With merger talk still refusing to be silenced, Dundee's off-field future
remains uncertain - but a telling argument was made on the pitch against city
rivals United at Tannadice today.
On this evidence it is no wonder Dundee United were trying to take over
Dundee, because the simple truth is that today's Scottish Premier League
visitors are a better side and well merited a victory set up by Brian Irvine's
68th-minute header.
The background to this derby could hardly be more fraught, with United
reported earlier this season to have twice attempted a buy-out of Dundee whose
financial plight remains a concern.
The on-field resources are more encouraging, however, with youngsters Iain
Anderson, Steven Boyack and Gavin Rae all prominent in this assured display.
United were reduced to 10 men with Darren Patterson's sending-off. but the
balance of play was already established by then, and substitute James Grady's
last-minute second goal only reflected as much.
With the belated upgrading of Dens Park due to be completed by July 31, the
Dundee board thought they had found a would-be investor in Anglo-Italian
businessman Giovanni Di Stefano.
But as details emerged about his business and political links, the mounting
controversy persuaded the Marr brothers to stay at the helm and themselves
organise funding for ground improvements.
With the promise that money is now in place and work - at least in terms of
demolition - is finally under way, Dundee entered the contest in upbeat mood
even given Dariusz Adamczuk's continued suspension.
Boyack was twice upended by Patterson in the opening minutes, the second
challenge earning the United defender a swift booking - and Anderson shot wide
from the resulting free-kick.
Dykstra recovered from a 10th-minute injury scare but was slack moments later
when he was fortunate to grasp the loose ball after a misunderstanding with
Jason De Vos as Eddie Annand challenged.
A superb inside pass from the game's outstanding player Boyack released Annand
after 17 minutes, but he struck his shot straight against the legs of Dykstra -
and the opportunity was spurned.
Despite the urgency of their predicament, United attacks were rare, Scotland
international Billy Dodds heading wide of the mark when well placed to do better
on 22 minutes.
An Anderson cross from the right then looked to skim the crossbar with Dykstra
defeated, but Shaun McSkimming was unable to turn in the loose ball at the far
post.
De Vos forced his own goalkeeper Dykstra into a save after 32 minutes with a
testing backheader which had the Dutchman scrambling to make up the ground.
By now, though, the match was losing its initial impetus, its plight embodied
when superb skill by Anderson was wasted by a woeful Annand finish as the
forward miskicked badly.
The visitors had a loud penalty claim rejected a minute before the interval
when defender Willie Miller struck an angled drive against the body of Patterson
with a suspicion of handball.
Both teams made a switch at the interval, Maurice Malpas replaced by John
Eustace for United and Dundee withdrawing McSkimming and introducing Hugh
Robertson.
Kjell Olofsson might have done better when presented with a free header from a
De Vos free-kick, while Eustace was denied on the edge of the area by an Irvine
foul which secured a booking.
Dundee's play was still the more fluid, and after 58 minutes Magnus Skoldmark
was needed to block a well-struck Anderson volley direct from a Boyack cross.
As the deadlock persisted, there was a growing feeling that if a goal came it
would go to the visitors - and so it proved after 68 minutes when Dundee won a
corner on the right.
Boyack's free-kick was deflected wide by Dodds, but from the resulting
flag-kick Irvine was on hand to direct a powerful downward header past Dykstra.
The points could have been sealed by Boyack after 72 minutes, but he delayed
when faced with only Dykstra to beat and was unable to round the Dutchman who
gathered the ball bravely.
United's problems worsened after 75 minutes when Patterson, as was always the
fear after such an early caution, collected a second booking for clattering into
Annand and was promptly ordered off.
Anderson shot narrowly wide in search of a Dundee second and then showed his
versatility by heading away a late De Vos effort from his own goalline, with
Douglas beaten.
United's fate was sealed, however, in the final minute when Boyack played
through substitute Grady, who slotted the ball under the body of Dykstra to
leave the home team still in relegation danger.
Teams:
Dundee Utd: Dykstra, Malpas (Eustace 46), Patterson, Olofsson,
Hannah (Mathie 74), Easton, Dodds, Miller (Worrell 78),
Skoldmark, De Vos, McCulloch.
Subs Not Used: Combe, McLaughlin.
Sent Off: Patterson (76).
Booked: Patterson.
Dundee: Douglas, Smith, Irvine, Anderson, Annand (Grady 83),
Maddison, Falconer, McSkimming (Robertson 46), Miller, Rae,Boyack.
Subs Not Used: Coyne, Wilkie, Langfield.
Booked: Irvine, Annand.
Goals: Irvine 67, Grady 90.
Att: 12,280
Ref: A Freeland (Aberdeen).
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