Dundee

• Livingston have lost their past four Scottish Premiership meetings with Dundee, their longest ever top-flight losing run against them.

• Dundee won their two away games at Livingston the last season in which they met in the Premiership in 2023-24, but have never won three successive top-flight visits to the Lions before.

• Livingston have won just one of their opening 15 league games this season (D5 L9), the fewest by any side at this stage of a Scottish top-flight campaign since Falkirk in 2009-10 (also 1).

• Dundee have lost their past six away league games, their longest run in the top flight since losing seven in a row in January 2005. They have lost their last three on the road without scoring, last losing four on the bounce without a goal in the top flight in December 2004.

• Only league leaders Hearts have registered more high turnovers (128) in the Premiership this season than Livingston (116). Meanwhile, no side has faced more shots following high turnovers against them than Dundee (23, level with Falkirk).

Dundee have agreed 20-year-old on-loan midfielder Cesar Garza's return to parent club Monterrey. (Courier - subscription required), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip

Caleb Akpo-Young
BBC Sport Scotland

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Steven Pressley wants his attacking players to show more "desire" in front of goal as he seeks to solve Dundee's scoring struggles.

The second-bottom Dark Blues are the lowest scorers in the top flight with 13 goals in 16 games.

Defenders Clark Robertson and Ryan Astley are the club's joint leading scorers in the league on two goals, along with striker Joe Westley, who is now ruled out for two months with an injury suffered in last weekend's defeat by Aberdeen.

As he looked ahead to Saturday's crucial meeting with bottom club Livingston, head coach Pressley said: "We need to have more desire when we're arriving in the box.

"We're crossing a lot, we're getting into some really good positions but just that final moment we need to be better on.

"It's disappointing that a player in Joe Westley, who potentially could be out for a couple of months, is missing because he's a player that has those goals and those final moments in him.

"We're doing a lot of good things but within the group we must have people stepping forward and scoring those all-important goals.

"We're not a team that is significantly better than other teams and we have to ensure that the margins I've talked about, about attacking the box with real intent to score, are things we must improve on those things if we're going to get results.

"The margins for us are so fine, we do need to have more goals, we do need more people to step forward and do that because that is the only way that will turn this current corner.

"We've got so many other players that need to step forward now and contribute in the goals.

"We've been quite effective on set-plays, quite a number of our goals have been scored by defenders, but we need more from our offensive players in terms of that final action, that final goal and if we get that it can change the dynamic of our season."

Caleb Akpo-Young
BBC Sport Scotland

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Steven Pressley has been speaking to the media before Dundee's Premiership trip to face Livingston on Saturday.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Striker Joe Westley has been ruled out for two months with an injury sustained against Aberdeen last weekend. Yan Dhanda is struggling with a foot injury and is a doubt for Saturday's match. Callum Jones is yet to train this week but Pressley has not ruled out his potential involvement.

• On Westley's injury, the Dens boss says it is "disappointing" because he has "those goals and those final moments in him".

• Dundee need to improve their attacking "desire" when they are in the opposition box, according to Pressley.

• He is urging other attacking players to contribute to their goalscoring output and concedes they can't be too "reliant" on striker Simon Murray.

• In preparation for their Livingston test, Dundee have been training on an artificial pitch.

• Pressley has been "impressed" by the performances from David Martindale's side despite their lack of results and position at the bottom of the table.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Dundee's trip to Livingston this weekend falls in to 'biggest game of the season' category for both clubs.

The second-bottom Dark Blues sit just four points above Livi having played a game more.

If Steven Pressley's side get the win they can start to breathe a little easier, but if they lose then they will find themselves in all sorts of bother.

After the 3-1 home defeat to Aberdeen last time out, Pressley said: "We'll get there. I've seen us moving in the right direction. I've seen some real improvements in our performances."

And you can see what he means – in the second half against the Dons they were excellent. Prior to that they gave a good account of themselves in the 1-0 defeat at Celtic Park, which followed an impressive 3-1 home win over St Mirren.

So there are "real improvements", the problem is that needs to be reflected in their results – and soon.

One win - and six defeats - in the past seven league games is simply not good enough.

They have the worst scoring record in the league – netting just 13 times in 16 games – and the joint second worst defensive record having shipped 29 goals.

Not scoring and being leaky in defence is a dangerous combination.

Pressley remains steadfast in his mantra but he doesn't have time on his side.

Technical director Gordon Strachan hints Dundee will look to strengthen in defence during the January transfer window as he backed head coach Steven Pressley to lead them clear of relegation trouble. (Open Goal), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Ethan Hampton
Fan writer

Our habit of conceding cheaply is becoming a major concern.

