Dundee Aiming For Quarterfinal Spot In Premier Sports Cup Clash With Airdrie

Speaking ahead of the match, Docherty expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance in the group stages and their perfect record of twelve points out of twelve.

"Game by Game" Approach

Docherty acknowledged the improvements his team has made compared to the previous season. "Well, it's game by game at the moment, and I was really, really pleased with our campaign coming through the group stages with the statistics that we got, winning 12 points out of 12 there," Docherty stated. "Because if you remember last year, again, it's progress—we didn't do that."

The manager praised his team’s winning mentality, which was evident in their convincing 3-1 victory over Annan Athletic at Dundee’s temporary home, Glebe Park. Simon Murray scored a brace, and Seb Palmer-Houlden added another goal, securing Dundee’s spot in the last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup.

The Home Advantage

With the upcoming match scheduled at their home ground, Docherty believes that the home crowd's support will be pivotal in their Premier Sports Cup run. "So now we're in a position where we're facing a tough opponent at home. But being at home is a great thing for us because, as you saw against Hearts, the home fans were fantastic. So, the fact that we're at home in cup competition is good. If we can take that confidence into the game, then we'll do all we can," he explained.

Docherty expressed his pride in the team's performance, highlighting their objective to remain unbeaten through pre-season and into the cup competition. This accomplishment was particularly significant for Docherty, who was disappointed by the team’s failure to reach this stage the previous year.

Importance of a Cup Run

Reflecting on last season's failure to reach the last 16, and Docherty emphasised the significance of a strong League Cup run

"That was one of our objectives at the start of this season because I didn't enjoy last year when we didn't get out of the League Cup section, and we weren't part of the League Cup going forward in the tournament."

Docherty continued, "So, yeah, as a squad, we've all agreed that we want to go as far as we can in the cup competition, but you don't look any further than your next game. Our next game is a very difficult game against a tough opponent."

Respect for the Opposition

Despite the home advantage, Docherty holds a deep respect for the visiting team and their manager, Rhys McCabe.

“I've got huge respect for the way they play—a real identity, a style of play, and a very good young manager in Rhys McCabe," Docherty noted. "So we know the task ahead of us, and we know we won't be resting on our laurels and thinking we can get through. We know we need to be at our best, and we need to keep the feel-good factor going.”

Airdrie's Recent Defeat

Airdrie, on the other hand, is coming off a tough 5-0 loss to Ayr United in the Scottish Championship. Ayr's impressive display of attacking football saw them dominate from the start, with Jay Henderson opening the scoring with a precise strike into the bottom corner.

George Oakley doubled Ayr's lead, and Airdrie goalkeeper Murray Johnson was kept busy throughout the match. Despite his efforts, Johnson couldn't prevent the flood of goals as Henderson added a second, and Anton Dowds scored twice, including a penalty, to seal the comprehensive victory for Ayr.

This defeat highlighted some areas of concern for Airdrie, particularly in defence, as Ayr was able to create chances with ease and press high up the pitch. Rhys McCabe's side will need to regroup and focus on tightening their defence as they head into the crucial cup tie against Dundee.

A Clash of Styles

Docherty is well aware of the challenges posed by a rejuvenated Airdrie side eager to rebound from their recent setback.

“Yeah, I mean, it's got all the hallmarks of a very good game: two good footballing sides. On paper, Ayr United, of course, inflicted a really heavy defeat on Airdrie, 5-0. So, they'll be hurting, and they will be desperate to make up for it against Dundee.” Docherty observed.

The manager also pointed out Airdrie’s impressive League Cup campaign, where they won three out of their four games and narrowly lost to Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

“I watched that game, and they were excellent, really good. So they'll remember that as well, and they'll reference that. It's important that we give them that respect they deserve.” Docherty noted.

Team Confidence and Preparation

Docherty highlighted the positive atmosphere in the Dundee camp and the impact of new players on the squad's morale.

“Of course, there’s a tough opponent coming up, but you know, the onus is on us. We're in a good place at the moment, as I say. The stats—23 goals and five conceded, unbeaten in six, we need to take that into this game. I've seen that in this week's training; there's a real bounce about the boys.” Docherty said.

“I think Billy coming in has added to that. When you bring good players into the group, other players kind of puff out their chest as well. So there's a good feeling about the place now, but rest assured, we don’t become complacent. We just work harder and try our best to improve and develop even further.”

Cup Competition Mentality

As the Premier Sports Cup reverts to a knockout format, Docherty stressed that the team's approach remains consistent regardless of the format.

“I want us to be competitive, and this is a competitive fixture.”

“So whether you win it in 90 minutes, whether you win it getting into penalty kicks or extra time, whatever, it’s about winning it.”

"In the cup competition, it’s all about getting through. Yes, we would love to be playing a style of football that’s pleasing on the eye like we did against Hearts, but the most important thing is making sure we've got a game plan and executing that game plan to win the match because it's all about progressing to the next stage.”

Match Details

The match between Dundee and Airdrie is set to take place at Scot Foam at Dens Park on Saturday, 17th August, at 3 pm.