Dundee defender Lee Wilkie celebrated his 22nd birthday by gifting near neighbours United the final Tayside derby of the season at Dens Park.

The centre-half was unfortunate to see Jim Paterson's 41st minute effort pushed away by Dundee goalkeeper Julian Speroni but deflect off Wilkie into the net.

The result sees the Tannadice side leapfrog their city rivals as they chase seventh place before the end of the season.

But either side could have claimed the spoils in a closely-fought contest.

A mistake by Javier Artero in his own area almost let Paterson and Derek Lilley in but, after the ball bounced in the box, a defender was able to clear.

Gavin Rae fired in the first shot of the game after Artero found him in space in the area but Paul Gallacher was behind the shot.

United replied with an immediate counter-attack which saw Steven Thompson flick the ball on for Lilley to get in behind the home defence but he fired across goal and wide.

Gallacher almost cost his side a goal in the eighth minute when he delayed a clearance and allowed Steven Milne to close him down.

The goalkeeper got the ball away but only as far as Juan Sara, who controlled it, took it past Lauchlan and fired goalwards. But Gallacher made amends with a crucial block with his legs.

Thompson and Wilkie were having a real battle and it was the Dundee man who was penalised for a 19th-minute challenge 25 yards in front of goal.

Miller touched the free-kick to Lilley and he blasted it past the wall only to see Speroni dive to get behind it.

Beto Carranza did well to get past Stewart Duff down the left and Jim Lauchlan could only head his clearance to Artero on the edge of the box. But the Spaniard could not hit the target with his shot.

United were beginning to dominate, with the home side committing too many fouls and they took the lead in the 41st minute thanks to an own goal from Wilkie, who turned the ball into his own net after Charlie Miller had set Paterson up in space in the box.

The angle was tight for a shot on the left side of the box and Speroni did well to get a touch that unluckily bounced off his own man and into the net.

Milne sent a header spinning goalwards in stoppage time but Gallacher was behind it.

Sara claimed Lauchlan had used an arm when he tried to flick the ball over his head and fell to his knees theatrically when Dallas again ruled play on.

The home fans became animated when it became clear Giorgio Nemsadze's comeback was close as United gained control of the match once more. And Artero was the man to make way in the 59th minute.

At the other end, Wilkie did well to slide in and stop Lilley going clear after Venetis had headed the ball on.

Craig Easton was booked for a crude challenge on Carranza and Dundee sent on Fabian Caballero for Sara in the 68th minute.

Lauchlan bundled Rae over just outside the area as Dundee pushed forward but, although Carranza's free-kick was well hit, it ended up floating wide of the goal.

United gave youngster Stephen O'Donnell the last five minutes in place of Venetis and Stephen McConalogue came on for Lilley with two minutes remaining.

Teams

Dundee Speroni, Smith, Wilkie, Del Rio, Beghetto, Artero (Nemsadze 58), Torres, Rae, Carranza (Garrido 90), Sara (Caballero 68), Milne.

Subs Not Used: Langfield, Marrocco.

Booked: Wilkie.

Dundee Utd Gallacher, Duff, Lauchlan, McCracken, Aljofree, Easton, Miller, Venetis (O'Donnell 85), Paterson, Lilley (McConalogue 88), Thompson.

Subs Not Used: Jarvie, McCunnie, Winters.

Booked: Aljofree, Easton.

Goals: Wilkie 41 og.

Att: 10,087

Ref: H Dallas (Scotland).