Steven Pressley Leads Dundee to Derby Victory
Tote bag over his shoulder, grin fixed and unhurried, Steven Pressley cut a relaxed figure as he led his Dundee players down Tannadice Street for the derby. Same walk. Same stadium. Completely different story.
Twelve months ago, that same route felt like a march towards judgement.
His appointment had infuriated a large section of the Dens Park support. A poor League Cup campaign followed – out to lower-league opposition after back-to-back defeats – and then a five-game winless start to the Premiership. The fourth of those? A 2-0 home loss to Dundee United that left Dundee second bottom and Pressley under serious pressure.
Fast forward a year and the scoreline is identical, but the world around it has flipped. This time Dundee were the ones celebrating a 2-0 derby win at Tannadice, and the away fans spilled out onto the street with their team sitting second from top.
The man once viewed as a punchline walked away as the architect of a revival.
“I’m immensely proud of this group of players,” Pressley told BBC Scotland, his tone as steady as ever despite the occasion.
“Derby games are never won on tactical detail, they’re won on spirit and determination and I think we had that in abundance.”
That line summed up both the performance and his approach. Pressley has built a reputation as calm and straight-talking, and he didn’t pretend his side had delivered some tactical masterclass.
“We didn’t carry out any part of [the game plan] to be honest,” he admitted. “But what was very apparent in our performance was the grit and determination that your supporters are generally so proud of.”
The numbers back up the sense of momentum. Stretching back to the end of last season, when Dundee saved themselves with three wins from their final four league games, Pressley’s side have now taken five victories from their past seven Premiership outings.
The public message remains measured. No bold declarations, no grandstanding. Inside the dressing room, though, there will be a quiet belief that eighth place – last season’s finish – can and should be bettered.
“What’s most pleasing is that the three league games have been incredibly difficult games,” Pressley said. “But there’s a spirit and togetherness about us just now that is serving us well.”
That spirit has been forged from unlikely parts. Pressley’s four years at Brentford have clearly sharpened his coaching and broadened his contacts. Those links south of the border have helped Dundee work smartly in the loan market, but this is not a side stacked with stars. It is a team built from Scottish football’s cast-offs and nearly-men, shaped into something coherent.
Versatile Drey Wright, who struck the opener at Tannadice, has quietly become a key figure since arriving from St Johnstone. Alan Forrest, released by Hearts, now looks reborn in dark blue. Forwards Charlie Reilly and Joe Bevan were turning out for Albion Rovers not so long ago, yet now form part of a Premiership front line.
At the back, Owen Bevan – who did not make a single appearance during a loan at Hibernian in 2024 – produced a commanding display alongside Ryan Astley. Bevan also added the second goal in a derby that demanded resilience as much as quality, standing firm during spells when Dundee United applied real pressure.
Sometimes the game plan is survival.
“Sometimes winning away from home is being comfortable with the uncomfortable and we did that at times,” Pressley said.
Arbroath midfielder Ryan Flynn, who worked under Pressley at Falkirk, recently described him to BBC Scotland as a manager who excels at instilling confidence and creating an environment where players feel they can thrive. That tallies with the mood around Dens now. Players who were discarded elsewhere suddenly look assured, trusted, important.
Viewed as a joke figure by many this time last year, Pressley has won people over not just with results, but with an open, engaging personality that players clearly respond to. The caricature has been replaced by a coach with a defined identity and a team that mirrors it.
“It was no tactical detail that won us the game today,” he said. “It was a group of players that were determined not to lose that derby and I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
From fury to affection, from second bottom to second top, Dundee’s journey under Pressley has gathered pace. The question now is not whether he belongs at Dens Park – it’s how far this unlikely group can push the ceiling they were never supposed to touch.
