2024–25 Dundee F.C. season explained

Club:Dundee
Season:2024–25
Manager:Tony Docherty
Chairman:Tim Keyes
Stadium:Dens Park
League:Scottish Premiership
League Result:10th
Cup1:Scottish Cup
Cup1 Result:Fifth round
Cup2:League Cup
Cup2 Result:Quarter-finals
League Topscorer:Simon Murray (8)
Season Topscorer:Simon Murray (14)
Highest Attendance:11,585 vs. Dundee United, 2 January 2025 (Prem.)
Lowest Attendance:888 vs. Annan Athletic, 23 July 2024 (League Cup GS)
Average Attendance:7,024
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Prevseason:2023–24
Nextseason:2025–26

The 2024–25 season is the 123rd season in which Dundee will compete at a Scottish national level, and the 100th season played in the highest division in the Scottish football league system. They will play in the Scottish Premiership for the second consecutive season after finishing in the top six the previous campaign.[1] Dundee will also compete in the League Cup and the Scottish Cup.

Season summary

Pre-season

Dundee announced their first pre-season game of the season on 9 May 2024, heading to Gayfield Park to play Scottish League One side Arbroath on 29 June.[2] The following week, they announced the side would go on a pre-season training camp in Poznań, Poland at the beginning of July, and would take on Czech club Baník Ostrava and Polish side Lech Poznań during their camp there.[3] On 7 June, Dundee announced they would play their final pre-season friendly at East End Park against Dunfermline Athletic.[4]

On 25 June, Dundee announced that manager Tony Docherty had committed to the club by signing a new contract.[5]

July

Dundee opened their competitive season in the League Cup group stage with a bang, demolishing Bonnyrigg Rose with seven goals including a Curtis Main hat-trick.[6] They followed this up three days later with another win away at Gayfield Park over ex-manager Jim McIntyre’s side Arbroath.[7] In their first 'home' game of the season at Glebe Park due to pitch work still ongoing at Dens Park, Dundee netted two late goals to see off an impressive Annan Athletic side to confirm themselves as group winners and qualify for the second round of the League Cup with a game in hand.[8] They finished off the group stage in style with another clinic against former bogey team Inverness Caledonian Thistle, thumping them for six and confirming their seeding for the second round, with Simon Murray bagging himself a hat-trick in the first 30 minutes.[9]

August

Dundee opened their league season in nerve-wracking fashion with a trip down the road to Tannadice for a Dundee derby against the newly-promoted Dundee United. After a shaky, end-to-end start, the Dee did enough to earn a point in a close-fought affair.[10] The following week in their home league opener, Dundee returned to Dens Park in style with a late first half blitz helping them earn a comfortable win over Heart of Midlothian.[11] The next match was in the League Cup second round, where Dundee kept their blistering cup form going with a 6–1 demolition of Scottish Championship side Airdrieonians which included six different goalscorers.[12] Returning to league action, Dundee saved a point at Easter Road through a late equaliser from Simon Murray against his old club Hibernian.[13] Less than 24 hours after losing their star player, Luke McCowan, at the transfer window deadline to Celtic,[14] Dundee took on St Mirren in their last match before the international break, in which the Dee came back twice to earn a point at Dens and stay unbeaten.[15]

September

Dundee lost their first game of the season to start the month, suffering a frustrating but deserved defeat in Dingwall away to Ross County.[16] For the fifth time out of their last 8 cup quarter-finals, Dundee would face Rangers in yet another standard demoralising defeat.[17] The following week, Dundee played better but individual mistakes cost them early at home to an unbeaten Aberdeen side who held on for the win and handed the Dark Blues their first home defeat of the season.[18]

October

Dundee followed up their miserable September in familiar fashion, where a good performance despite an unjust Mo Sylla red card in the first half left them defending a slender lead over winless Kilmarnock. Dundee would even double their lead late on, but once again suffered a total collapse at the back and conceded three very late goals to somehow walk away with nothing, the fourth such instance in manager Tony Docherty's tenure which saw a multi-goal lead erased and replaced with a defeat.[19] After a much needed international break, Dundee returned with a new line-up and a much more solid defensive performance away to Motherwell where they held onto a single goal victory to end their horrible streak of form and gain their first league clean sheet of the season.[20] Any attempt to build off of the previous week's result however was for nought, as despite taking an early lead against St Johnstone, Dundee would play poorly and suffer yet another collapse and defeat in stoppage time to lose their third consecutive home game.[21] Dundee would end another disappointing month with the toughest of fixtures, holding off Celtic in Glasgow for an hour before an expected defeat which dropped the Dee down to 10th place.[22]

