| 2023–24 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Tim Keyes | |||
| Manager | Tony Docherty | |||
| Stadium | Dens Park | |||
| Scottish Premiership | 6th | |||
| Scottish Cup | Fourth round | |||
| League Cup | Group stage | |||
| Top goalscorer | League:Luke McCowan (10) All: Luke McCowan (10) | |||
| Highest home attendance | 9,144 vs.Celtic, 26 December 2023 (Prem.) | |||
| Lowest home attendance | 1,940 vs.Dumbarton, 26 July 2023 (League Cup GS) | |||
| Average home league attendance | 6,965 | |||
The2023–24 season wasDundee's first season back in the top flight of Scottish football since2021–22, after winning the previous season'sScottish Championship at the first time of asking.[1] Dundee also competed in theLeague Cup, exiting at the group stage, and in theScottish Cup, exiting in the fourth round.
Dundee would enjoy a successful league season, confirming a finish in the top six in April 2024 for the first time since the2014–15 season.[2]
Despite having led Dundee to theScottish Championship title and winning theSPFL Championship Manager of the Year award, managerGary Bowyer and his assistantBilly Barr were released by the club in May 2023 following a fallout with managing director John Nelms and technical directorGordon Strachan.[3][4] On 29 May, Dundee announced thatTony Docherty would be the new manager of the club.[5] Dundee's pre-season schedule would include a week-long camp in Ireland and playingBray Wanderers andFleetwood Town while there, as well as two visits to localAngus teams inBrechin City andArbroath, followed by an away game againstCove Rangers.[6][7][8]
After winning all of their pre-season games, Dundee began their competitive campaign in theScottish League Cup group stage with a gritty away win overBonnyrigg Rose, withZak Rudden scoring the only goal.[9] They would receive a sharp wake-up call a few days later however, losing toScottish Championship sideAirdrieonians via a late penalty afterLyall Cameron missed a penalty for Dundee earlier in the game.[10] The Dees got back to winning ways on the following Wednesday, defeatingDumbarton comfortably at home.[11] Going into their final game, Dundee knew they needed to defeatInverness Caledonian Thistle by 2 or more goals in order to qualify overRaith Rovers for the second round. Despite managing a 1–0 win over their historical bogey team, Dundee would exit the League Cup in the group stage for the first time since the2016–17 season via goals scored.[12]
On their flag-raising day returning to the top tier, Dundee would come back from behind through aLyall Cameron goal to draw withMotherwell at a rain-drenchedDens Park.[13] A dreadful first half inPaisley however was too much to recover from the next week, and saw Dundee lose toSt Mirren.[14] After a two-week hiatus, Dundee grabbed their first win of the league season at home toHearts through aLuke McCowan chip overZander Clark from distance.[15]
Despite a strong performance for most of the game, a late collapse away toSt Johnstone left Dundee with a very disappointing point.[16] After the international break, a brave effort from the Dee atCeltic Park was undone by an early second half blitz fromCeltic and led to a 3–0 defeat.[17] In a drama-filled game which Dundee were down a man for most of the game,Zak Rudden's late goal clinched a point at home toKilmarnock.[18] The following week saw a very impressive defensive performance atEaster Road as they kept free-scoringHibernian to a goalless draw.[19]
After three and a half weeks without a game due to international breaks and postponements caused by a waterlogged pitch andStorm Babet, Dundee playedRoss County to a scoreless draw at home in a game that was plagued by rustiness from both sides.[20] After an uneventful first half and controversial second half, two lateJoe Shaughnessy goals pushed Dundee pastLivingston atAlmondvale Stadium and into the top six.[21]
Dundee's unbeaten streak at home would fall apart after a mauling byRangers in a game marred by controversial behaviour from the away supporters.[22] They would quickly rebound with a second win over Livingston in a week thanks to a beautiful free kick fromLuke McCowan.[23] Dundee would then batter high-flyingSt Mirren in a commanding performance to rise up to 5th in the league before the international break.[24] They would return from the hiatus with a frustrating loss at home toHibs where they failed to complete the comeback.[25]
