Dundee United 5
Dundee 3
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Paul Sturrock returns to a full-strength United lineup.

Bobby Geddes returns to goal in place of Colin Kelly, while up front Eric Sinclair is on for Peter Mackie, who is on the subs' bench for Dundee.

Dundee kick-off and create a good scoring chance inside a minute.

Fraser's free from the left causes all sorts of problems and Scrimgeour's head flick is directed towards the net by the lunging head of Sinclair, only for McAlpine to dive brilliantly to his right to save.

The drama switches immediately to the other end. MacDonald is short with a pass back. Geddes races from his box to try to clear, but collides with Smith, who boots clear.

Geddes shows this has not affected his confidence minutes later when he races from his line to hold a Milne cross.

In six minutes there is further drama when Geddes, struggling after that collision, is led from the field.

Brian Scrimgeour takes over in goal and Peter Mackie comes on.

The visitors' hopes are raised when a long-range Fraser shot scrapes past McAlpine's post.

Scrimgeour does well to hold a dangerous Hegarty header in 12 minutes.

The Dundee makeshift 'keeper looks to be fouled by Dodds in leaping for a high cross, but the referee waves play on. The ball breaks to Bannon, who takes too long to control, allowing Bell to clear.

Next Dodds flicks a Bannon cross round McKimmie in the box but shoots over.

United claim for a penalty when Sturrock tumbles to the ground on the edge of the box after chasing for a lobbed pass by MacDonald.

Sturrock tries to release Milne with a swift reverse pass inside the Dundee box, but the latter's hurried shot is off target.

In 23 minutes Ferguson is put in the clear by a Sinclair overhead kick, but the youngster shoots straight at McAlpine with the goal gaping.

Dundee win a free when Gough fouls Scrimgeour in jumping for a Bannon corner in 25 minutes. I

n 28 minutes, Fraser's probing through-ball just eludes the foraging Sinclair. Sinclair drifts past two defenders in 29 minutes, but is denied a shooting opportunity by Stark.

A minute later, it all comes unstuck for Dundee. Milne's cross rebounds perfectly off a defender for GOUGH, on the edge of the box. He drills an unstoppable, low drive firmly into the net.

United look to have a valid penalty claim denied in 33 minutes when Fraser seems to use an arm to control a Bannon corner.

Play is held up in 35 minutes for Scrimgeour to receive attention for a face knock.

A clever, early Gough pass releases Milne, who gallops away up the left wing. He needs two attempts to get the better of Smith, however, and his cross is headed clear by McGeachie.

Hegarty just fails to get his head to a long, search- ing through ball as United go looking for their second goal.

Fraser finds space in 40 minutes to release an excellent diagonal pass for Kidd, but McAlpine races from his box, controls the ball and sends a good pass upfield to Sturrock.

A swift United raid catches the Dundee defence in disarray, but the visitors are saved when Milne shoots into the side netting

Half-time - United 1, Dundee 0.

Reflections - United are deservedly ahead, but Dundee, who have created good chances, are earning praise for a plucky performance.

Scrimgeour rises well to hold a Milne cross, only to be fouled by Dodds. The referee lectures the United forward.

In 50 minutes United get their second goal, thanks again to GOUGH. Bannon's corner is flicked on to the bar by Sturrock and the big South African heads home the rebound.

But Gough is a sinner for United three minutes later when referee Hope spots him holding Sinclair in the penalty box. FERGUSON safely des- patches the spot kick inside McAlpine's right-hand post.

Scrimgeour again comes to Dundee's rescue in 55 minutes by leaping through a cluster of players to palm away a Bannon corner.Bell is booked for foul on Hegarty in 58 minutes.

Sturrock is booked for a foul on Bell in 65 minutes. Malpas joins him for obstruct ing Fraser two minutes later.

Tempers are becoming frayed as over-zealous tackles go unchecked.

Sensation in 70 minutes when Dundee draw level through a crazy goal.

KIDD skilfully rounds Bannon in the United box and unleashes an awkward looking shot which seems to strike the bottom of the post, rebound off a bewildered McAlpine, and bounce into the net.

Dundee send on McLellandnfor Bell as play resumes.

United turn on the pressure as Scrimgeour is forced to perform more heroics. Sturrock crashes to the deck after a Mackie tackle, but the referee denies penalty claims.

This dramatic match takes another twist in 75 minutes when Dundee go into the lead.

Mackie and Sinclair combine well on the right, work- ing the ball into the middle, where FRASER from fully 30 yards blasts a piledriver past the McAlpine.

Sturrock's burst carries him clear of two defenders and his shot whistles narrowly past.

Reilly replaces Milne in 79 minutes.

Three minutes later, United are level when Scrimgeour allows a harmless looking, miscued REILLY shot to slip under his body and trundle into the far corner of the net.

In 84 minutes, United take the lead.

Dodds seems to impede Scrimgeour in leaping for a high cross, but the referee is unmoved as the ball bounces across the goal tonbe driven into the net by HEGARTY.

Bannon strides clear of two challenges in the Dundee box but amazingly shoots past. Then Sturrock volleys a Gough head-flick on to and over the bar.

In 89 minutes DODDS cracks a bullet-like header from Kirkwood's cross past Scrimgeour for United's fifth.

Final Dundee United 5, Dundee 3.

Summing-up - Sympathy goes out to Donald Mackay who was just 15 minutes away from his first derby win when the roof fell in. The Dark Blues recovered well from losing their keeper and a performance full of grit allied to a splen- did Fraser 3rd goal. looked to put them in the driving seat. But it was then that United really came alive.

Match report written by The Sporting Post