campaign being Dundee in 2018-19 (27).

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St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari expects to be selecting from an unchanged squad, with Jonathan Svedberg (hamstring), Zach Mitchell (hamstring), Drey Wright (ankle), Bozo Mikulic (knee) and Sam McClelland (Achilles) still out.

Dundee are again without Jordan McGhee and Ethan Ingram.

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Tony Docherty says his Dundee squad has been galvanised by the "adversity" of the late penalty award in midweek that allowed Ross County to snatch a draw and keep the Dark Blues waiting for Premiership survival.

Referee Nick Walsh controversially awarded a spot-kick, scored by Ronan Hale, when Ryan Astley headed the ball on to team-mate Antonio Portales' arm.

It was the third time in three games that Docherty felt aggrieved at decisions, but he is focusing solely on Sunday's final match of the season against already-relegated St Johnstone as Dundee look to stay above second-bottom County, who host Motherwell.

"Wednesday night and Thursday, it was tough to process that for myself and the players and everybody, but that's a period that you need to go through, you need to process, but then you need to reset and that's kind of where we are now," said manager Docherty.

"And my full focus now is stuff that I can control, affect and influence. There was stuff there that I couldn't have any control over.

"We've moved on from that now and we've got together today as a group and I sense through adversity there's a real galvanising to the group.

"There's a real strong mentality that we're looking to promote and hopefully that can help us towards Sunday's match.

"In any situation, any adversity you face, you need to display resilience and it's something that's steeped in that dressing room, absolutely.

"There's good people in there, good characters, a group of players that I have a huge belief in and they were really hurting.

"We were all hurting, but when you do that together as a group and come through it together, it does bring a positive and a strong mentality and that's what I'm looking to promote. That galvanising of the group can only do good going into Sunday's game."

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Tony Docherty has been speaking to the media before Dundee's final-day Premiership game with St Johnstone.

Here are the key points from the Dark Blues boss:

• Docherty remains frustrated about referee Nick Walsh's decision to award Ross County a stoppage-time penalty on Wednesday night - which prevented Dundee securing safety - and says the result was "tough to process" for himself and the players.

• But there has been a "reset" and Docherty's full focus now is on the St Johnstone game.

• He had a "brief chat" with Walsh but adds: "I don't want to talk about it because it would take my focus away from Sunday and as my job as manager."

• Docherty says the adversity has had a "real galvanising" effect on the group and there's a "strong mentality" as they look to secure survival on Sunday.

• He expects a "competitive match" despite Saints having already been relegated.

• Over 3,000 Dundee fans will be at McDiarmid Park and Docherty says: "They were outstanding the other night and I want them to be that way [again] and to really help the players."

• On whether he wants to know what's happening in Ross County v Motherwell: "Things that I can control, affect and influence, that's what I want the players to focus on."

• On the importance of keeping Dundee in the Premiership: "Absolutely, and I think you've seen that in the level of performance we put in the other night. You've seen how much it meant to every player, the fans, and we almost got that over the line but sometimes in life you face adversity and you just need to reset and go again and that's where we are."

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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Ronan Hale's dramatic penalty equaliser six minutes into stoppage time not only relegated St Johnstone but rescued Ross County's hopes of escaping second bottom and a play-off to avoid dropping to the Championship themselves.

But for that goal, hosts Dundee would have been safe and dreaming of their holidays as they travel to face the doomed Saints on Sunday.

Instead, Tony Docherty's side have been dragged into a final-day shootout to avoid facing whoever wins the Premiership play-off semi-final after Friday's second leg between Livingston and Partick Thistle, which Livi lead 2-0 from the first leg.

Whichever manager finds himself in that position will come under increasing pressure amid question marks about whether they will be given the chance to chase a quick return to the top flight next season.

Don Cowie has been in this position before, being handed the County job permanently after leading his side to a play-off victory over Raith Rovers last season as interim boss.

Heading into Saturday two points adrift, the Dingwall side remain favourites to finish second bottom in three successive seasons.

Especially as they must end an eight-game run without a victory to stand a chance of leapfrogging Dundee - and even then they must also hope the Dark Blues also lose in Perth.

County had lost seven in a row before Saturday's draw opened a backdoor escape route and Motherwell arrive having lost just once in five outings, so the signs are not promising.

