Dundee point to expected goals superiority over Rangers and the damning statistic that 'tells its own story'

The Dens Park manager despaired at his side’s defensive frailties that are continuing to put their top-flight status in jeopardy. Dundee led 3-1 after 62 minutes and though Rangers pegged them back to 3-3 with nine minutes left, Simon Murray hit the post in the first minute of time added on. Cyriel Dessers scored the winner two minutes later in a seven-goal Dens Park thriller.

A point would have lifted Dundee out of the relegation zone. The Dens Park side remain second bottom having conceded 67 goals, ten more than the next worst side St Johnstone. “The overriding emotion is huge disappointment,” said Docherty. “I can’t focus on anything but the fact we’ve lost a game we should never lose.

“The expected goals for us was 2.8, Rangers was 2.4 and we had numerous chances. It tells its own story that we are third in the league for goals scored but bottom of the league for goals conceded.

“At 3-3 Simon Murray goes through and I think he’s scored the winner. Then we’re picking the ball out of our own net and losing 4-3. It’s really hard to take. Three goals should be enough to win a game.

“There’s no feeling sorry for ourselves,” he added. There are things we need to accept responsibility for. There are a lot of things we are doing right but there are things we are doing wrong and that’s why we’re in the position we are in. It speaks volumes when we are the third highest scorers in the league but the concession of goals is why we are in the position we’re in.

“We need to address that. We should be in the position where three goals are enough to win a football match.”

Murray was substituted while holding the back of his leg shortly after he nearly won the game for Dundee. Dessers scored the clincher 40 seconds after Murray had been replaced by Charlie Reilly. “I haven’t spoken to the medics yet,” said Docherty, with reference to his striker’s seeming injury. “Before he went through he was struggling a bit and we were contemplating putting Charlie Reilly on. But when he goes through Simon being Simon he bursts himself to try to get the winner. Hopefully there’s no damage.”