Dundee ran out 2-0 winners at Tannadice Park in the only Premiership match of the week, leaving Jim Goodwin’s side winless three games into the league campaign. The closest derby in British football got off to an extremely slow start as both sides tried to get a foothold in the match. United had most of the possession in the opening stages but failed to create any chances of note. The home fans were in fine voice to start the afternoon. Whilst you’d expect many Dundee United players to be boo’d by the away end, for some reason, Will Ferry was the only one on the receiving end of it early on. Abdoulaye Yoro had the first half chance of the game after getting a shot off following a United free-kick, but his effort was easily collected by Owen Goodman in the Dundee goal. The visitors quickly came up the park following the set-piece and Charlie Reilly managed to get a shot off from range, but his effort was over the bar. Dundee went close after Joe Westley managed to get a shot away outside the box deep into the first half, but his effort was deflected wide for a corner. United earned a corner of their own minutes later and Goodman done brilliantly to get his hands to Vicko Sevelj’s effort to keep the match goalless. Jesse Randall was next to shoot from range, cutting in on his right foot from outside the area, but his shot flew wide of Goodman’s goal. Dundee had a penalty appeal shortly after the half-hour mark as the away side believed Reilly’s strike came off an opposition hand, but their appeals were to no avail. A quick counter attack allowed Randall to get onto his right foot once more, but his effort was deflected and easily collected by Goodman. Idjessi Mitsoko went close for United after some tidy football from United on the edge of the box, a low cross from Mehdi Merghem found MItsoko, but Ryan Astley was able to get a block in from close range. Dundee found the lead late in the first-half. They had another penalty appeal as Ethan Hamilton looked to be fouled in the box, United attempted to breakaway quickly, but Drey Wright latched onto a loose ball and carried it forward into a dangerous area before unleashing a fantastic strike into the bottom left corner, sending the away end into pandemonium. Moments before half-time, Panutche Camara entered the book for a perceived foul on Ryan Finnegan. It nearly went from bad to worse as David Dickinson was sent to the monitor for a potential red card, but after review, Camara’s booking was rescinded and passed to Finnegan for simulation. United’s best chance of the match fell early in the second half as Yoro found space in the box and challenged Goodman, who was able to get low and block the shot with his feet. Dundee’s lead was doubled before the hour mark following a scramble from a corner. Alan Forrest’s left-footed volley looked to be going wide, but it came off the foot Owen Bevan and into the bottom corner of Walton’s net. United looked to pull one back shortly after through an audacious effort from Neil Farrugia, who latched onto a wayward shot from captain Dylan Tait with an overhead kick, which looped over the bar. Dundee kept knocking on United’s door after a goalmouth scramble saw Ethan Hamilton and debutant Bradley Fink’s efforts blocked before Walton caught a third strike in a matter of moments. Zac Sapsford was next to go close for United as he was found free in the box, but a deft touch from Astley sent his strike behind for a corner. Lachlan Rose was through one-on-one moments later, but pressure from the Dundee defence forced him to shoot wide from outside the box. Fink had the Dundee fans on their feet late on after a mazy run on the counter-attack, but was clipped by Sevelj just outside the area. Westley’s subsequent free-kick sailed narrowly over the bar. Despite being two goals down late on, Dundee’s dramatic derby day comeback last season was certainly in the front of United’s minds as they kept pushing late on. Farrugia was next to go for goal with a left-footed effort outside the area, which was narrowly wide. Daniel Bennie then also shot wide just before four minutes of stoppage time were called. Sapsford then saw his close range effort blocked before Sevelj shot wide following that corner. Dundee were happy to hold the ball in the corner in the closing stages, sealing successive league wins. The victors host Hibernian next week whilst Dundee United will travel to Kilmarnock in search of their first league win of the season. Dundee United: Jack Walton, Bert Esselink, Vicko Sevelj, Mehdi Merghem (Neil Farrugia 60′), Panutche Camara, Dylan Tait, Will Ferry, Michael Forbes, Jesse Randall (Daniel Bennie 46′), Abdoulaye Yoro (Lachlan Rose 67′), Idjessi Metsoko (Zac Sapsford 60′). Dundee: Owen Goodman, Idris Odutayo, Ryan Astley, Owen Bevan (goal 57′), Drey Wright (goal, 43′), Ryan Finnegan, Alan Forrest (Bobby Wales 80′), Charlie Reilly (Fin Robertson 46′), Joe Westley (Brad Halliday 90′), Joe Bevan (Bradley Fink 67′), Ethan Hamilton.
