Hearts are the visitors to Dens on Saturday for Dundee’s first home match of the new Ladbrokes Premiership season, kick off 3pm.
Both sides won on the opening weekend of the season, The Dark Blues in stunning style at Rugby Park, where a brace of goals each from Greg Stewart and Rory Loy gave them the perfect opening day.
The following afternoon Hearts won a thriller against St Johnstone, surrendering a 3-1 lead to the Saints before Sam Nicholson snatched a winner to give the Jambos a winning return to the top league.
That wasn’t the Edinburgh club’s first competitive action of the season though, three days earlier they’d fought back from a halt time 0-1 deficit to beat SPFL League Two side Arbroath at Tynecastle in the Scottish league Cup.
There’s been considerable changes in personnel on the playing staff at both clubs over the summer, Dundee had four new faces in the starting line up at Kilmarnock while Hearts gave league debuts against St Johnstone to Brazilian defender Igor Rossi Branco, Polish defender Blazej Augustyn and Spanish striker Juanma Delgado, who took just three minutes to score his first competitive goal in Scotland.
They could also have another new face in the squad today, Nigerian international left back Juwon Oshaniwa having been paraded on the Tynecastle pitch at the St Johnstone game.
James McPake is available for selection after serving his one match suspension while Nicky Low, Luka Tankulic and Kostadin Gadzhalov missed the visit to Rugby Park through injury, all three are unlikely to make the match this weekend. Hearts were missing defender Miguel Pallardo on opening weekend and he’ll miss out again with an achilles problem.
You can watch manager Paul Hartley preview the match on DEETV now –
CLICK HERE FOR DEETV
LAST TIME
It will be 2 years, 3 months and 12 days since Dundee last faced Hearts in a competitive match by the time Saturday’s game kicks off. On that day in April 2013 Dundee kept their slim hopes of avoiding the drop alive for another week via Ryan Conroy’s 82nd minute winner.
In fact all four games that season ended with just a single goal scored. Colin’s Nish’s penalty at Tynecastle and Matt Lockwood’s free kick in the first meeting at Dens as well as Conroy’s goal leading to a nine point tally for the Dee while John Sutton’s 86th minute diving header on a cold night in February gave Hearts their solitary win against Dundee during that campaign.
The sides have met once more since then, Hearts visiting Dens for a friendly at the start of last season, Luka Tankulic scoring twice after Gary Harkins had opened the scoring from the penalty spot in a 3-0 win for Dundee.
DID YOU KNOW?
Bobby Flavell who scored in both Dundee’s Scottish League Cup Final victories in the early 1950s had been banned from football after walking out on Hearts to join Botoga side Millionarios who played in a non FIFA sanctioned Colombian league. While in South America his strike partner was the legendary Alfredo di Stefano. On his return he had to serve a six month ban before joining up at Dens, with Hearts receiving a £6000 transfer fee from Dundee.
MATCH DETAILS
Dundee v Hearts
Ladbrokes Premiership
Dens Park, Dundee
Saturday August 8th 2015
Kick off 3pm.
SUPPORTER INFORMATION
Fans are reminded that entry to the South Enclosure and the Bobby Cox Stand for this Saturday’s meeting with Hearts is by ticket only.
Tickets for stands are on sale now and will be from the Ticket Office inside Dundee Direct right up until kick off.
We would strong recommend purchasing tickets before the weekend. The ticket office is becoming increasingly busy on matchdays and if you do plan on purchasing on Saturday we would encourage you to buy your tickets as early as possible. The ticket office is open from 10am on matchdays.
There will be a cash turnstile for the match in the Main Stand.
Prices for this match is £25 (adults) and £18 concessions ( Under 16, Over 65 or Students with valid student photo ID), Juveniles under 16 are £15
Family Area Priced tickets available in the Bobby Cox Stand Rows A – Y, Seats 1 – 47 with prices as follows:
Adult and one child under 12 £30
Two adults and two children under 12 £55
With additional children under 12 at £ 5
Children under in the family area 16 are £ 12
Under 12 and Under 16 tickets can only be bought as part of a family group
Tickets will be available at the ticket office, in person or by phone, or via the website at www.dundeefc.co.uk then click on “TICKETS” where you will be able not only to choose your seat but check on the view from seats in a particular area
OUR ONLINE COVERAGE
Dundee FC Live will be brought to you direct from the club’s official website – www.dundeefc.co.uk/live
DEETV Overseas Virtual Season Ticket Holders will be able to watch the live action as part of their package. While other fans outside the UK can tune in for only £5.
A complete replay of the match (full 90 minutes) will be available to all DEETV Virtual Season Ticket Holders late on Saturday evening. For those who prefer to watch a shorter version then highlights will be available on Sunday.
We’ll also have live text updates here on the official site to keep you up to date direct from Dens.