For the second time in the season, an impressive Dundee away performance was undone by a last-second equaliser, this time from ten-manMotherwell.[26] An early lead atIbrox turned into an expected defeat toRangers, marking the third straight game Dundee failed to capitalise on having a man advantage.[27] Dundee would finally enjoy a late goal once again as captainJoe Shaughnessy snatched all 3 points away toRoss County in a game which losing managerDerek Adams controversially claimed was "one of the worst games I've ever seen."[28][29] For the second time in the season, Dundee had a game againstAberdeen postponed, this time due to a waterlogged pitch, a decision which the club fully disagreed with.[30][31] The pitch was fine however onBoxing Day withCeltic visiting, and despite keeping a clean sheet in the first half Dundee once again capitulated to a standard home defeat to theHoops.[32] Dundee would end the year in a typically ridiculous fashion, starting brilliantly away toKilmarnock before capitulating once more at the end, before being bailed out once again by captain Shaughnessy to take home a point.[33]
The new year would start with early frustrations, as Dundee lost standout loan playerOwen Beck to an early recall fromLiverpool, and theDens Park drainage failed the club again the following day, leading to their match againstSt Johnstone being postponed.[34][35] After a lengthy winter break, Dundee returned to action in a sluggish state, gifting two goals in the first three minutes toKilmarnock and sank out of theScottish Cup in usual disappointing fashion, eclipsingHibernian's infamous 114-year long wait for a major team to lift the cup.[36] The underwhelming start to 2024 continued midweek atTynecastle, where a strong 0–2 lead at half time would evaporate into aHearts win in yet another blown lead which resulted in no points, and also marked the first loss of back-to-back games in the season.[37] Despite starting off scrappily atAlmondvale Stadium, Dundee responded with an emphatic away win over bottom sideLivingston, with new boyMichael Mellon coming off the bench and netting a goal and two assists in a 1–4 win.[38] Dundee would end the month by finally playingAberdeen for the first time of the season, and aLee Ashcroft headed goal off a corner from the returningOwen Beck was enough to earn a point atPittodrie.[39]
Dundee would commemorateGroundhog Day by marking the day following theholiday by again leadingHearts at half-time with a good performance before handing away another three points for the second time in under 2 weeks.[40] They would fail to turn their momentum around inPaisley, with a flat performance resulting in a defeat away toSt Mirren.[41] Despite a slow start, aLuke McCowan penalty and aJordan McGhee header provided a much-needed comeback win to consolidate Dundee's position in the top 6 at home againstSt Johnstone.[42] Dundee would continue this positive momentum the following week againstRoss County, with a double fromScott Tiffoney proving the difference.[43] The momentum would end atEaster Road, where despite nearly grabbing something late on the Dee were second-best toHibernian throughout and gave up a lot of ground they had on their rivals for the top 6.[44] The month ended in harrowing fashion, with Dundee shipping 6 goals in the first half to a rampantCeltic in a nightmare evening in Glasgow.[45]
The Dee would again play an evenly-matched game against Europe-chasingKilmarnock, and despite leading late against ten men they again dropped points in stoppage time in a third consecutive 2–2 draw against the Ayrshire side.[46] After an extended break, Dundee returned in solid form despite injuries and comfortably defeated managerlessAberdeen through aLuke McCowan penalty, lifting the Dees back into the top six after keeping their first clean sheet against the Dons inalmost 20 years.[47] Dundee's pitch issues would rear their head once again a few days later, with heavy rainfall creating a waterlogged pitch atDens Park which would get their match againstRangers postponed.[48] After the international break, Dundee returned with a vengeance toMcDiarmid Park, and despite looking second best toSt Johnstone in large parts they brought home all 3 points through two clinical strikes.[49] After an unbeaten and very successful March, managerTony Docherty was awarded thePremiership Manager of the Month by theSPFL.[50][51]
