MATCH REPORT | DUNDEE UNITED 2-2 DUNDEE

A pulsating Dundee Derby ends level as we kick-start our league campaign with a hard-fought point

Dundee United 2 (Trapanovski 13′, Thomson 23′)

Dundee 2 (Palmer-Houlden 18′, McCowan pen ’78)

1.30pm Sunday 4 August 2024

The CalForth Construction Arena at Tannadice Park

William Hill Premiership

Attendance: 12,616

Team News

Jim Goodwin’s first XI of the new league season featured six new additions as we clashed with Dundee at The CalForth Construction Arena at Tannadice Park.

Jack Walton, Vicko Ševelj, Kristijan Trapanovski, David Babunski, Will Ferry and Jort van der Sande made up more than half of our complement.

Seven DUFC Academy Graduates were involved in our matchday squad.

THE DREAM START

In a frantic opening at Tannadice, it was our number 7 who smashed home early on to give us the lead.

Will Ferry set the tone inside the opening seconds, firing into a challenge to the roar of the home crowd.

We were starved of any real sightings until after the 10-minute mark when excellent wing play from Miller Thomson allowed him to burst into the box before setting the ball back for David Babunski. It looked like there would only be one outcome, but our number 10 fired high over the bar with a first-time effort.

The opener came after 13 minutes as a killer line-breaking pass from Babunski was taken in stride by Van Der Sande – who squared across the face for Trapanovski to bullet home from a matter of yards.

PEGGED BACK

Our lead was short-lived however, as the visitors levelled proceedings on 18 minutes.

Luke McCowan and Simon Murray led the charges before Jack Walton could only parry an effort into the path of Seb Palmer-Houlden to bury from close range.

TIPPING THE SCALES

United were back on top just five minutes later courtesy of a free-flowing attack. Ferry was at the heart of it, driving inside before spreading play out to Vicko Ševelj. His low, first-time cross was inch perfect for Thomson who arrived at the back post to smash home.

Babunski and Trapanovski both had chances to put the icing on the first-half cake. The former went close with a lofted effort looking to catch out Jon McCracken before The ‘Dee stopper was equal to Trapanovski’s snapshot in search of the far corner.

That was all she wrote in the first 45 as David Dickinson brought close to a bustling opening period.

CRAFTING MORE

Trapanovski was almost at the double a few minutes before the hour mark. A lightning United counter had our number 7 racing clear with the freedom of the visitors’ half ahead. Choosing to go for a lofted effort, his connection wasn’t enough and the ball was hooked clear by Lyall Cameron on the line. There were loud appeals for a foul which were waved away in favour of a United corner.

Playing the role of target man to a tee, Van Der Sande almost had a goal of his own as he connected with Babunski’s deal-ball – McCracken equal to it in the end.

The visitors went close to drawing level once more in what would have been a soft goal to lose. Scott Tiffoney was the danger man, skipping through Ševelj and Thomson before forcing a combination of Walton and Kevin Holt to make a block on the line.

LEFT FRUSTRATED

The leveller eventually came by way of the penalty spot.

Onside by the tightest of margins, Murray ran Graham back towards his own penalty area before our number 6 went sliding to ground. There was initial contact with the ball but a raised boot on the follow-through was enough to send Dickinson to the monitor.

Following a long check, Luke McCowan stepped up from 12 yards and slotted home.

A gilt-edged chance late on thankfully went begging as Murray’s low cross could only be lifted over the bar by the onrushing Curtis Main. Moments later, substitute Richard Odada could have made himself a hero as he met Ferry’s cross but could only head over the bar.

It was a contest where the pendulum could easily have swung either way as we settled for a point in the city of discovery.