However, Cowie's side have not lost to Sunday's visitors in three meetings this season, winning the past two, the latest by 3-0 at Fir Park in February.

Meanwhile, in addition to that late stunner against County, Docherty has been left cursing some controversial refereeing decisions in recent weeks as he looks to extend Dundee's stay for a third season since promotion.

It leaves the Dark Blues without a win in three outings and he will be hoping Saints, who have themselves only won once in six, are not motivated into one big goodbye performance.

A repeat of the 1-1 draw at Dens Park in March would probably be enough for Docherty's side and they will take heart from the 3-1 win on their last visit to Perth in January.

Read all the final weekend Premiership picks

Sportscene pundits Charlie Mulgrew and Michael Stewart discuss the handball decision given against Dundee on Wednesday.

We asked for your views on Dundee's 1-1 draw against Ross County.

Here's what some of you said:

Neil: That penalty to Ross County at Dens would never happen at Celtic Park or Ibrox. Some referees want a bit of limelight and are willing to abandon the principle of fairness. Dundee should be safe and not facing a nervous 90 minutes in Perth. Tony Docherty's tactics didn't help in the first half.

John: Too many times this season we have thrown away games in the last 10 minutes, games we should have won comfortably. You've got to question the manager because of this. If we had won these games, we would be challenging for Europe, not sweating on the last game of the season. He will then come away with the same comments about how proud he is of the team. No matter the result on Sunday, it's time for a change, he has got to go.

Iain: The story of our season. Really poor first half. Took the lead with a very good goal, and couldn't add to it. Ridiculous penalty awarded, but we didn't do enough to beat County. 29 points lost from winning positions. Unacceptable.

David: Have the coaching staff looked at the table, goals conceded, or points thrown away? They all keep telling us we are in a good place. They are taking the fans for fools. It is abysmal, and we are not in a false position. The conceding of goals has not been addressed and has been going on for two seasons.

Watch highlights as Dundee draw 1-1 against Ross County in the Scottish Premiership.

Available to UK s only.

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• Dundee have lost 28 points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, more than any other team.

• Ross County have failed to win in their last 8 games in the Premiership, their last longer winless streak was from 9th December 2023 to 17th February 2024, a run of 10 games.

• Dundee have failed to win in their last 3 games in the Premiership, their last longer winless streak was from 9th January 2025 to 1st March 2025, a run of 8 games.

• Lyall Cameron has assisted 5 goals in the Premiership this season (1 in this game), no Dundee player has more.

• Ronan Hale has scored 11 goals in the Premiership this season (1 in this game), more than any other Ross County player.

Ronan Hale's dramatic 96th-minute penalty rescued a draw for Ross County against Dundee, relegated St Johnstone, and ensures both these sides go into the final weekend of the season still battling to secure their Scottish Premiership status.

What did you make of Dundee's performance? Were they hard done by with the penalty decision?

Share your views.

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Dundee assistant manager Stuart Taylor: "We controlled the game. For large spells in the game that we were very comfortable in. I thought the lads defended really, really well and attacked really well too, creating good chances.

"So really, really disappointed we didn't get the result that we deserved and we go again on Sunday.

"I have [seen the penalty incident], but I'll leave it out for everybody else to talk about, which will be the case. So no comment from us.

"I think they managed to give a good chat after the game in the dressing room and said a few very positive comments and really set ourselves up for Sunday. So we're really looking forward to Sunday's game.

"We're in a really good place just now in of how we're playing.

"The lads are really confident. We've been creating chances and the amount of goals we've scored this season has been incredible and we've just got to go and do that again on Sunday as well."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Tony Docherty had called for Dundee to be calm in the midst of such a pressurised match, but much of their play in the first half betrayed a sense of nerves.

Chances in the opening 45 minutes were few and far between, but the introduction of Scott Tiffoney at the break was the catalyst for a much improved second period.

The intelligence of Cameron's through ball was the first real moment of quality, and Tiffoney displayed irable composure to tuck away the chance.

That energised the home crowd and the team, and only some brilliant goalkeeping from Amissah prevented Dundee from calming the nerves with a second goal.

It looked like that would not matter as the seconds ticked away towards full-time, but that late penalty award was a sickening blow.

They need to bounce back, and fast.

