United move third after coming from behind to see off Dundee at Dens!

Dundee 1 (Murray pen 61')

Dundee United 2 (Ševelj 66', Dalby 88')

5:30pm Thursday 2 January 2025

ScotFoam Stadium at Dens Park

William Hill Premiership

Attendance: 11,585

Images: Richard Wiseman (Club Photographer)

The Team Talk

After stellar showings to close out the year, Jim Goodwin made just one change as we faced Dundee in the 176th Dundee Derby. 

Skipper Ross Docherty was re-instated, replacing David Babunski who missed out through illness. 

Five DUFC Academy Graduates were named on the bench. 

Two Cracks at the Whip

It was almost the perfect start on the imperfect end of Tannadice Street as Sam Dalby forced Trevor Carson into a stop inside a minute. 

It came as we cantered forward down the left before Will Ferry's whipped cross was nodded down towards the side netting, only for the Dundee number 31 to claw it around the post and the resultant danger from a United corner was cleared. 

As we approached the 10-minute mark, a huge block on the line from Ryan Strain denied Finlay Robertson who looked certain to open the scoring - latching onto Seb Palmer-Houlden's cutback at the far-post. 

We almost found the lead just before 20 minutes again through our English talisman. This time, Glen Middleton's cross was nodded back across by Kristijan Trapanovski and Dalby took one touch to control before swivelling and poking it just wide of the post!

The hosts enjoyed the better of the chances in the following 15 minutes, with Mo Sylla and Oluwaseun Adewumi both going close. 

A surging run from Strain then saw him evade countless navy blue shirts before laying off Trapanovski who could only blast high and wide with his first-time effort from the corner of the box. 

Chances petered out as Steven McLean drew close on a half that left work to be done. 

Down But Not Out

We were frustratingly close to notching the opener ahead of a spot-kick for the home side. 

It was Strain who almost found the back of the net, but his deflected effort trickled just wide of the post. 

Just after the hour, Kevin Holt was penalised for a flailing arm as he challenged Simon Murray for the ball - and a lengthy VAR check eventually awarded a penalty which Murray dispatched cooly. 

Cometh the Croatian 

We weren't behind for long as Vicko Ševelj capped off a brilliant run of form with his first United goal. 

It was another long throw that paid dividends as half-time substitute Ross Graham launched it into the danger area before it was flicked on by Palmer-Houlden whose failed clearance turned into an assist and was nodded into the net by Ševelj!

Bedlam at the Death

A super stop from Carson denied Strain once more before a trademark Dalby strike secured all three points to send us third in the table. 

It came on 88 minutes as Ferry's sweeping cross was flashed across goal by Holt and cushioned home by our number 19 for his tenth of the season!

Own A Piece of the Game!

You can get your hands on a MatchWornShirt from tonight's victory! 

Post-Match Thoughts

Teamlines

Dundee

Starting XI: Carson (c), Robertson, Astley, Mulligan, Cameron, Adewumi, Murray, Robertson, Palmer-Houlden, Graham, Sylla

Subs: McCracken, Sharp, Ingram, Tiffoney, Main, Garza, Kelly, Braybooke, Vetro

Dundee United

Starting XI: Walton, Strain, Holt, Ševelj, Trapanovski, Ferry, Middleton, Adegboyega, Stephenson, Dalby, Docherty (c)

Subs: Richards, Graham, Odada, Fotheringham, van der Sande, Thomson, Stirton, Domeracki, Meshack

Next Up

We're on home turf for the first time this year as Hearts visit Tannadice on Sunday afternoon! 

CLICK HERE to buy your ticket!

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