November

The month started with a tremendous reversal of fortune against Kilmarnock, with Dundee going down by two goals before making a comeback to win the game in the last minute through a Ziyad Larkeche goal, handing both Tony Docherty and Dundee's first wins over respective former colleague and long-time adversary Derek McInnes and putting the Dee back up to 6th place.[23] Momentum was again brought to a complete halt the following week however, as failing to take chances in a solid first half followed by a drubbing filled with all-too familiar defensive mistakes in the second half resulted in a comfortable defeat to high-flying Aberdeen at Pittodrie.[24] After yet another international break, an early red card for struggling bottom side Hibs paved the way for a convincing home win for Dundee.[25] The Dee finished November playing Kilmarnock for the third time in two months, and in another even affair two late goals apiece marked Dundee's first draw since August.[26]

December

The Dee continued their uptick in form with another impressive display at Dens, where a scoring whirlwind helped seal a 4–1 win over Motherwell, lifting Dundee up to 5th place and marking the first time since April 2002 that they had won three consecutive home games in the top tier.[27] That uplift in form came to a quick end a few days later, as Dundee were easily defeated at Tynecastle Park by bottom side Hearts to drop to 6th.[28] After a fortnight break, Dundee kept it close at Ibrox but still fell to a narrow defeat away to Rangers.[29] Dundee then served up their third Boxing Day stinker in 4 years, taking another beating off of Ross County at Dens, giving the Staggies their first away win in 25 games in a 0–3 drubbing which left Dundee in 9th place, 5 points off the bottom.[30] The Dee managed to halt the bad form in their last game of 2024, fighting back against two early injuries with a makeshift defence to earn a 1–2 away win against an in-form St Mirren through a double from captain Simon Murray.[31]

January

Dundee suffered a very bad start to the year with a late loss at home to local rivals Dundee United and other results going against their favour compounding to leave the Dark Blues two points above the relegation play-off places.[32] In a situation where they needed to make their own luck to compete with other teams' hot streaks, Dundee bounced back with three early goals to sink bottom side St Johnstone in Perth and earn a much-needed win ahead of a gruelling slate of games, consisting of three league games against Old Firm opposition and a Dundee derby cup clash.[33] Dundee started this tough set of fixtures well despite struggling with injuries to several key squad members, as they earned a well-deserved point at home to Rangers.[34] They followed this up with another impressive draw at home to league leaders Celtic, with a late penalty stopping Dundee from claiming a first home victory against the Glasgow side in 36 years.[35] Keeping up their gutsy form amid squad health issues, Dundee got revenge against rivals Dundee United in the Scottish Cup, with a first minute Simon Murray goal and both strong defending and an excellent performance from Trevor Carson gave the Dee their first Dundee derby win since 2017, and their first win over United in the Scottish Cup since 1956.[36] Dundee's last game of their gauntlet would not come in January however, as their away trip to Celtic Park was postponed due to stadium damage caused by Storm Éowyn.[37]

February

The month of February started off in the absolute worst way possible for the Dee, as they were dealt a humbling and deserved 0–6 defeat at Dens Park by Hearts, their worst home defeat since 2017, leaving Tony Docherty's men just one point off the relegation play-offs and in a fight to stay up.[38]

Competitions

All times are in British Summer Time (BST).

Scottish Premiership

See main article: 2024–25 Scottish Premiership.

Dundee will play against Aberdeen, Celtic, Dundee United, Heart of Midlothian, Hibernian, Kilmarnock, Motherwell, Rangers, Ross County, St Johnstone and St Mirren in the 2024–25 Premiership campaign. They will play 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 will be split into either a top or bottom group of six depending on their position after 33 games, where they will play each team in their group once.

The fixtures for the 2024–25 Premiership campaign were released on 27 June 2024 at 09:00, with Dundee's opening game being a Dundee derby at Tannadice Park live on Sky Sports.[39] [40]

For upcoming Scottish Premiership fixtures, see the official Dundee F.C. website

Results by round

Scottish Cup

See main article: 2024–25 Scottish Cup.

Dundee will compete in the Scottish Cup and will enter the competition in the fourth round.