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Simon Murray says he has "loved" being back at Dundee this season, but appreciates the magnitude of their last two league matches.

The Dens Park side are two points above Ross County in the relegation play-off spot and five above bottom club St Johnstone, who they face on the final day.

A win over Ross County on Wednesday would guarantee their top-flight status for another season and Murray - who has 22 goals in all competitions - is determined to finish on a high.

"Obviously it's not ideal where we are in the league, but I've absolutely loved it," Murray said.

"Obviously coming back, we all want to be as high up as the table as we can, but sometimes football's not like that for one thing or another.

"The most important thing is that you don't give up. You just keep fighting until the end.

"Obviously the stability for us is making sure we're in the top flight consistently. Obviously last season was great, but on a personal level, I love being back home. I feel like I've had a good season.

"But the job's not done. I'm just looking forward to making sure the job is done and enjoying a little break."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

We hear the managerial trope week in week out that every game is a big one.

But it isn't a stretch to suggest this evening's encounter with Ross County is by some stretch the biggest of Dundee's season so far.

The stakes couldn't be higher. At its simplest, if Dundee win, their Premiership status is secure.

So their destiny is very much in their own hands, a time for the big characters in the team to step forward and grasp the chance.

If the don't take it, their fate will be decided at the weekend, with a trip to play current bottom club St Johnstone.

After winning their opening post-split game at Hearts, the Dark Blues have suffered back-to-back defeats.

That trio of fixtures kind of sums up their campaign, one that certainly promised more than it has delivered.

However, Tony Docherty will be confident his side can get the job done tonight at home to second-bottom County, who are on a miserable run of seven straight defeats.

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• Dundee have lost all three of their Scottish Premiership games against Ross County this season, but have never lost four in a row against the Staggies in the top flight before.

• Ross County have never beaten a single opponent four times within the same Scottish top-flight campaign before, something they will achieve over Dundee should they win here.

• Dundee have only won their final home game in one of their past nine top-flight campaigns (D4 L4), a 3-1 victory over Hibernian in 2021-22.

• Ross County have only won their final away game in one of their past six Scottish Premiership seasons (D2 L3 – including curtailed 2019-20 season), a 2-1 victory at Motherwell in 2020-21.

• Since Christmas Day, Dundee have won just one of their 10 home league games (D3 L6), and have the fewest home points in the Scottish Premiership in this time (six).

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

A week today, the dust will have settled and we'll know the fate of each team in the Premiership for next season.

On paper, Wednesday night reads well for us. We are at home against a Ross County side who are on a run of seven consecutive defeats and two points below us, teeing us up nicely to secure our Premiership status with a win.

I'd rather be in our shoes than theirs, but Dundee do not cope well against sides struggling to find form.

The thought of succumbing to defeat is unbearable as it could tee us up for a final-day showdown at Perth against St Johnstone in a straight shootout for bottom place.

The old cliche of the next game being a 'cup final' couldn't be more true.

Ross County seem to have our number this season, combine all the scores against them this campaign and they're up 8-1.

Our defeat at Rugby Park on Saturday was cheap, between gifting them a penalty to switching off right after the equaliser, it was disheartening to watch.

It's been a poor season for Dundee, after a promising start we stagnated at the worst points and couldn't make up for it in time come the split.

However, we've still had our moments and there is a foundation in place that can kicked on from next season - but it'll all mean nothing if they don't get the job done this week.

While I believe no top-flight club will be relegated in the play-offs this season, I'd still rather avoid the stress of seeing Dundee get dragged into that showdown. Because if there is any team who is an expert in finding ways to lose...

The task at hand is simply to beat Ross County. Give 100%, no-one is asking Dundee to blow them out the water - if it's the kind of game where we have to claw and kick our way out.

The fans expect to see that in abundance, show that fighting spirit, but do so appropriately and avoid silly mistakes.

If the players aren't prepared to give it their all - then the badge is too heavy for them.

Sportscene pundit Michael Stewart analyses the confusion over Dundee's penalty shout for a foul on Simon Murray in the defeat by Kilmarnock. (Available to UK s only)

Lyall Cameron has voiced Dundee's frustrations over their latest VAR controversy – but accepts they have been the architects of their own downfall this season. (The Courier)

Read the rest of Monday's gossip.