The U20’s picked up their first win of the Development League season in the Wee Derby with a 3-0 over 10-man Dundee United at Tannadice. The Dark Blues made four changes to the side that drew with Hibs last week. Matty Smyth, Calvin Colquhoun, Kyle Clark and Connor Coupe were replaced by new boy Ian Smith, a Trialist and last season’s Derby heroes Kosta Gadzhalov and Craig Wighton. The Dee’s lead early on courtesy of Ian Smith’s strike before United were reduced to 10 men following Scott Allardyce’s dismissal. In the second half goals from Mark Smith and Nicky Low capped of a strong performance from the Dees.
After a lively opening, Dundee took the lead with eight minutes played. United failed to deal with a long ball allowing debutant Ian Smith to go through on goal and stroke the ball past United goalkeeper Brett Long.
The hosts responded well, Aaron Murrell saw his low effort saved by Calum Ferrie. Brad Smith was next to go close for the hosts, but he couldn’t find a finish after his surging run from midfield.
With 21 minutes gone, things would get worse for United. Scott Allardyce failed to deal with a long ball from Kosta Gadzhalov allowing Ian Smith to get in behind the United defence. Allardyce tangled legs with the Dundee wide-man, bringing him down in the process and leaving the referee little choice but to show the red card.
With the numerical advantage, Dundee were content with holding the ball in the United half. 10 minutes before the break, the Dee’s could have been two to the good. Nicky Low played in Ian Smith but the wingers shot was well saved by Long. The rebound fell to the Dundee trialist, but his header was off target.
The half ended with Dundee dominating the possession, but United had shown glimpses that they weren’t out of the match. The hosts replaced Graham Taylor with Jordan Garden at the break, but this change did little to stop Dundee’s dominance. Seven minutes after the restart, Kerr Waddell got on the end of a cross from Craig Wighton, but his effort was inches wide.
With 55 played, United created their best chance of the half. Jamie Robson picked out Murrell with a low cross from the left hand side, but the strikers effort was blocked by Waddell. Seconds later, Dundee doubled their lead.
Wighton picked the ball up on the left wing and drove at the United defence. His shot deflected into the path of Mark Smith, who smashed the ball in from close range.
It was looking like there was no way back for United, and with an hour played, Dundee secured the points. Wighton again the provider, this time picking out Nicky Low with a super pass, who finished well with his right foot, picking up his second goal in as many games.
Dundee were now in cruise control, content to knock the ball around for the remainder of the game without ever troubling Long in the United goal. Substitute Taylor Berry should have made it four after 83 minutes, the midfielder played a neat one-two with Mark Smith, but his effort was too close to Long. United’s Brad Smith had the last effort of the game, but his effort from the top of the box sailed over the bar.
After the disappointing result against Hibs last week, this was the perfect response from the young Dees. While the early red card gave Dundee the upper hand, the signs were there that they were going to cause United problems. New boy Ian Smith was a handful from the first whistle, while his namesake Mark had a far better performance today, and grabbed himself a well-deserved goal.
The clean sheet will please coaches’ James McPake and Darren O’Dea, while the performance as a whole sent all the Dees inside Tannadice home with a smile on their face.
United: Long, Ritchie, Robson, Ballantyne, Reekie, Allardyce, McMeekin (Matty Smith 59), B. Smith, Murrell, Taylor (Garden 45), Apere (Hornby 59)
Subs Unused: Donaldson (GK), Chalmers
Dundee: Ferrie, Dryden, Gadzhalov, Waddell, Quigley, Curran, Low, I. Smith (Berry 77), Trialist (Clark 68), Wighton (Coupe 62), Mark Smith
Subs Unused: Gourlay
Goals: I. Smith 8’, Mark Smith 56’, Low 60’
Report: Andrew Creegan
