Match ends, Dundee United 2, Dundee 2.
Dundee UtdDundee United2DundeeDundee2
A last-gasp goal by James McPake rescued a point for Dundee in a pulsating derby against Dundee United.
Blair Spittal seemed to shatter the visitors' hopes with two brilliant goals in two second-half minutes.
They were rare moments of aplomb in a typically intense encounter, but Dundee managed their own with a superb Greg Stewart strike.
There were nine minutes left - and Dundee needed all of them to force an equaliser.
It was the visitors who carried the greater threat in the opening half, with their three forwards - Kane Hemmings, Rory Loy and Stewart - full of good movement and attacking intent, and often looking to spin into space behind the United defenders.
The game was played at a high tempo and frantic at times, but Dundee seemed better able to make sense of the fury of the game.
United goalkeeper Luis Zwick blocked a shot from Paul McGinn and then recovered quickly to stop Nick Ross's effort from the rebound.
That miss was a regret for the visitors, since it was their clearest opening. The impressive Stewart lashed a shot on target just before half-time but Zwick saved, while McGinn saw his cross brush the far post.
United were far more tentative and conservative, seldom committing players forward to support lone striker Darko Bodul, which partly explains his ineffectiveness.
Even so, there were signs that Spittal, Aidan Connolly and Scott Fraser could create openings if only they could find time and space on the ball.
Both became available in a much more open second half, and much of United's approach was shaped by substitutions.
First Dundee lost their experienced sitting midfielder Kevin Thomson to injury, losing his maturity and control of the tempo.
Then rangy striker Simon Murray came on for United, stretching the Dundee defence with his vigour and direct running. The visitors' mood was disturbed and United took full advantage.
When John Rankin fired a pass up to Spittal, he turned and showed excellent footwork to sidestep a McPake challenge and flick a shot past Scott Bain with the outside of his foot.
Two minutes later he scored again, when Chris Erskine had the vision and touch to spilt the Dundee defence with a pass that released Spittal, who finished calmly.
Dundee looked stunned, only for Stewart to remind all of his talent with a left-footed shot into the far corner past Zwick.
The game lost its structure in the closing minutes and Spittal nearly scored a third with a free-kick and then a shot just wide, while Murray saw his shot pushed onto the crossbar by the excellent Bain.
Dundee were rewarded for not relenting. A United clearance fell to Charlie Telfer, who was robbed by Gary Harkins. The Dundee midfielder hit a long-range shot that Zwick pushed away, but only as far as McPake, who slid in to grab an equaliser.
The Dundee players would have made the short walk back along Tannadice Street to Dens Park with a spring in their step.
They still have not won at Tannadice since 2004 but this performance, in its resilience and intent, was a measure of their progress.
Line-ups
Dundee Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 51Zwick
- 12McGowan
- 17Durnan
- 28Donaldson
- 3Dixon
- 4Souttar
- 8Rankin
- 18ConnollySubstituted forMurrayat 60'minutes
- 22FraserSubstituted forErskineat 60'minutes
- 20Spittal
- 30BodulSubstituted forTelferat 71'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Dillon
- 10Muirhead
- 11Erskine
- 13McCallum
- 15Murray
- 16Telfer
- 32Lochhead
Dundee
Formation 4-3-1-2
- 1Bain
- 19McGinn
- 5McPake
- 16EtxabegurenSubstituted forKonradat 9'minutes
- 3Holt
- 29Harkins
- 10ThomsonSubstituted forMcGowanat 50'minutes
- 7Stewart
- 17Ross
- 9Loy
- 15HemmingsSubstituted forLowat 71'minutesBooked at 72mins
Substitutes
- 2Irvine
- 4Konrad
- 6Meggatt
- 8Low
- 11Ferry
- 12Mitchell
- 18McGowan
- Referee:
- John Beaton
- Attendance:
- 11,835
Match Stats
Home TeamDundee UtdAway TeamDundee
- Possession
- Home46%
- Away54%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away7
- Corners
- Home6
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Dundee United 2, Dundee 2.
Goal!
Goal! Dundee United 2, Dundee 2. James McPake (Dundee) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal.
Post update
Charlie Telfer (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Paul McGowan (Dundee).
Post update
Foul by Simon Murray (Dundee United).
Post update
Thomas Konrad (Dundee) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Charlie Telfer (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Kevin Holt (Dundee).
Post update
Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Thomas Konrad.
Post update
Chris Erskine (Dundee United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Kevin Holt (Dundee).
Post update
Attempt missed. Greg Stewart (Dundee) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Post update
Attempt missed. Charlie Telfer (Dundee United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
Attempt missed. Blair Spittal (Dundee United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Goal!
Goal! Dundee United 2, Dundee 1. Greg Stewart (Dundee) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Paul McGowan.
Post update
Foul by Simon Murray (Dundee United).
Post update
James McPake (Dundee) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt saved. Paul McGowan (Dundee) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Scott Bain.
