Dundee delivered a breathtaking first-half performance to claim a long-awaited derby victory over Dundee United at Tannadice, their first at the ground since 2004. The crucial win also eases their relegation worries in the Scottish Premiership.

Jordan McGhee set the tone for the visitors with a towering header to open the scoring, before Scott Tiffoney’s speculative strike from distance slipped through goalkeeper Jack Walton’s hands to double Dundee’s lead.

United responded through Glenn Middleton’s curling effort, but McGhee struck again before the break, whipping home his second to restore Dundee’s two-goal cushion. The visitors could have been even further ahead, with two goals ruled out for marginal offsides and Simon Murray going agonisingly close with a sharp effort inside the box.

United, comprehensively second-best in the opening 45 minutes, fought back after the interval when Kristijan Trapanovski’s deflected strike found the net, injecting life into the home side’s comeback hopes.

Both teams had further chances—Joe Shaughnessy’s looping header landed just over the bar for Dundee, while Sam Dalby sent a headed opportunity wide for United. As the hosts desperately pushed for an equaliser, they were caught out at the back.

A moment of recklessness from Emmanuel Adegboyega, United’s last defender, saw him shove Murray inside the box, earning a second yellow card and reducing his side to ten men. Murray stepped up to calmly convert the penalty before sprinting the length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the United fans, sealing a famous derby win.

‘A Performance Full of Spirit’ – Docherty

Dundee’s long wait for a league victory—dating back to 5 January—finally ended, with this triumph marking their first top-flight success at Tannadice since a 2-1 win under Jim Duffy 20 years ago.

Manager Tony Docherty was full of praise for his side:

“That’s the performance we’re capable of. I take huge pride, not just in the result but in the way we played. We’ve won here for the first time in 20 years, and that meant a lot today. The spirit and mentality of the players was fantastic, and I had full trust in them.”

The victory lifts Dundee to within a point of Kilmarnock in 10th place, moving them five clear of bottom side St Johnstone.

For United, defeat leaves them in fifth, three points ahead of Motherwell in seventh, with just three games left before the league split.

Dundee Shake Off Recent Struggles in Stunning Style

Docherty and his team had been under serious pressure ahead of this derby, arriving at Tannadice winless in eight league matches and having conceded 24 goals in that time. However, any fears of another collapse were swiftly banished as they flew out of the blocks.

They thought they had the lead when Lyall Cameron slotted home after Walton parried Josh Mulligan’s shot, only for VAR to intervene, ruling out the goal for an offside against Oluwaseun Adewumi.

Undeterred, Dundee kept pushing forward, and when McGhee met Ziyad Larkeche’s cross with a powerful header, there was no doubt this time. Tiffoney soon added a second, and although Middleton’s goal threatened to drag United back into contention, McGhee’s sublime finish ensured Dundee went into half-time with a deserved 3-1 lead.

VAR denied them a fourth when Murray was ruled offside before Ross Graham’s own goal, but Dundee’s relentless attacking display had already done enough damage.

United Face Tough Battle for Top-Six Spot

While Dundee’s brilliance was clear, United manager Jim Goodwin will be alarmed at his team’s first-half performance, which saw them completely overwhelmed.

“The first half was completely unacceptable in every department,” Goodwin admitted. “Every mistake we made, Dundee punished us. We haven’t been as bad as that all season. It’s so hard to put your finger on why.”

United’s struggles were compounded by Walton’s uncharacteristic error for Dundee’s second goal and poor marking that allowed McGhee to score twice.

Adegboyega’s late dismissal, a moment of desperation as he wrestled Murray to the ground, summed up a frustrating night for the home side. His suspension now adds to Goodwin’s selection headaches ahead of a crucial run-in, with games against Hearts, St Johnstone, and Motherwell set to determine their final league position.

With the race for a top-six finish intensifying, United must regroup quickly—while Dundee will look to build on this statement victory and push towards safety.