Dundee United 2
Dundee 2
League (Premier League)

Match Report

A fighting display saw Dundee twice claw back level to earn a valuable point in the city derby.

The Dundee support had turned out in numbers at Tannadice ready to berate Lee Mair over his controversial move to Tannadice, but as the teams were announced the defender was the invisible man, a thigh injury being the quoted reason for his non- appearance in the home line-up.

Jim Duffy restored Steve Lovell to the starting line up after his two-match suspension with John Sutton being the unlucky man to drop down to the bench.

In defence, Stephen McNally was absent with a back injury, but Brent Sancho returned with Callum Macdonald moving to right back.

United had new boy Nick Colgan in goal and the on loan from Barnsley man should have been called into action in the seventh minute, but Neil Barrett and Lee Wilkie got in each other's way and the chance was gone.

United's first effort came from former Dens favourite James Grady, but he found Derek Soutar in top form, the keeper tipping his effort round the post.

On twelve minutes, Dundee were behind and the defence would have been disappointed with their efforts to clear Mark Wilson's cross before the ball arrived at the feet of Stuart Duff who netted with a low drive.

Midway through the half, Dundee came close to levelling, Wilkie's header from Fotheringham's corner appeared netbound until McCracken popped up on the goal-line to deflect it wide of the target.

There was a scare for Dundee as Lee Wilkie went down while

challenging Mcintyre. Obviously in some pain and with thoughts of his year out with a knee injury it was a worrying moment, Lee had in fact injured his ankle rather than aggravated the

previous injury. United new boy Steve Crawford was combining well with Mcintyre and looked lively during the first period.

Though the home side were getting a lot of the ball, they rarely created anything resembling a real scoring chance. James Grady was playing in an unfamiliar

right wing position for United and his presence helped the Tannadice men, preventing Steven Robb charging forward as often as he normally would.

Crawford did have a chance in 24 minutes as he burst in from the right, but his shot only found the side-netting.

Mark Fotheringham became the first Dee to really test Colgan in 34 minutes, finding the space to fire in a 25-yarder, which although quite well struck shouldn't have troubled the keeper.

However, the former Hibee appeared slow to react and could only paim the effort out to Caballero whose shot was deflected just past the post.

Colgan was again in action as the half drew to a close, and this time he did much better, clutching Lovell's near post shot with ease. Half time brought the introduction of Bobby Mann for Wilkie who failed to shake off his ankle knock.. Jim Duffy's side looked more assured as the second period began to

take shape. Twelve minutes in, and Caballero was denied by a spectacular overhead clearance from Archibald as his six-yard shot left Colean floundering, McCracken scrambled the ball away from danger In the aftermath.

Dundee were pressing for the equaliser, whilst United hours these days seemed content to sit on their lead and paid for that policy with twenty minutes remaining.

Lovell and Macdonald as well as Caballero were involved in some quick one-touch football before Fabian surged past Ritchie to curl in a deliciously inviting cross, that had "stick me" in the net written all over it.

Tam McManus duly obliged with a firm header to continue his fine scoring run against United. Otherwise, the Dens new boy had struggled to get into the game and was beginning to show the effects of tight hamstrings, but had fulfilled his mission for the day by netting that goal.

As game swung from end to end, Jim Duffy brought on another derby specialist in John Sutton for the scorer as the Dark Blues went for the win.

Shortly before the equaliser, United replaced Derek Mcinnes, who had been the dominant force in their side, which seemed a strange decision.

Hopes of three points for the Dark Blues were dashed in 79 minutes though when United regained the lead. It stemmed from a moment of quality from Mark Wilson. With Caballero snapping at this heels, he raced down the right and whipped over a great cross which McIntyre headed home via a deflection off Brent Sancho.

The United striker is another derby specialist, and he continued a fine scoring run against the Dees with this effort, he'd caused problems for the Dundee defence.

And that with little assistance post interval from strike partner Crawford who, after a good first half, it was cruelly suggested by a wag in the crowd had 'gone to sit next to Lee Mair' at the break.

It seemed unfathomable that Dundee could come back from this second blow, but the magnificent backing they were getting from the away stands kept them going.

In McInnes' absence, Neil Barrett and Barry Smith were now winning most of the fifty-fifty balls in midfield and with Fotheringham out wide on the right, eager for the ball and keen to create, with five minutes remaining they were level again.

Fotheringham and Macdonald combined on the right, and when the cross was driven in Steve Lovell drove to the near post and with the barest of touches (non at all it transpired later) beat Colgan.

Scrappy it may have been, but the leveller was fully deserved, and just reward for the players who had shown great character in front of the biggest away support in a Dundee derby in several years, and they had more than played their part in stretching the unbeaten run in this fixture to nine glorious games.

Match report written by Dundee Matchday Programme