Steven Pressley has declared it is 'not beyond us' to end Rangers' winning run as Dundee prepare for a major Premiership test at Dens Park. The Dundee Football Club manager said his team will need a top-level performance and a degree of luck to beat a Rangers side that has won six consecutive league games and will bring big support.
Pressley's side sit fourth in the Premiership with 13 points from eight games, having won their last two matches against Motherwell and Falkirk. Their recent form includes a 2-1 victory at Falkirk last Friday, where Owen Bevan and Ashley Hay scored second-half goals to secure the points. Top scorer Joe Westley, who has three goals this season, will be unavailable for the Rangers match.
Resilience and mentality as keys
Pressley emphasized that overcoming an Old Firm opponent demands resilience and the right mentality. He pointed to the difficult conditions at Falkirk, where injuries, the pitch, and the weather presented challenges, as proof of his squad's character. "You have to be brave in the way that you play," Pressley said. "But they'll ask questions of you, and you've got to do the basics to a really top-level, world-class standard to get a result."
He praised his depleted team's ability to execute fundamentals exceptionally well in that late victory, noting that doing the basics well is a hallmark of Derek McInnes' Rangers team. "As a result of that, they ask the opposition to do those things," Pressley said. "And if we don't do them, then Rangers will win the game." He believes bravery and a focus on core principles are key to securing another positive result.
McInnes' Rangers and Pressley's respect
The Dundee boss expressed considerable admiration for the work done by Rangers manager Derek McInnes. Pressley noted that Rangers have invested heavily and taken time to gel, but have been terrific over their last six or seven matches. He described them as a strong, physical side growing in mental strength and developing a real winning mindset.
Pressley believes McInnes, who missed out on the title with Hearts on the final day last season, has learned a lot as a manager. He said McInnes' record is very good and that he knows how to get results in the league. This respect frames the scale of the challenge awaiting Dundee.
Team news and home advantage
Dundee will be without strikers Joe Westley and Bobby Wales for the match. Wales, on loan from Swansea, has returned to his parent club for treatment on an ankle injury sustained on Scotland Under-21 duty and is awaiting a second opinion. The club will also monitor Drey Wright, Ryan Finnigan, and Charlie Reilly, who are dealing with knee, ankle, and broken toe issues respectively. Midfielder Zan Besir returns from suspension.
Despite the absences, Pressley can draw confidence from Dundee's strong home form over the last six months. The match against second-placed Rangers is scheduled for Saturday at 20:00 BST. Fans can check the full upcoming schedule on the club's fixtures page and view the latest squad information, including injury updates, on the squad page. Dundee will finalise their preparations knowing a victory could stays in the top half of the table.
Read the full report at Daily Record Football