Scottish League Cup

See main article: 2024–25 Scottish League Cup.

Dundee will compete in the Scottish League Cup and entered the competition in the group stage. The draw for the group stage was held on 29 May 2024 at 13:00, broadcast live on Premier Sports.[41] Dundee were drawn into Group D with Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Arbroath, Annan Athletic and Bonnyrigg Rose.[42] [43] Due to work on the pitch at Dens Park, Dundee played their home group stage fixtures at Glebe Park.[44]

Knockout stage

Dundee were seeded in the second round as one of the three best group winners. The draw took place following the final group stage game on 28 July.

Group D table

Squad statistics

|-|colspan="14"|Players who left the club during the season:|}

Transfers

Summer

Players in

DatePlayerFromFee
21 June 2024 Jon McCracken Norwich CityFree[45]
Clark Robertson AshdodFree[46]
Seb Palmer-Houlden Bristol CityLoan[47]
4 July 2024 Ethan Ingram West Bromwich AlbionFree[48]
10 July 2024 Simon Murray Ross CountyUndisclosed[49]
30 July 2024 Ziyad Larkeche Queen's Park RangersLoan[50]
9 August 2024 Billy Koumetio LiverpoolFree[51]
28 August 2024 Sammy Braybrooke Leicester CityLoan[52]
29 August 2024 Julien Vetro BurnleyLoan[53]
30 August 2024 Oluwaseun Adewumi BurnleyLoan[54]

Players out

DatePlayerToFee
24 June 2024 Lee Ashcroft Partick ThistleMutual consent[55]
12 July 2024 Zak Rudden Queen's ParkMutual consent[56]
16 July 2024 Cammy Kerr Queen's ParkMutual consent[57]
22 July 2024 Diego Pineda VenadosMutual consent[58]
24 July 2024 Max Anderson Crawley TownUndisclosed[59]
26 July 2024 Ruaridh Lynch CowdenbeathLoan[60]
9 August 2024 Jamie Richardson ArbroathLoan[61]
Finlay Allan StenhousemuirLoan[62]
Lewis Lorimer Bonnyrigg RoseLoan[63]
30 August 2024 Sebastian Lochhead Wolverhampton Wanderers£300,000[64]
Luke McCowan Celtic£1,000,000[65]

Winter

Players in

DatePlayerFromFee
20 September 2024 Scott Fraser Charlton AthleticFree[66]
28 November 2024 Sean Kelly KarmiotissaFree[67]
22 December 2024 César Garza MonterreyLoan[68]
1 January 2025 Luke Graham FalkirkReturn from loan[69]
8 January 2025 Aaron Donnelly Nottingham ForestUndisclosed[70]
13 January 2025 Imari Samuels Brighton & Hove AlbionUndisclosed[71]
22 January 2025 Víctor López QuerétaroLoan[72]

Players out

DatePlayerToFee
14 September 2024 Rayan Mohammed Forfar AthleticLoan[73]
20 September 2024 Luke Graham FalkirkLoan[74]
26 September 2024 Finlay Allan Forfar AthleticLoan[75]
1 October 2024 Charlie Reilly Inverness CTLoan[76]
4 January 2025 Sean KellyFree agentEnd of contract[77]
13 January 2025 Sammy Braybrooke Leicester CityEnd of loan[78]
22 January 2025 Julien Vetro BurnleyEnd of loan[79]
25 January 2025 Curtis Main Ayr UnitedMutual consent[80]

