Dundee United’s long unbeaten record over Dundee at Tannadice will continue a bit longer after a bruising first Premiership Dundee Derby since 2016 saw the hosts pick up a 1-0 win thank to Ian Harkes’ strike – making it eleven games without a win at Tannadice for James McPake’s side.

There was an unsurprisingly frenetic start to the game, with both sides firing early chances over the bar from Cammy Kerr and Peter Pawlett before Leigh Griffiths went within inches of opening the scoring with a header after 8 minutes.

Soon after, Griffiths forced a fantastic save from Siegrist, meeting Jordan Marshall’s cross first-time with a low strike at goal the United keeper done well to keep out.

The Arabs started to find their feet in the game a little, McNulty and Pawlett causing problems for the visitors as both sides put in a tremendous amount of effort to try and break the deadlock before the break.

United’s best chance before half-time came through Pawlett, cutting across the box from the right and then seeing his effort touched onto the post by Legzdins and out for a corner.

After a foul-ridden first 45, the second was even more stop-start in the early phase with a number of cynical fouls breaking play up and stopping either side getting into any sort of rhythm – although it seemed neither side particularly looked too fussed over the nature of the game.

Griffiths should have made it 1-0 with 20 minutes to go after Byrne’s shot was charged down and fell for the striker but his effort was fired over the bar with a United defender lunging to try and make a block.

Dee boss James McPake made one last throw of the dice, bringing on Jason Cummings for the final 15 minutes as the visitors looked to snatch a late goal and head back up Tannadice Street happy.

However, with ten minutes left, Harkes fired the hosts in front as Legzdins didn’t exactly cover himself in glory as he tried to keep out the American’s effort.

Dundee would have chances to get back into the game and draw level but a fantastic late block from Ryan Edwards and poor finishing from Griffiths ensured the three points remained with the Tangerine side of the City of Discovery in the first top-flight Dundee derby since Dundee relegated their rivals in 2016.

DUNDEE UNITED: Siegrist, Smith, Edwards, Mulgrew, McMann, Fuchs, Butcher, Harkes, Niskanen, Pawlett, McNulty

DUNDEE: Legzdins, Kerr, Marshall, Sweeney, McGhee, Byrne, McGowan, Ashcroft, McMullan, Anderson, Griffiths

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