After one of the most positive performances at Parkhead in living memory - a narrow defeat that offered plenty to encouragement - it was a different story at home to Aberdeen.

Much of the damage was self-inflicted. Our inability to clear our lines cost us two goals, leaving us with too much to claw back.

In the second half we had Aberdeen under the cosh, but after pulling a goal back we failed to produce anything truly substantial.

It was still the best we've played in defeat this season - but we have the worst goal difference in the league and continue to look vulnerable to defensive errors.

We simply cannot afford to be lightweight at the back again - It weighed us down badly last season. We already have half of last season's total for clean sheets and thus far the defensive aspect of our game has been the main metric in suggesting improvement compared to the previous regime.

While back-to-back defeats are never pleasant, context matters: Aberdeen and Celtic are operating in a completely different space to us. The teams closer to our level are up next in what feels like a season-defining run of fixtures.

Our trip to bottom club Livingston this weekend is huge. Win, and we move seven points clear of them and settle into mid-table. Lose, and they close to within a single point of us.

Our more positive approach in recent weeks is edging this team closer to its latent potential.

If we can unlock another dimension in attack and ensure chances fall to the right players, we will kick on. Reaching that point, though, is the real challenge.

On-loan Cesar Garza is likely to be one of the players leaving Dundee in January as the Dark Blues plan to trim their squad. (The Courier)

Read the rest of Monday's gossip.

Watch highlights of Dundee's 3-1 defeat against Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Dundee's 3-1 defeat against Aberdeen.

Here's what some of you said:

Albert: Plenty more possession than Aberdeen without any shadow of doubt. Hopefully we can sign a striker in January to take the burden off Simon Murray.

Gary: If you've got to wait to be 2-0 down at home before you come to life, there's not much hope. Steven Pressley will wax lyrical about the fight in the second half, but Aberdeen had two shots and scored from one of them, we're just not at it. Can't make a simple midfield pass, give the ball away and don't work to get it back, it's not good enough.

Mark: Play well get beat, play poorly get beat. Not a good sign. If we get beat next from Livingston, Pressley has to go.

Jack: Yet again Pressley starts with the wrong formation. At home, poor Murray is running around like a headless chicken alone up front. If Pressley can't play an attacking formation with two strikers he needs to go.

John: Poor defending again especially in the first half, Aberdeen far superior in first half. A bit better in second half. Reshuffle the pack at the back and rotation of goalkeepers might be an idea.

Calum: We look a lot more of an attacking force now than we have at any point in the season. Night and day compared to the last time we faced Aberdeen. Silly mistakes at the back cost Dundee but I've seen enough to suggest that the progress that Pressley has been talking about is clear to see now. Important run of fixtures coming up and some very winnable games in there. Need to start picking up points, starting at Livingston next week.

Aberdeen moved into the top half of the Premiership despite a second half fight-back from struggling Dundee.

Read the full match report here

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Dundee head coach Steven Pressley: "I'm extremely disappointed because, especially with the ball, I think it's the best we've played all season.

"We controlled long periods of the game with possession, we always looked a danger and I was really proud of the group. Against the ball we were really aggressive in our pressure and we worked so hard in the game. We had a couple of mistakes that put us on the back foot but we responded brilliantly.

"When we got the goal back I was confident we would get something from the game because we were controlling it for such long periods. The final goal was a sucker punch because we'd thrown everything at it. My only complaint is that after such a positive performance we got nothing from the game.

"I thought we were terrific in the first half, they scored against the run of play and two key moments cost us dearly. We had long periods of control, we gave Aberdeen lots of problems in the wide areas. I still think we need to be more aggressive and clinical in their box because we had so many good moments that we didn't capitalise on.

"We'll get there. I've seen us moving in the right direction. I've seen some real improvements in our performances. If you look at the last time we played Aberdeen to this time there's a significant change in our performance. The scoreline doesn't look great but our performance was excellent.

"When you look over the period we've had some really tough games. There's a lot of confidence in the group with the way we're playing and I think the supporters can see that. I thought our performance today was better than the St Mirren performance but a couple of key moments cost us dearly. Apart from that, really proud of the players."

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Dundee have a doubt over Clark Robertson, who went off with a thigh injury at Celtic Park in midweek.

Aberdeen have lost Gavin Molloy for up to eight weeks with a knee injury and remain without Kristers Tobers with a similar problem.

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Dundee must grasp their chance to get "real momentum going" with victory at home to Aberdeen on Saturday, says boss Steven Pressley.