After much controversy regarding the playability ofDens Park's pitch, Dundee would take onMotherwell in a chaotic affair, with a 2-goal lead in the second half not being good enough for thefourth time this season as the visitors snatched all three points late and denied the Dee from securing a top six place.[52] The scrutiny on Dundee's pitch would increase even more for the rearranged midweek game againstRangers, which would be called off for yet another waterlogged pitch.[53] Though a strong 2nd half showing atPittodrie was not enough to break a goalless deadlock againstAberdeen (their first clean sheet against theDons sinceDecember 2004), a late equaliser forMotherwell overHibs ensured that Dundee's point would be enough for them to secure top six football with a game to spare.[54] After much scrutiny and both theSPFL andUEFA getting involved surrounding potential relocation options, Dundee finally playedRangers on the midweek, and held the title contenders to a goalless draw, their first clean sheet against the side sinceDecember 2001, to bring theDark Blues closer toSt Mirren and a potential European spot in 5th place.[55] Dundee began their post-split fixtures on 28 April with a close-fought game against league leadersCeltic which ended in a narrow defeat.[56]
On 18 April, Dundee received a £186,429.60 fine from the SPFL, of which £120,000 was suspended, for "breaches of the SPFL rules" regarding the number of postponements and for the SPFL to recoup costs owed toSky Sports.[57] The club responded as being "deeply disappointed" with the severity of the fine and the warning of a single postponement the following season triggering the remainder of the fine to be immediately payable, and announced they were seeking legal advice regarding an appeal.[58] Dundee's successful season was recognised byPFA Scotland, asLyall Cameron was nominated forYoung Player of the Year and managerTony Docherty was nominated forManager of the Year.[59][60] Luke McCowan was also named as theScottish Premiership Player of the Month for April.[61]
In a massive game with a spot in theUEFA Conference League potentially on the line, Dundee were outclassed by a rampantSt Mirren side at Dens in a disappointing defeat which would all but cement Dundee's ceiling being 6th place.[62] Lyall Cameron and Tony Docherty were again recognised, this time by theScottish Football Writers' Association, whom nominated the two for theirYoung Player of the Year andManager of the Year awards respectively.[63] Dundee would again serve up another toothless performance in a scorcher atTynecastle as they were battered away byHearts.[64] In the penultimate game of the season, despite two quickfire goals to give great hope atIbrox, Dundee once again turned a multiple goal lead into a defeat and officially saw themselves eliminated from European qualification.[65] On a glorious sunny May day atDens, Dundee ended their season with yet another draw againstKilmarnock as the home side couldn't find a winner against 10 men, with player of the yearLuke McCowan knocking a late penalty to win the game wide of the post.[66]
Win Draw Loss Postponed
All times are in British Summer Time (BST).
| 1 July 2023Friendly | Brechin City | 1–5 | Dundee | Glebe Park,Brechin |
| 15:00 | Report | Attendance: 1,527 Referee: Andy Gamble |
| 5 July 2023Friendly | Bray Wanderers | 1–5 | Dundee | Carlisle Grounds,Bray,Ireland |
| 19:30 |
| Report | Referee: Oliver Moran (FAI) |
| 8 July 2023Friendly | Fleetwood Town | 1–2 | Dundee | Waterford RSC,Waterford,Ireland |
| 12:30 |
| Report |
| 12 July 2023Friendly | Arbroath | 0–1 | Dundee | Gayfield Park,Arbroath |
| 19:15 | Report |
| Attendance: 2,160 |
| 15 July 2023Friendly | Cove Rangers | 0–1 | Dundee | Balmoral Stadium,Aberdeen |
| 15:00 | Report |
| Referee: Greg Soutar |
| 16 November 2023Cammy Kerr Testimonial | Dundee | 1–0 | Celtic | Dens Park,Dundee |
| 19:45 | Kerr 90' (pen.) | Report | Attendance: 3,363 |
Dundee played againstAberdeen,Celtic,Heart of Midlothian,Hibernian,Kilmarnock,Livingston,Motherwell,Rangers,Ross County,St Johnstone andSt Mirren in the 2023–24 Premiership campaign. The format consisted of playing each team three times, twice at home and once away against half of the teams, and once at home and twice away against the other half. Following this, they are split into either a top or bottom group of six depending on their position after 33 games, where they play each team in their group once.
