Dundee 1-4 Dundee Utd: Terrors take rivals apart to go top
- adamhigginsuk
- Sep 21, 2014
- 5 min read
That will do nicely: Dundee United dominated the Dens derby to continue their recent good run over their rivals (Picture from SNS Group)
DUNDEE United became joint leaders of the Scottish Premiership after ending Dundee’s unbeaten start with a resounding win in the first derby of the season.
Mario Bilate’s penalty broke the deadlock after 25 minutes following Thomas Konrad’s foul on Gary Mackay-Steven.
A low strike from Ryan Dow and Callum Morris header extended the lead before the hour mark as United took complete control.
Keith Watson headed in a sublime delivery from man of the match Paul Paton before Konrad saw red for a second bookable offence and Greg Stewart netted a consolation late on.
Jackie McNamara’s side, who are the league’s top scorers with 14 goals, edge Inverness Caley Thistle on goal difference at the summit having made their best start to a league season for 24 years.
The Terrors have now emerged victorious on each of their last four trips to Dens Park and are unbeaten in the last seven meetings, stretching back to November 2004.
Dundee had made their best start to a league campaign since 1963 under boss Paul Hartley, who rejected Cardiff’s advances earlier this week, and were the only top-flight team yet to be beaten.
But after dropping down to sixth following a first defeat since April, the newly promoted side will hope for a response when making the short walk to Tannadice in midweek to face United again in the third round of the League Cup.
The two neighbours, separated by a mere 100 yards geographically, locked horns for the first time since March 2013 just three days after the City of Discovery lost the vote for independence in the Scottish referendum.
Dundee were unchanged from their 1-0 win at fellow Tayside rivals St Johnstone, fielding eight of their summer signings in a side which was again without injured skipper Kevin Thomson.
The Terrors restored Dow to the starting line-up after a thigh problem in the absence of banned striker Nadir Ciftci, who was sent off in the 2-2 draw with Hamilton last weekend.
Amid a rousing atmosphere generated by an 11,500 capacity crowd, United made a fast start to the 127th derby encounter.
Bilate forced a smart stop from Kyle Letheren in the opening minute but was flagged offside before Dow headed straight at the Dark Blues keeper from a high-hanging Chris Erskine cross.
With high confidence and tempo in their play, Dundee settled to apply pressure of their own as Paul McGinn’s teasing centre from the right caused problems for Radoslaw Cierzniak, the United keeper fumbling at the near post before Jaroslaw Fojut cleared his lines.
At the other end, top scorer Erskine, with three goals already this term, proved a threat through the middle as he fired wide from the edge of the box following John Rankin’s threaded pass forward.
Despite generating plenty of excitement, the promising start gave way to nervous tension as neither side could seize a strangehold.
United enjoyed more of the territorial advantage but Dundee, without fashioning many openings, looked a threat on the break with pace and purpose in wide areas.
It was therefore out of nothing when the visitors went ahead from the penalty spot in dubious circumstances on 25 minutes.
After the impressive Paton performed a superb tackle to rob Jim McAlister 30 yards from goal, Konrad was adjudged to have knocked the accelerating Mackay-Steven off his stride in the box by referee Steven McLean.
The Dundee defender was booked and Bilate took the responsibility to stroke home his second league of the campaign, sending Letheren the wrong way.
Gary Harkins curled a free-kick into the midriff of Cierzniak as Dundee sought an immediate reply but a scrappy spell ensued which prevented any momentum from gathering.
The hosts ended the first half strongly and, having built up a head of steam, went close to a leveller when Philip Roberts guided a Harkins back-post cross into the side netting and McAlister flicked Paul McGowan’s free-kick over inside the six yard box.
A fractious start to the second half saw United take the game to the Dark Blues, who then shot themselves in the foot again nine minutes after the break.
McGowan sold McAlister short with a close pass which Rankin intercepted to find Dow and the midfielder charged at the Dundee rearguard before drifting inside to drill a low shot into the bottom corner for his first goal since the opening weekend.
His overjoyed celebrations by jumping into the away fans, which earned him a booking, showed what it meant to the Tangerines contingent.
McNamara introduced Scotland Under-21 captain Stuart Armstrong from the bench after three games out with an ankle injury in place of Erskine while striker Luka Tankulic was handed a fourth successive substitute appearance with Roberts making way.
But things got instantly worse for Dundee when Paton’s superb whipped free-kick was glanced in by Morris, who got in front of Konrad to net his first United goal before the hour mark.
The Terrors were ruthlessly out of sight and remained solid in defence to nip any slim hopes the hosts had of a comeback firmly in the bud.
Dundee, to their credit, did not cave in as Harkins saw a half volley charged down by the courageous Watson before the veteran midfielder made way for 17-year-old Craig Wighton.
As Bilate was withdrawn, Blair Spittal was given a run-out for the visitors, who surged forward in a bid to inflict more damage on their next-door neighbours.
Dow prodded a tame effort from 16 yards into the gloves of Letheren before Spittal brought a routine stop from Letheren with a 25-yard free-kick.
And the margins were extended 13 minutes from time when another inswinging free-kick from Paton was nodded home inside the far post by Watson.
The dispirited home fans left in their numbers as United dominated the closing stages with Spittal close to making it five with a low shot which travelled narrowly beyond the right-hand post.
Dundee’s misery was compounded a minute from time when Konrad received a second yellow card for tripping United substitute Scott Smith.
A fierce 20-yard strike from Stewart opened his account for the campaign to get the hosts on the scoresheet in the dying embers.
But it was an academic moment on a painful day for the Dark Blues as their wait for a first home win goes on and a first defeat in 11 games dampened the optimism with which they have approached their top-flight return so far.
Meanwhile, United, who have now won all three away games by a three-goal margin, will fancy their chances of making an impact in the upper echelons of the table.
Teams:
Dundee (4-4-1-1): 1 Letheren, 19 McGinn, 5 McPake (C), 4 Konrad, 2 Irvine, 14 Roberts (Tankulic 57), 11 Ferry (Boyle 75), 18 McGowan, 20 McAlister, 29 Harkins (Wighton 66), 15 Stewart.
Subs not used: 12 Bain (GK), 30 Kerr, 8 McBride, 16 Clarkson.
Booked: Konrad (24), Stewart (70)
Sent-off: Konrad (89)
Goals: Stewart (90+3)
Dundee United (4-2-3-1): 1 Cierzniak, 12 Watson, 2 Dillon (C), 5 Fojut, 14 Morris, 6 Paton (Smith 81), 8 Rankin, 11 Mackay-Steven, 18 Dow, 17 Erskine (Armstrong 58), 19 Bilate (Spittal 67).
Subs not used: 26 Szromnik (GK), 33 Spark, 21 Telfer, 22 Connolly.
Booked: Erskine (40), Paton (45), Dow (54), Watson (72)
Goals: Bilate (25 pen), Dow (54), Morris (59), Watson (79)
Assists: Paton (2)
Referee: Steven McLean (Scotland) - 8/10 Attendance: 11,447
Last updated: 21 September 2014 14:34pm
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