Dundee 1
Dundee United 3
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

United's penchant for the big occasion sprang to life once more. Never could it have given them greater satisfaction than here at the home of their greatest rivals.

Following a breathtaking start. Dundee managed to subdue United for an hour. Their safety tactics looked like gaining a hard-won if hardly honourable point.

Fortunately for the good of the game, United decided to become amber gamblers. They tossed caution aside and played on their strong point, speed.

Once they evaded Dundee's radar trap in midfield there was only one winner. United's speed of thought and action was too much for the game home side.

Bell and McGeachie, who had worked like Trojans in the opening 60 minutes, simply ran out of steam trying to subdue Bannon and company.

As a result Sturrock, previously kept quiet by Glennie, ran riot with belated quality service.

In the end Dundee were lucky to escape so lightly. Paul Sturrock, who emerged as the outstanding player, could have finished with four goals instead of two. He had a couple of super efforts late on which just slipped past.

While one must be thankful for United's late efforts to turn this into a memorable match, the earlier stalemate can't be overlooked. Nor can the performance of referee Tommy Muirhead who appeared more intent on stopping anything constructive instead of allowing the advantage rule.

United went ahead after Gough found Sturrock with a well fudged through ball to escape Dundee's, offside trap. Paul kept his head when others, would have tried to score from a difficult angle. Instead he cut the ball back for Ralph Milne to sweep It Into Dundee's net.

Dundee didn't take time to feel sorry for themselves. After Danny Cameron crashed a tremendous effort off the bar, they equalised.

Bell beat Bannon on the byline and crossed to the near post. For the first and only time lain Ferguson éscaped United's defence to head in. After this great start, the game was dragged into the depths. Dundee seemed too intent on containing United.

The visitors, for their part, didn't seem able to scale the heights again. United's recent difficult programme obviously left them sluggish. However, they kept plugging away and, in the end, it all came right for them.

Paul Sturrock, certain to lead Scotland's attack in Lisbon on Wednesday, indicated why Jock Stein has such faith in him. With United stepping on the gas, Sturrock suddenly struck and Dundee were sunk

Stark and Gough started a fine move on the right, Milne crossed and Sturrock beat everyone to the ball to score a thrilling goal. Five minutes later Sturrock tied the game up. Bannon swung over a right-wing free-kick, the quicksilver striker was unmarked and easily headed home.

It was a tough, towsy game as you would expect for such an occasion. There were fouls galore, but only two bookings, Gough for a wild lunge on Cameron and Glennie for a similar offence on Sturrock.

I've said it before and I'll say it agairt Dundee could still escape the drop, but they must be more positive than they were here Their best players were Cameron, MacDonald, Mackie. Bell and McGeachie, Cameron in particular was outstanding,kKeeping Milne quieter than any left-back has done all season.

United, potentially the best team in Scotland, looked rather jaded to begin with, but they regained their appetite and had excellent service from Stark, Hegarty, Narey, Bannon and Sturrock.

Match report written by The Sunday Post