Dundee United 1
Dundee 0
League Cup (3rd Round)

Match Report

Dundee crossed the rood for the League Cup third round match looking for revenge after defeat in the Premiership on Sunday and made a really bright start to the second derby in four days.

Dundee put pressure on their hosts from the off with four comers in the first ten minutes and came close to opening the scoring when the ball dropped to Tankulic, but his shot from eight yards was deared off the line.

Martin Boyle also had a curled effort go just past the post early on but Dundee had a golden opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty after quarter of an hour when Rankin brought down McGowan. Greg Stewart stepped up to take it but the former Cowdenbeath front man's spot kick was saved by Cierzniak when he lifted his left foot high to stop the dead centre strike.

Perhaps worse was to follow for Dundee five minutes later when Martin Boyle was controversially sent off for bringing down Armstrong as the last man. Armstrong played a one-two with Dow and when he received the ball back raced towards goal, and as Boyle ran back, he was adjudged to have brought the United man down. Referee Craig Thomson produced a straight red but it looked harsh as Konrad was running back to cover.

United therefore had a free kick on the edge of the box but there was relief for The Dee when Ciftc's effort crashed off the bar and when the ball came into the box, Fojut headed the ball straight into the arms of Letheren.

Being down to ten men didn't deter Dundee from going forward and both Tankulic and McGowan had efforts at goal from outside the box.

United then had a succession of corners as they tried to take a grip of the game but each time McPake was equal to the pressure and cleared the danger for Dundee.

From the last comer Dundee broke out of defence and when McAlister picked the ball up on the half way line, he bore in towards goal with the United defence backtracking. Just as he got towards the edge of the box however, he was cynically brought down by John Rankin for which the United man was booked but the free kick came to nothing.

When the half time whistle came Dundee could be disappointed not to be ahead and also a man down but it was a much improved display from Sunday.

Being a man ahead, it was no surprise that United took the game to Dundee at the start of the second half. Ciftci became United's main threat when he first hit a shot from 20 yards for which McPake took a sore one to block and then moments later he smashed the Dundee crossbar for a second time from slightly futher out. The Turk then had a third effort from outside the box after he made space for himself but Irvine was able to hook the ball away.

A good passing move from United found Stuart Armstrong in space just outside the bax and went he fired in a shot it looked a goal all the way. Kyle Letheren wasn't having it however and somehow got a finger to the ball and touched it onto the post.

Dundee attacked when they could and a good move between McGowan and Stewart won a corner after the forward's low cross was put out by Dillon. From the corner McGowan found himself with space on the right hand corner of the box and his delicate chip sailed just over the bar.

United were having most of the possession but were largely restricted to shots from outside the box

Dundee's excellent fitness levels were showing as they were largely matching United despite being a man short and with five minutes to go created their best chance of the second half. A quick free kick from Stewart on the edge of the box got Roberts in behind the United defence on the right, and when he fired a low cross across the six yard line, McPake, who had been immense all night, was inches away from connecting to give the Dark Blues the lead.

United however continued to pressure the Dundee bax and pepper it with crosses and when the fourth official held up the board indicating there were two minutes left, McPake made a brilliant tackle on Mackay-Steven to concede a comer.

When the corner come in however it was a disaster for Dundee when Jaroslaw FOJUT rose highest to head home at the back post to give United the lead.

Dundee could consider themselves unfortunate to not take the game to extra time, but having missed a penalty and having Martin Boyle sent off when they were in the ascendancy, it was a Dark Blue night of what ifs.

Match report written by Official Dundee website