Dundee United 1
Dundee 1
League (Premier League)

Match Report

Dundee came agonisingly close to an amazing derby win against the odds at Tannadice today. The Dee played for 68 minutes with 10 men after Gary Irvine was sent off. Ryan Conroy gave Dundee the lead midway through the second half, but a late onslaught from United saw them save a point with Michael Gardyne's 89th minute goal.

The only change to the Dundee line-up was new keeper Steve Simonsen replacing Robert Douglas. United were able to get Jon Daly fit; that proved vital as he played a crucial role in their late charge.

The early pattern was set when Gary Irvine fouled Mackay-Steven badly in the first minute and was lucky to escape a booking. United started much more impressively and a Daly flick from a Dougals cross was deflected wide by Grassi. Boulding then missed the target from a Mackay-Steven cutback.

In previous derbies this season Dundee have started the better side and then fallen away after conceding soft goals. This was a very different match, and there was certainly nothing soft about the Dark Blues' approach today. The more focussed defending was certainly welcome; less so was the sometimes reckless fouling in the opening 20 minutes.

Gary Irvine certainly got the benefit of the doubt from the referee in the first minute. Mr Madden was less charitable after 21 minutes when he decide Irvine's aerial challenge on Ryan was worth a red card. It was on the opposite side of the field from the press box, but Irvine did seem to lead with his arm. He has been in the habit of doing so, and it's a habit that invites punishment from referees.

Nicky Riley was the player who had the miserable experience of being hooked to allow John Brown to send on a replacement defender; Kyle Benedictus came on to slot straight into the right back spot. John Baird moved to the right, leaving Gary Harkins on his own up front.

The red card and re-organisation seemed to force Dundee into a more thoughtful approach, and their play was calmer and more composed for the rest of the match. United, on the other hand, lost some of their early intensity, almost as if the players subconsciously assumed that a victory would now fall into their laps.

Gary Mackay-Steven came closest to a breakthrough for United. Douglas's cross found him at the far post but his diving header came off the crossbar. Simonsen then had to save well at the United winger's feet after a mazy run into the danger area.

Late in the half Millar had space to shoot from outside the penalty area, but sent his shot a couple of feet wide. Just before half time Harkins dragged a low shot wide from 18 yards after a good run opened up a shooting chance.

That was a rare chance for Dundee, but they nearly had another at the start of the second half. Cierzniak had to rush from his goal to block at the feet of Conroy after Benedictus's through ball had caught out the United defence.

in previous derbies Dundee have given away poor goals from set pieces. Today the defence looked far more solid and handled the set pieces well. An exception was when McLean was allowed to get on the end of a Douglas free kick, but he headed well over the bar.

The match was becoming increasingly scrappy on a poor, muddy pitch. The disjointed nature of the game probably suited Dundee more than United, who were starting to lose their composure and were giving the ball away too often and wasting promising opportunities with poor decisions.

A rare flowing move brought an outstanding goal for the Dee half way through the second half. Harkins took control in the middle of the United half and spread the ball out to Easton to break down the left. His low cross was controlled beautifully by CONROY, who then lashed a great shot into the roof of the net from 12 yards.

The goal sent the Dark Blue support into a frency, cranking up the atmosphere nicely. The last 25 minutes were as gripping and nerve shredding as anyone could hope for. There may not have been a great deal of quality, but there was plenty of passion and action.

Substitute Gardyne took a Daly knock down, only to shoot straight at Simonsen. This combination was to be United's favourite ploy in the latter stages, and Dundee struggled to handle it.

New keeper Simonsen pulled out a great save to deny Daly 10 minute from time. The United captain had space to pick his spot from 12 yards, but Simonsen managed to parry and Daly then turned the loose ball over the bar.

As the seconds rolled by agonisingly slowly for the Dundee supporters United frantically hurled the ball forward to try and rescue the match. Daly's aerial strength was United's main weapon and it paid off two minutes from time. Watson crossed from the right, Daly headed down and GARDYNE rescued a point, shooting home from six yards, leaving Simonsen with no chance.

Late in injury time the same combination nearly grabbed a winner for United, but Gardyne missed the target from 18 yards out.

Kevin McBride replaced the injured Iain Davidson after 77 minutes, and new boy Don Cowan came on for the weary Gary Harkins 10 minutes from time. Cowan certainly seems to have pace, but he never had the chance to use it against the United defence as the latter part of the match was spent almost entirely in the Dundee half.

It was a huge task for the Dundee defence to hold out for 70 minutes after the Dee went down to 10 men, and it's to their credit they nearly did so. I doubt if there was a single Dee at Tannadice who wouldn't have settled happily for a 1-1 draw when they saw the referee pull out a red card after 20 minutes. However, there's no getting away from the disappointment and frustration that United's only goal came so very late.

Dundee's disciplined concentration and focus was laudable for the last 70 minutes. The lack of discipline in the first 20 minutes was more worrying, and in a derby there was always the possibility that a unnecessary yellow might be followed with a second one. A frantic derby can't be an easy game for a new goalkeeper to make his debut, but Steve Simonsen looked safe and assured. There was no hint that he'd met the rest of the defence for the first time only a few days ago.

Doubtless United are annoyed that they couldn't exercise more effective control over the game after the red card. However, the Dundee players deserved at least a point thanks to their effort, concentration and determination to grind out a result. If only it could have been three points!

Match report written by James Christie - Official Dundee website