The Dark Blues ended a four-game losing streak by beating St Mirren last Saturday before running Celtic close in a 1-0 midweek defeat in Glasgow.

Pressley, whose side sit 10th in the table, said: "With the result and the performance against St Mirren I think it was important from a psychological and momentum perspective that we performed well at Celtic Park.

"We had to endure difficult moments early on but testament to the players, going behind after 11 minutes at Celtic Park it's easy to go under and we didn't.

"We responded brilliantly, the players are growing in strength and character and I think there were a lot of good things to take from it.

"If we can get a performance and a result at the weekend it's been a really good eight days for us, that should be the motivation.

"We've had to endure some tough moments this season already but the carrot should be there that this is a chance for us to get some real momentum going.

"Aberdeen are a team with very good creative offensive players and if we don't get our defending right and our press right, they will hurt you.

"From our offensive perspective, if we can get the defensive work right, we can cause them problems. We'll have to have a really strong performance and it's going to take a real team effort."

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• Dundee have failed to score in eight Scottish Premiership matches this season – the most of any side – and have drawn a blank in four of their past five league games.

• Aberdeen have picked up as many points in their past five league games (11 – W3 D2) as they had in their previous 15 (W3 D2 L10).

• Dundee have won three of their past four home league games (L1), this after having won just one of their previous 14 (D5 L8).

• Aberdeen have won eight of their past 11 away league games at Dundee (D1 L2), including both of their visits last season (both 2-1).

• Dundee have lost their past four league meetings with Aberdeen, conceding at least two goals in each game during that time.

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Dundee boss Steven Pressley has been speaking to the media before the Premiership game with Aberdeen this weekend.

Here are the main points:

• Pressley was pleased with the "strength and character" shown by his players in Wednesday's 1-0 defeat at Celtic Park. He says there "were a lot of good things" to take from the game and hopes the players are "feeling good about themselves".

• He stresses if Dundee can "get a performance and a result at the weekend it's been a really good eight days" and insists "that's the motivation" for the visit of Aberdeen.

• Pressley says if his team "get the defensive work right" then they can cause Jimmy Thelin's side "problems".

• The Dens boss has been encouraged by the performances over a tricky spell but knows the upcoming festive fixtures will be crucial for dictating their season.

• But the Dundee boss stresses the need to "turn performances into winning performances" and feels "that extra 5%" will be important against Aberdeen.

• Pressley says his players will have to "make sacrifices" in order to prioritise their recovery over a "pivotal" run of fixtures.

• Clark Robertson came off with a thigh injury which is a "big concern" for the Dark Blues ahead of the weekend.

We asked for your views after Dundee's 1-0 loss to Celtic.

Here's what some of you said:

Iain: A 1-0 loss at Parkhead is much better than I was expecting. We could have had a point with more composed finishing. I still find Steven Pressley's media persona galling. Dead-pan, monotonous. He looks like a man who's hating every single second of frontline management.

Albert: A backs to the wall and spirited performance against a well-drilled Celtic team. Signs are promising under Pressley at last. Future looks bright for us albeit a defeat.

Gary: Nobody would've expected much from Parkhead, but after a battling win on Saturday we'd have at least appreciated having a go. Going an early goal down did nothing to change the approach by Pressley, seemingly a 1-0 defeat at Celtic is something of a 'win', no, it's another loss. That attitude proves our status in the league. Hopefully at home we'll have the same go as we did against St Mirren.

Watch the best of the action as Martin O'Neill bows out of Celtic with a 1-0 win against Dundee in the Scottish Premiership.

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A long-awaited decision on Dundee's proposed new stadium at Camperdown will not be made this year after the city council's last committee meeting of 2025 was cancelled with no items of business on the agenda. (The Courier), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Celtic delivered a victorious send-off for Martin O'Neill to maintain the interim manager's 100% domestic record and move them level on points with Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts before the sides meet on Sunday.

Read the match report here.

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Dundee boss Steven Pressley tells BBC Scotland: "I always say, to come here and get a result you need the perfect performance. It wasn't a perfect performance, but it was a really positive performance. Especially to endure some difficult moments early in the game.

"It's easy to go under in place like this, but we didn't. I'm really proud of the performance today. It was important we took another step in the right direction tonight after the win at the weekend, and I feel we did that.

"The team has been evolving in a difficult period and that's testament to the players. It's been a really testing run for us. But within that, the players have shown great resilience.

"I've seen a team that's showing great bravery just now. We came here and we tried to play. In many ways it was a win for us tonight."