See also

  1. Web site: 2024-04-13 . Aberdeen 0 Dundee 0: Tony Docherty's men secure top six finish with Pittodrie draw . 2024-04-15 . The Herald . en.
  2. Web site: 2024-05-09 . First Pre-season Friendly announced . 2024-05-15. Dundee Football Club.
  3. Web site: 2024-05-16 . Pre-season Tour 2024 . 2024-05-16. Dundee Football Club.
  4. Web site: 2024-06-07 . Dunfermline Friendly Announced . 2024-06-07 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  5. Web site: 2024-06-25 . Docherty signs new Dundee deal . 2024-06-25 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  6. Web site: 2024-07-13 . Bonnyrigg v Dundee - Match Report . 2024-07-13 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  7. Web site: 2024-07-16 . Arbroath vs Dundee - Match Report - 16/7/24 . 2024-07-16 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  8. Web site: 2024-07-23 . Dundee v Annan - Match Report 23/7/24 . 2024-07-23 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  9. Web site: 2024-07-27 . Dundee v ICT - Match Report - 27/7/24 . 2024-07-27 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  10. Web site: 2024-08-04 . Dundee United v Dundee - Match Report - 4/8/24 . 2024-08-04 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  11. Web site: 2024-08-10 . Dundee vs Hearts - Match Report 10/8/24 . 2024-08-10 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  12. Web site: 2024-08-17 . Dundee vs Airdrieonians - 17/8/24 - Match Report . 2024-08-18 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  13. Web site: Hibernian . 2024-08-28 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  14. Web site: 2024-08-30 . Luke McCowan makes move to Celtic from Dundee . 2024-08-31 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  15. Web site: 2024-08-31 . Dundee v St Mirren - Match Report - 31/8/24 . 2024-08-31 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  16. Web site: 2024-09-14 . Ross County vs Dundee - Match Report -14/9/24 . 2024-09-14 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  17. Web site: 2024-09-21 . Rangers v Dundee - Match Report -21/9/24 . 2024-09-22 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  18. Web site: 2024-09-28 . Dundee vs Aberdeen - Match Report - 28/9/24 . 2024-09-29 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  19. Web site: Kilmarnock . 2024-10-06 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  20. Web site: 2024-10-19 . Motherwell vs Dundee - Match Report - 19/10/24 . 2024-10-20 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  21. Web site: 2024-10-26 . Dundee vs St Johnstone - Match Report- 26/10/24 . 2024-10-27 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  22. Web site: 2024-10-30 . Celtic vs Dundee - Match Report - 30/10/24 . 2024-10-31 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  23. Web site: Kilmarnock . 2024-11-10 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  24. Web site: Aberdeen . 2024-11-10 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  25. Web site: 2024-11-23 . Dundee vs Hibs - Match Report - 23/11/24 . 2024-11-23 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  26. Web site: 2024-11-30 . Kilmarnock vs Dundee - Match Report - 30/11/24 . 2024-12-02 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  27. Web site: 2024-12-04 . Dundee vs Motherwell - Match Report - 4/12/24 . 2024-12-07 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  28. Web site: 2024-12-07 . Hearts vs Dundee - Match Report - 7/12/24 . 2024-12-08 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  29. Web site: Rangers . 2024-12-26 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  30. Web site: 2024-12-26 . Ross County Match Report - December 2024 . 2024-12-26 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  31. Web site: 2024-12-29 . St Mirren vs Dundee - Match Report . 2024-12-29 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  32. Web site: 2025-01-02 . Dundee United - Match Report - 2/1/25 . 2025-01-04 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  33. Web site: 2025-01-05 . St Johnstone vs Dundee - 5/1/25 - Match Report . 2025-01-05 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  34. Web site: 2025-01-09 . Dundee vs Rangers - Match Report - 9/1/25 . 2025-01-12 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  35. Web site: 2025-01-14 . Dundee vs Celtic - Match Report - 14/1/25 . 2025-01-15 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  36. Web site: 2025-01-20 . Dundee vs Dundee United - Match Report - 20/1/25 . 2025-01-20 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  37. Web site: 2025-01-24 . Celtic v Dundee called off but Ross County v Hibs goes ahead . 2025-01-25 . BBC Sport . en-GB.