| 5 August 20231 | Dundee | 1–1 | Motherwell | Dens Park,Dundee |
| 15:00 |
| Report |
| Attendance: 6,391 Referee: David Dickinson |
| 12 August 20232 | St Mirren | 2–1 | Dundee | St Mirren Park,Paisley |
| 15:00 |
| Report |
| Attendance: 6,581 Referee: Colin Steven |
| 27 August 20233 | Dundee | 1–0 | Heart of Midlothian | Dens Park,Dundee |
| 15:00 |
| Report | Attendance: 8,104 Referee:Alan Muir |
| 2 September 20234 | St Johnstone | 2–2 | Dundee | McDiarmid Park,Perth |
| 15:00 |
| Report | Attendance: 5,935 Referee:Willie Collum |
| 16 September 20235 | Celtic | 3–0 | Dundee | Celtic Park,Glasgow |
| 15:00 | Report | Attendance: 58,928 Referee: Grant Irvine |
| 23 September 20236 | Dundee | 2–2 | Kilmarnock | Dens Park,Dundee |
| 15:00 | Report | Attendance: 6,101 Referee: David Munro |
| 30 September 20237 | Hibernian | 0–0 | Dundee | Easter Road,Edinburgh |
| 15:00 | Report | Attendance: 16,793 Referee:John Beaton |
| 24 October 20238* | Dundee | 0–0 | Ross County | Dens Park,Dundee |
| 19:45 | Report | Attendance: 4,887 Referee: Colin Steven | ||
| Note: Initially postponed and rescheduled due to a waterlogged pitch. Original date was 7 October 2023. | ||||
| 28 October 20239 | Livingston | 0–2 | Dundee | Almondvale Stadium,Livingston |
| 15:00 |
| Report |
| Attendance: 4,210 Referee:Willie Collum |
| 1 November 202310 | Dundee | 0–5 | Rangers | Dens Park,Dundee |
| 20:45* | Report | Attendance: 8,970 Referee:Kevin Clancy | ||
| Note: Game delayed a total of 1 hour due to traffic disruption and safety concerns due to flares set off byRangers fans. | ||||
| 5 November 202311* | Dundee | 1–0 | Livingston | Dens Park,Dundee |
| 14:00 |
| Report | Attendance: 4,769 Referee:Alan Muir | |
| Note: Game was brought forward with the agreement of both clubs. Original date was 6 December 2023.[67] | ||||
| 11 November 202312 | Dundee | 4–0 | St Mirren | Dens Park,Dundee |
| 15:00 | Report | Attendance: 5,496 Referee: Matthew MacDermid |
| 25 November 202313 | Dundee | 1–2 | Hibernian | Dens Park,Dundee |
| 15:00 |
| Report | Attendance: 6,652 Referee:Don Robertson |
| 2 December 202314 | Motherwell | 3–3 | Dundee | Fir Park,Motherwell |
| 15:00 | Report | Attendance: 4,239 Referee: Iain Snedden |
| 9 December 202315 | Rangers | 3–1 | Dundee | Ibrox Stadium,Glasgow |
| 15:00 | Report |
| Attendance: 47,229 Referee:Kevin Clancy |
| 16 December 202316 | Ross County | 0–1 | Dundee | Victoria Park,Dingwall |
| 15:00 | Report | Shaughnessy 90+7' | Attendance: 4,014 Referee: Colin Steven |
| 26 December 202317 | Dundee | 0–3 | Celtic | Dens Park,Dundee |
| 15:00 | Report |
| Attendance: 9,144 Referee:Don Robertson |
| 30 December 202318 | Kilmarnock | 2–2 | Dundee | Rugby Park,Kilmarnock |
| 15:00 | Report |
| Attendance: 5,780 Referee: David Dickinson |
| 23 January 202419* | Heart of Midlothian | 3–2 | Dundee | Tynecastle Park,Edinburgh |
| 19:45 |
| Report | Attendance: 18,185 Referee: Chris Graham | |
| Note: Initially postponed and rescheduled due to conflict with Hearts'Scottish League Cup tie. Original date was 4 November 2023.[68] | ||||
| 27 January 202420 | Livingston | 1–4 | Dundee | Almondvale Stadium,Livingston |
| 15:00 | Report | Attendance: 1,906 Referee: Ross Hardie |
| 30 January 202421* | Aberdeen | 1–1 | Dundee | Pittodrie Stadium,Aberdeen |
| 19:45 | Report |
| Attendance: 15,512 Referee:Nick Walsh | |
| Note: Initially postponed and rescheduled due to adverse weather fromStorm Babet. Original date was 21 October 2023. | ||||
| 3 February 202422 | Dundee | 2–3 | Heart of Midlothian | Dens Park,Dundee |
| 15:00 | Report | Attendance: 7,506 Referee: Graham Grainger |
| 7 February 202423 | St Mirren | 2–0 | Dundee | St Mirren Park,Paisley |
| 20:15* | Report | Attendance: 5,737 Referee:Steven McLean | ||
| Note: Game delayed by 30 minutes due to traffic disruption. | ||||
| 11 February 202424* | Dundee | 2–1 | St Johnstone | Dens Park,Dundee |
| 14:00 | Report |
| Attendance: 7,102 Referee: David Munro | |
| Note: Initially postponed and rescheduled due to a waterlogged pitch. Original date was 2 January 2024. | ||||
| 17 February 202425 | Dundee | 2–0 | Ross County | Dens Park,Dundee |
| 15:00 |
| Report | Attendance: 5,846 Referee: Calum Scott |
| 24 February 202426 | Hibernian | 2–1 | Dundee | Easter Road,Edinburgh |
| 15:00 | Report |
| Attendance: 16,102 Referee:John Beaton |
