Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Five big Dundee talking points from drubbing
Bad night in a good season, the bigger test is tomorrow
SIX by half-time, seven by the finish – a night to forget and forget quickly for Dundee.
Ripped apart by a rampant Celtic, Tony Docherty’s side have some soul-searching to do this week.
This team deserves credit for the positives already racked up this season – they sit in sixth place for a reason.
But they also have to take one helluva bad day right on the chin.
So what happened in the 7-1 defeat?
Tele Sport was there to analyse all the action.
Defending
Dundee’s defence was pulled left, right and centre and then was dominated in the key moments.
The opening goal will infuriate Tony Docherty because of its simplicity. Owen Beck was caught out by Hyunjun Yang and hauled the winger down.
From the free-kick, Cameron Carter-Vickers completely bossed Amadou Bakayoko at the far post. It looked like a mismatch to have a striker marking Celtic’s biggest aerial threat and so it proved.
Then Adam Idah beat two markers to head in and the floodgates opened. Crosses were flying into the area, Dundee weren’t defending their box and the midfield weren’t tracking runners.
Matt O’Riley ghosted into the box off the back of Malachi Boateng to score, Joe Shaughnessy was too easily beaten by Daizen Maeda and then Greg Taylor drifted in free to score at the far post.
Dundee have largely defended well this season, earning plaudits for clean sheets. This was as far from that as you can get.
Celtic scored with all but one of their first-half shots on a night that was so, so easy for the champions.
Back three
Dens boss Docherty reverted to his back three set-up. Understandable at Celtic Park.
Antonio Portales started, his first appearance in three months, but was off the pace.
It was Ricki Lamie’s first start as well since his December injury while Shaughnessy struggled.
The skipper had played every single minute of football for Dundee this season until his substitution at half-time on Wednesday.
And it has showed in recent games. Myziane Maolida gave him a torrid time at Hibs at the weekend and he didn’t have a good game at Parkhead.
Shaughnessy, though, has been an important signing for Dundee this season and will undoubtedly show that again.
Maybe he needs a rest now, though.
Balls in the air, crosses along the ground, the experienced Dee back three were second best to everything.
The midfield in front gave little protection also, while Bakayoko and the ineffectual Curtis Main couldn’t keep the ball up front. A bad day all round.
History
This was one of the worst results in Dundee’s history.
Only once before have they conceded more than seven – an 11-0 shellacking at Celtic way back in 1895.
It has happened four times this century now. Aberdeen were the most recent, Tony Docherty was in the away dugout that night as
Andy Considine scored a hat-trick at Dens in a 7-0 win.
Airdrie beat Dundee 7-0 in 2006 and Rangers did it at Dens in 2000, winning 7-1.
Youngster Robertson returned to the team and made just his second start since October.
On the ball, he was one of Dundee’s better players. He was making passes and trying to make a positive impact.
But there’s no excuse for his red card. Already 7-0 down, it’s the last thing his team needed.
Not only did it make the final stages harder for his team but there’s also a suspension to come this weekend.
Top six
It was a poor week in terms of top-six hopes. But one that was far from fatal. Hibs have improved no doubt but they remain a point behind the Dark Blues.
The carrot of the top half is still very much dangling in front of the Dee right now – shrug off this forgettable night quickly and they can still grab it.
Big test tomorrow at home to Kilmarnock.