  38. Web site: 2025-02-01 . Dundee vs Hearts - Match Report - 1/2/25 . 2025-02-01 . Dundee Football Club - Official Website . en-US.
  39. Web site: Fixture Release Day 2024/25 SPFL . 2024-05-12 . spfl.co.uk.
  40. Web site: SPFL fixtures for 2024/25 SPFL . 2024-07-01 . spfl.co.uk.
  41. Web site: Premier Sports Cup Group Stage Draw 2024/25 SPFL . 2024-05-12 . spfl.co.uk.
  42. Web site: Premier Sports Cup group stage draw SPFL . 2024-05-29 . spfl.co.uk.
  43. Web site: Premier Sports Cup group stage fixtures SPFL . 2024-05-31 . spfl.co.uk.
  44. Web site: George. Cran. Dundee FC to move 2 League Cup home games from Dens Park as pitch work continues. The Courier. 15 July 2024.
  45. Web site: McCracken back at The Dee . . dundeefc.co.uk . 21 June 2024 . 21 June 2024.
  46. Web site: Clark joins The Dee . . dundeefc.co.uk . 21 June 2024 . 21 June 2024.
  47. Web site: Palmer-Houlden is a Dee . . dundeefc.co.uk . 21 June 2024 . 21 June 2024.
  48. Web site: Ingram arrives . . dundeefc.co.uk . 4 July 2024 . 4 July 2024.
  49. Web site: Murray’s home. . dundeefc.co.uk . 10 July 2024 . 10 July 2024.
  50. Web site: Larkeche joins The Dee. . dundeefc.co.uk . 30 July 2024 . 30 July 2024.
  51. Web site: Koumetio joins the Dark Blues . . dundeefc.co.uk . 9 August 2024 . 9 August 2024.
  52. Web site: Braybrooke joins the Dee . . dundeefc.co.uk . 28 August 2024 . 28 August 2024.
  53. Web site: Vetro becomes a Dee . . dundeefc.co.uk . 29 August 2024 . 29 August 2024.
  54. Web site: Oluwaseun Adewumi joins Dundee . . dundeefc.co.uk . 30 August 2024 . 30 August 2024.
  55. Web site: Ashcroft departs . . dundeefc.co.uk . 24 June 2024 . 24 June 2024.
  56. Web site: Rudden departs . . dundeefc.co.uk . 12 July 2024 . 12 July 2024.
  57. Web site: Cammy Kerr leaves Dundee FC . . dundeefc.co.uk . 16 July 2024 . 16 July 2024.
  58. Web site: Diego Pineda departs . . dundeefc.co.uk . 22 July 2024 . 22 July 2024.
  59. Web site: Anderson moves to Crawley Town . . dundeefc.co.uk . 24 July 2024 . 24 July 2024.
  60. Web site: Lynch moves to Cowdenbeath . . dundeefc.co.uk . 26 July 2024 . 27 July 2024.
  61. Web site: Richardson joins Arbroath on loan . . dundeefc.co.uk . 9 August 2024 . 9 August 2024.
  62. Web site: Allan joins Stenhousemuir on loan . . dundeefc.co.uk . 9 August 2024 . 9 August 2024.
  63. Web site: Lorimer joins the Rose on loan . . dundeefc.co.uk . 9 August 2024 . 14 September 2024.
  64. Web site: Lochhead moves to Wolves . . dundeefc.co.uk . 30 August 2024 . 30 August 2024.
  65. Web site: McCowan joins Celtic . . dundeefc.co.uk . 30 August 2024 . 30 August 2024.
  66. Web site: Fraser is a Dee. . dundeefc.co.uk . 20 September 2024 . 20 September 2024.
  67. Web site: Sean Kelly joins the Dee. . dundeefc.co.uk . 28 November 2024 . 28 November 2024.
  68. Web site: Cesar Garza to join the Dee. . dundeefc.co.uk . 22 December 2024 . 22 December 2024.
  69. Web site: Graham recalled . . dundeefc.co.uk . 28 December 2024 . 29 December 2024.
  70. Web site: Donnelly is back. . dundeefc.co.uk . 8 January 2025 . 8 January 2025.
  71. Web site: Samuels is a Dee. . dundeefc.co.uk . 13 January 2025 . 13 January 2025.
  72. Web site: Lopez is a Dee . . dundeefc.co.uk . 22 January 2025 . 22 January 2025.
  73. Web site: Mohammed back at Forfar on loan . . dundeefc.co.uk . 13 September 2024 . 14 September 2024.
  74. Web site: Luke Graham joins Falkirk on loan . . dundeefc.co.uk . 20 September 2024 . 20 September 2024.
  75. Web site: Allan joins Forfar . . dundeefc.co.uk . 26 September 2024 . 29 September 2024.
  76. Web site: Reilly heads out on loan . . dundeefc.co.uk . 1 October 2024 . 2 October 2024.
  77. Web site: Kelly's deal comes to an end . . dundeefc.co.uk . 4 January 2025 . 4 January 2025.
  78. Web site: Braybrooke leaves Dundee . . dundeefc.co.uk . 13 January 2025 . 13 January 2025.
  79. Web site: Vetro leaves Dundee . . dundeefc.co.uk . 22 January 2025 . 22 January 2025.
  80. Web site: Main leaves Dundee . . dundeefc.co.uk . 25 January 2025 . 25 January 2025.