Dundee emerged victorious from the first derby of the season with a well deserved 2-0 win over Dundee United down the street at Tannadice. Drey Wright gave the Dee a 1-0 lead with a sensational 25 yard drive two minutes from half time. Owen Bevan made it 2-0 early in the second half. From then on the Dark Blues stood firm and snuffed out any hope of a United comeback. The final whistle was met with noisy delight from the Dees celebrating in the away stands as their heroes gave them three points and bragging rights in the city of Dundee.
The Dee named only one change from last week’s starting eleven. Alan Forrest came in on the left wing to replace the injured Simon Murray, with Charlie Reilly moving infield to the number 10 role and Joe Westley shifted forward to play as the lead striker. New loan signings Bobby Wales and Bradley Fink were on the bench where they were joined by Callum Jones on his return from injury.
The first quarter of an hour was strangely uneventful for a derby. Neither defence had any trouble dealing with unconvincing attacking. Charlie Reily provided the first moment of excitement when he flashed a dipping 20 yard shot over the bar. Joe Westley was next to have a go with a low 22 yard shot that Walton tipped round the post.
United’s first effort was a header by Sevelj from a corner. Owen Goodman saved without too much trouble. More worrying was the Tangerines’ most incisive move of the first half. Meghem played a one-two on the right before sending a low cross to the near post where Metsoko stabbed his shot a couple of feet wide.
The Dark Blues broke the deadlock with an outstanding goal two minutes from half time. United had the chance to break but Yoro carelessly gave the ball away. Drey WRIGHT helped himself and strode forward into space before taking aim and lasered a low shot from 25 yards with pinpoint accuracy inside the far post. It was a magnificent goal in any circumstance, but in a derby it was all the better for the ecstatic supporters.
At half time Fin Robertson replaced Charlie Reilly to stiffen up the midfield. Dundee United were always likely to come back strongly, and they attacked with greater purpose in the opening five minutes of the second half. Yoro turned smartly in the penalty area to shoot but Goodman saved with his feet.
Dundee settled down after that opening burst from United and grabbed the vital second goal on 57 minutes. The home defence couldn’t clear Robertson’s corner and were duly punished in the resulting goalmouth stramash. Alan Forrest’s shot flew off the inside of Owen BEVAN’s heel and settled nicely in the corner of the net.
Bradley Fink came on for his debut, replacing Joe Bevan after 68 minutes. Within a minute Fink was involved in an attack that came desperately close to a killer third goal 11 minutes later. Forrest crossed from the left. Fink and Westley challenged and the ball broke to Hamilton whose shot was cleared off the line.
From then on the game was played mostly in the Dee half with the occasional break out by the Dark Blues. United created two chances in quick succession. Substitute Sapsford fired a shot across goal with fellow sub Rose unable to stretch far enough to reach it. A minute later Rose almost broke clear, but under pressure from Ryan Astley he shot wide.
After 80 minutes Bobby Wales was given his debut, coming on for Alan Forrest. Five minutes later Dundee broke away with Wales giving Fink the chance to run at the retreating defence but he was fouled two yards outside the penalty area. Westley’s free kick flew over the bar.
There was one worrying moment at the start of the four minutes of added time. Goodman couldn’t take a high cross and Astley made a vital block.
To the delight of the Dees in the stands the final few minutes were played out by the corner flag 100 yards from the Dundee goal. The Dark Blues ran the clock down professionally as the supporters sang their hearts out.
This wasn’t the prettiest or most fluent of performances by the Dark Blues. Analysis of tactics and statistics won’t tell you much about why Dundee won this game. Victory was earned by a massive team effort and an outstanding performance by the defence which claimed its second successive Premiership clean sheet.
Ryan Astley and Owen Bevan were rock solid in the heart of the defence. Idris Odutayo gave his best performance for the club, and Drey Wright combined sound defending with a superb goal. The midfield and forwards never stopped running and fighting. The Dark Blues thoroughly deserved their win because of the strength of their teamwork, and the passion of the support clearly transmitted itself to every Dee on the park. Well done Dees! We loved it!
Dundee United 4-4-2
Walton
Sevelj, Esselink, Forbes, Ferry
Tait, Camara, Yoro (Rose 68)
Merghem (Farrugia 60), Metsoko (Sapsford 60), Randall (Bennie at half time)
Unused subs: Amissah (gk), Iovu, Graham, Ciubotaru, Rawlins.
Booked: Bennie (foul on Astley), Yolo (foul on Odutayo) Sevelj (foul on Fink), Tait (retaliation on Hamilton).
Dundee FC 4-2-3-1
Owen Goodman
Drey Wright, Ryan Astley, Owen Bevan, Idris Odutayo
Ryan Finnigan, Ethan Hamilton (c)
Joe Bevan (Bradley Fink 80), Charlie Reilly (Fin Robertson at half time), Alan Forest (Bobby Wales 80)
Joe Westley (Brad Halliday 90)
Unused substitutes: Kieran OโHara (gk), Zan Besir, Callum Jones, Charley Oosenbrugh, Ethan Crombie.
Goals: Drey Wright (43), Owen Bevan (57)
Booked: Finnigan (apparently for a foul on Yoro), Owen Bevan (foul on Sapsford), Hamilton (foul on Tait).
Attendance: 13,337.
Referee: David Dickinson. Assistants: David McGeachie, Jonathan Bell. VAR: John Beaton. Assistant VAR: Duncan Nicolson. 4th Official: Calum Scott.
Report: James Christie.
