Dundee United and city neighbours Dundee fought out an entertaining 1-1 SPL
draw in their third meeting of the season.
The home side took the lead after 19 minutes in fortunate circumstances when
David Mackay and goalkeeper Julian Speroni got mixed up and the young defender
headed past his team-mate into the net.
Dundee got back in the game eleven minutes later when Nacho Novo took
advantage of a slip from Gary Bollan and knocked a shot past Paul Gallacher from
a tight angle.
The second half did not have as much goalmouth action as the first, but the
sending off of Charlie Miller after 69 minutes - United's third red card in as
many games - along with the debut appearance of Mark Burchill later contributed
to an entertaining encounter.
Despite the game starting at a frenetic pace, it was 17 minutes before either
goalkeeper was called into serious action.
United's Stuart Duff broke down the right flank and delivered a cross into the
penalty area that seemed to catch the Dundee defence flat-footed.
Jim Hamilton had positioned himself eight yards from goal and met the cross
with a half-volley, but Speroni managed to get a hand to the ball and knock it
over the bar.
United took the lead two minutes later and it was a terrible mix-up at the
back from the visitors that broke the deadlock.
Miller launched a hopeful long ball into the Dundee half, but defender MacKay
and Speroni failed to communicate properly and the Dundee defender - under
pressure from Hamilton - nodded the ball past his team-mate.
Speroni launched a frantic run back to try and reach the ball as it trundled
into the net, but couldn't reach it in time and it nestled in the bottom
corner.
Dundee had a serious claim for a penalty turned down in the 23rd minute when
Garry Brady's powerful shot appeared to be handled by Mark Wilson - but referee
John Rowbotham waved away their claims.
The visitors continued to press and did not have to wait long before getting
themselves back into the game.
Fabian Caballero had possession of the ball midway in the United half and he
delivered a delightful pass out to the right flank for Novo.
The Spaniard watched the ball as it was in the air and pounced immediately
when United left-back Bollan slipped.
He advanced into the penalty area, drawing Gallacher wide before slipping the
ball past him and into the far corner of the net.
United boss Ian McCall was concerned about the way his defence was being
pulled apart by Dundee's pace in attack throughout the first half and made a
tactical substitution at half-time.
Former Partick defender Daniele Chiarini was introduced for striker Hamilton
as McCall decided to add another player into his defence to combat Novo's
lightning speed.
Duffy seems to have found the correct blend of industry and inspiration in his
midfield, with the ever-impressive Georgi Nemsadze pulling the strings while
Brady and Gavin Rae do the majority of the legwork.
This partnership helped Dundee get a grip of the match at times and gave the
quick-footed Caballero excellent support.
The Argentinian picked up on a Nemsadze through ball in the 60th minute and
danced past several United players on his way to goal, before finally being
dispossessed by Chiarini.
The game took a major twist after 69 minutes when United midfielder Miller was
ordered off for a deliberate handball.
The former Rangers player, who has been outstanding since McCall took over at
Tannadice, was lying on the ground after being felled by a challenge and
petulantly stretched out a hand and knocked the ball away.
Referee Rowbotham did not even have to produce the card to confirm the
decision to the player, as Miller had already begun to trudge off the field.
Burchill was introduced to the action after 71 minutes as a replacement for
Novo, but blew his chances of gaining instant hero-status among Dundee fans by
shooting straight at Gallacher from eight yards as McCall's men held on for a
deserved point.
Teams:
Dundee Utd: Gallacher, Duff, McCraken, Wilson, Bollan,
McIntyre, Miller, Easton, Paterson (Lilley 62),
Hamilton (Chiarini 45), Dodds (Smart 71).
Subs Not Used: Jarvie, Tod.
Sent Off: Miller (69).
Booked: Bollan, Easton, Miller.
Goals: Mackay 19 og.
Dundee: Speroni, Mackay, Wilkie, Khizanishvili, Smith, Mair,
Brady, Nemsadze (Lovell 62), Rae, Caballero, Novo (Burchill 73).
Subs Not Used: Langfield, Milne, Forbes.
Goals: Novo 30.
Att: 10,457
Ref: John Rowbotham (Scotland).
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