| 28 February 202427 | Celtic | 7–1 | Dundee | Celtic Park,Glasgow |
| 19:45 | Report | Attendance: 58,772 Referee: Matthew MacDermid |
| 2 March 202428 | Dundee | 2–2 | Kilmarnock | Dens Park,Dundee |
| 15:00 | Report | Attendance: 5,588 Referee: Colin Steven |
| 13 March 202429* | Dundee | 1–0 | Aberdeen | Dens Park,Dundee |
| 19:45 | Report | Attendance: 8,215 Referee:Steven McLean | ||
| Note: Initially postponed and rescheduled due to a waterlogged pitch. Original date was 23 December 2023. | ||||
| 30 March 202430 | St Johnstone | 1–2 | Dundee | McDiarmid Park,Perth |
| 15:00 |
| Report | Attendance: 6,691 Referee: Iain Snedden |
| 6 April 202431 | Dundee | 2–3 | Motherwell | Dens Park,Dundee |
| 15:00 | Report | Attendance: 5,924 Referee: David Dickinson |
| 13 April 202432 | Aberdeen | 0–0 | Dundee | Pittodrie Stadium,Aberdeen |
| 15:00 |
| Report | Attendance: 17,176 Referee:Nick Walsh |
| 17 April 202433* | Dundee | 0–0 | Rangers | Dens Park,Dundee |
| 20:00 | Report | Attendance: 9,010 Referee:Don Robertson | ||
| Note: Initially postponed and rescheduled on two separate occasions due to a waterlogged pitch. Original date was 17 March 2024. | ||||
| 28 April 202434 | Dundee | 1–2 | Celtic | Dens Park,Dundee |
| 15:00 |
| Report |
| Attendance: 9,120 Referee:John Beaton |
| 4 May 202435 | Dundee | 1–3 | St Mirren | Dens Park,Dundee |
| 15:00 |
| Report | Attendance: 6,877 Referee: Matthew MacDermid |
| 11 May 202436 | Heart of Midlothian | 3–0 | Dundee | Tynecastle Park,Edinburgh |
| 15:00 | Report | Attendance: 18,757 Referee:Nick Walsh |
| 14 May 202437 | Rangers | 5–2 | Dundee | Ibrox Stadium,Glasgow |
| 19:30 |
| Report | Attendance: 45,760 Referee: Matthew MacDermid |
| 18 May 202438 | Dundee | 1–1 | Kilmarnock | Dens Park,Dundee |
| 12:30 |
| Report |
| Attendance: 6,637 Referee: Calum Scott |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation[a] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Kilmarnock | 38 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 46 | 44 | +2 | 56 | Qualification for theEuropa League second qualifying round |
| 5 | St Mirren | 38 | 13 | 8 | 17 | 46 | 52 | −6 | 47 | Qualification for theConference League second qualifying round |
| 6 | Dundee | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 49 | 68 | −19 | 42 | |
| 7 | Aberdeen | 38 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 48 | 52 | −4 | 48 | |
| 8 | Hibernian | 38 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 52 | 59 | −7 | 46 |
Dundee competed in the Scottish Cup, entering in the fourth round.
| 20 January 2024Fourth round | Kilmarnock | 2–0 | Dundee | Rugby Park,Kilmarnock |
| 15:00 | Report | Attendance: 5,425 Referee:Don Robertson |
Dundee were a top seed in the group stage draw that will take place on 8 June 2023 at 13:00 onViaplay and theSPFL's YouTube channel.[72] Dundee were drawn into Group E along withInverness Caledonian Thistle,Airdrieonians,Dumbarton andBonnyrigg Rose.[73][74]
| 18 July 20231 | Bonnyrigg Rose | 0–1 | Dundee | New Dundas Park,Bonnyrigg |
| 19:45 | Report |
| Attendance: 1,555 Referee: Peter Stuart |
| 22 July 20232 | Airdrieonians | 1–0 | Dundee | Excelsior Stadium,Airdrie |
| 15:00 | Report | Attendance: 1,489 Referee: Colin Steven |
| 26 July 20233 | Dundee | 3–1 | Dumbarton | Dens Park,Dundee |
| 19:45 | Report |
| Attendance: 1,940 Referee:Willie Collum |
| 30 July 20234 | Dundee | 1–0 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | Dens Park,Dundee |
| 15:00 |
| Report | Attendance: 2,337 Referee:John Beaton |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | AIR | DND | DUM | ICT | BON | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Airdrieonians | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 12 | Qualification for thesecond round | — | 1–0 | 2–0 | — | — | |
| 2 | Dundee | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 9 | — | — | 3–1 | 1–0 | — | ||
| 3 | Dumbarton | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 5 | — | — | — | 2–1 | p0–0 | ||
| 4 | Inverness Caledonian Thistle | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 3 | 2–3 | — | — | — | 2–1 | ||
| 5 | Bonnyrigg Rose | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | — | — | — |
Players in[edit]
| Players out[edit]
|
New deals and extensions[edit]
| Players out[edit]
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Scottish Professional Football League
PFA Scotland
Scottish Football Writers' Association
