A Willie Falconer double and a goal from James Grady gave Dundee a decisive
win over rivals Dundee United at Dens Park.
A tremendous second half display gave the dark blues their first points of the
season against their city rivals.
It was a comprehensive victory for the home side but there can be no doubt it
was aided by the first half dismissal of United's Joaquim Ferraz, for an
off-the-ball incident with Dundee's Lee Wilkie.
But the warning signs had been there before United were reduced to 10 men.
The visitors had been let off the hook in the 50th minute when Pat Billio had
sent a spot kick wide of the mark.
Having won the previous three derby matches this season, Dundee United went
looking for the clean sheet against their city rivals and it was the visitors
who almost raced into a third minute lead when Ferraz tried a spectacular
bicycle kick, only to see it going well wide of the target.
The home side retaliated with a spell of pressure which had the United defence
defending desperately. But the visitors next attack almost proved fruitful as
Dundee keeper Rab Douglas had to tip a Ferraz header onto the bar and over for a
corner.
Both sides were taking turns to attack and Dundee's Wilkie came to the rescue
of the home side when he threw himself to block a David Hannah shot from the
edge of the box.
There was high drama in the 30th minute when Dundee won a penalty when Steven
Boyack was upended by Craig Easton in the United box.
The young United midfielder had failed to shield the ball out of play and
stupidly lashed out at Boyack after being dispossessed 10 yards from goal.
There was little protest from United of their fans as referee Jim McCluskey
pointed to the spot. Billio stepped up confidently but sent his kick wide of
Alan Combe's right hand post and the visiting fans celebrated the let-off.
There was more drama to follow two minutes from the break when Ferraz was
red-carded for an off-the-ball incident involving Wilkie, who appeared to be
head-butted by United's Portuguese striker.
Ten-man United started the second half facing an uphill task but within four
minutes had conceded the almost inevitable first goal.
Javier Artero, picked up a pass from Boyack, and when his cross came over from
the right veteran striker Falconer thundered a header in off the bar from six
yards out.
The home side now had total control of the match and five minutes later Artero
again cut the ball back to find Grady unmarked on the penalty spot.
But the substitute shot was straight at Combe in the United goal who gathered
comfortably.
But in the 64th minute, after so much pressure, Dundee unsurprisingly doubled
their lead.
Boyack swung a cross in from the right hand side and Grady raced in between
the United defenders to blast a header past Combe.
The visitors looked demoralised and Gavin Rae could have had a third if his
header hadn't been straight at Combe when it looked easier to score.
Dundee were now rampant and it was no surprise when they increased their lead
to three in the 74th minute.
It was Falconer again who was on hand to head home from three yards out after
Grady had headed back across the goal following a Boyack corner.
It was easy for the home side now and the only surprise in the closing minutes
was that they never added to their lead.
Teams:
Dundee: Douglas, Smith, Tweed (Miller 57), Wilkie, Maddison,
Artero, Boyack, Rae (Robertson 84), Billio, Falconer,Luna (Grady 46).
Subs Not Used: Langfield, Bayne.
Goals: Falconer 49, Grady 64, Falconer 74.
Dundee Utd: Combe, McQuillan, De Vos, Patterson, Partridge,
Hannah, Venetis (Thompson 54), Telesnikov, Easton (Pascual 54),
Mathie (McConalogue 54), Ferraz.
Subs Not Used: Gallacher, Davidson.
Sent Off: Ferraz (44).
Booked: Easton, Partridge.
Att: 8,581
Referee: Jim McClusky.
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