Dundee 3
Dundee United 2
League (Premier League)

Match Report

A brave second half fightback by Dundee United couldn't take the gloss off a sparkling derby display from Jim Duffy's Dees. That they deserved to win was not in doubt, although they had a go at scaring the support, because the Dark Blues should have been more goals in front of a nearly sold out Dens.

Dundee were up for the contest from the word go with the triple strike force of Novo, Caballero and Lovell too hot to handle for some of United's back three, forcing Paul Hegarty into changing his system before the interval to try to combat Dundee's superiority.

By that time Dundee were two goals to the good, and there was more than the length of Sandeman Street between the sides.

The opener came in 11 minutes as Hernandez dispossessed Miller midway inside the Dundee half to the delight of the South Enclosure to feed Lovell and the big Englishman set off on a surging run before sliding a gorgeous pass wide to Novo. The Spaniard had jinked inside when previously free but this time used his electric pace to drive towards the touchline and then sent over a perfect cross, which Caballero headed home from seven yards.

A minute later Dundee could have been two up as Gallacher pulled off a brilliant save from Wilkie's header following a Hernandez corner on the right.

Steve Lovell was next to try bursting around the United defence and firing a low shot which Gallacher got a touch to, Lauchlan completing the clearance.

On the half hour the Dark Blues went two up and it was a disaster for McCunnie, Novo slipped to the noisy delight of the United fans and the Scotland Under 21 full back stepped in to grab the loose ball.

He dawdled, however, and Nacho recovered to shut him down, rob him and then burst into the box before feeding Caballero who turned Lauchlan with his shot taking a big deflection off Lovell to bounce into the net.

At half time it was glee all round in the home areas of the ground, Dundee had dominated completely in one of the most one sided derby contests imaginable. Ivano Bonetti had chosen a good day to come back and have a look at his former club in action, it was a good choice of fixture for Scotland boss Berti Vogts too.

It couldn't continue like that though, Paul Hegarty obviously did a good job in the dressing room at half time and United were much improved as the second period got under way, but it was Dundee who surged further ahead nine minutes into the half. The goal may have come rather against the run of play but it followed a fine move.

Nemsadze robbed Miller and then held off a robust challenge from the United midfielder before sending Lovell free on the left with the most exquisite pass of the match, the big Englishman cut inside and shaped to shoot before feeding the ball to Hernandez who fired low into the corner from 16 yards.

United briefly looked as if they would fold completely, but Miller put in extra effort to drag himself into the match and he began to exert an influence. It was his free kick from deep on the right that found Lauchlan on 67 minutes and he nodded it into the path of Hamilton who finished well from ten yards.

The visitors pressed and pulled another back with seven minutes to go, Miller jinked and turned before feeding McIntyre who curled a beauty into the top corner from 22 yards.

The home support were beginning to panic, but although Hamilton had a chance with a weak header it was Dundee through Novo and Rae who had the best opportunities with lovely work to provide the opportunities from Caballero for the first and substitute Sara for the latter.

Match report written by Dundee Matchday Programme