It is derby day once again in Dundee as the two clubs clash for what will be their fourth meeting of the season. Dundee have yet to win any of them, though, so they will be looking to cap off what has been an excellent return to the Premiership with a victory over their city rivals. They also have the added incentive of knowing a win would take them to into the top six and leave them only two points behind United. Survival would have been their immediate following winning the Championship last season but they have never had a moments worry with regards to relegation and look set for a prolonged stay in Scotland’s top flight. The fact that they have a genuine chance of finishing above their neighbours is testament to the job that Paul Hartley and his players have done this season.
I have previewed several of Dundee United’s games in 2015, noting how badly they have fallen away in recent weeks. Their dismal run continued at the weekend with a 2-1 home defeat to improving Ross County. It extended their run without a victory to nine games across all three domestic competitions. Their last two wins have came in cup competitions meaning that they have not won a league since the end of a January. It has meant they have went from harbouring hopes of finishing in the top two, to possibly not even making the top six. They will hope that their good recent run over Dundee continues as there is very little optimism at Tannadice just now.
Unlike their rivals, the blue half of Dundee will be pleased with how they have performed in recent weeks. Their form in the league has been excellent since the turn of the year, winning five and drawing four of their 11 games. One of their two defeats was an embarrassing 6-2 loss against Dundee United on New Years Day and it will be that result particularly that they will want to avenge. The Dens Park club have actually conceded 11 goals in their three previous meetings – that’s something they will have to rectify if they are to win on Wednesday.
For a team who promised so much for the first half of the season, it seems strange to see Dundee United, as a club, so desolate at the moment. A win in the derby would obviously be a boost to the supporters, but there’s no getting away how disappointing they have been in the second half of the campaign. Losing two of their best players in the transfer window has clearly had a huge impact, and they were unfortunate in coming up against Celtic in both cup competitions, but good teams are built on spirt and a togetherness – that has been lacking for a while with this team.
Dundee know that a win here would go a long way to finishing in the top six with just three games before the league splits into two, left. United, on the other hand, will simply be hoping to return to winning ways and there would be no better time to do that than with a win away to your bitter rivals. It’s the home team I am interested in, though. If it were not for their very dismal record in this match (not won any of the last ten) then I would be very confident. Although that does concern me, the recent form of both clubs is my main focus and there is no getting away from how good Dundee have been, and I think they will end their dreadful record in the derby, inflicting more misery on Jackie McNamara’s Dundee United side.
Dundee 7/4 @ Betfred
