PETER PAWLETT has vowed to ignore the hype when Dundee United defend their 100 per cent Championship record against city rivals Dundee.
Robbie Neilson’s men made it three victories out of three on Saturday when they dispatched Dunfermline courtesy of a double from the rampant Lawrence Shankland.
The impressive triumph could have been even more comprehensive, with Shankland passing up the opportunity to notch a hat-trick by missing a late penalty kick and Pawlett shooting wide from a yard.
Nevertheless, United remain the early pace-setters and, with the Dee also expected to be battling for the title, Friday night’s televised derby showdown is one of the most eagerly anticipated in recent years.
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Pawlett said: “I know how much winning a Dundee derby would mean to the fans and there is hype around it already. However, for us it is vital to remain professional and approach the match in the right way.
“It is a big day for the fans but we are keeping a lid on it. Fans can get right up for games but we have a job to do. We need to have the same diligence every day of every week regardless of the opposition.
“We know the fact that is is a derby next means there will be added pressure but we have to deal with that in the right way.
“It’s been a good start to the season but, as we said in the dressing room right after the Dunfermline game, we are only three games in. It is about getting through the next game, taking three points and then moving on.”
Shankland took his remarkable tally for the campaign to seven goals in three league games - nine in all competitions - in a clinical first-half showing as United blew away the Pars.
The former Ayr United ace required just 10 minutes to break the deadlock, firing through the legs of Ryan Scully from a tight angle after holding off the challenge of Stuart Morrison, who endured a miserable afternoon at the heart of the Dunfermline defence.
Shankland bagged a brace on the half-hour mark when he powered a header beyond Scully from point-blank range following a sensational surge and delivery from the irrepressible Paul McMullan.
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The Taysiders passed up two glorious chances to add gloss to the scoreline after the break, most notably Scully making a smart save from Shankland’s penalty kick after Kyle Turner had handled the ball in the box.
Pawlett, who otherwise impressed from the bench, then somehow sclaffed a shot wide when presented with an open goal from a Shankland delivery. However, he is adamant a Scully touch on the cross threw him off - mitigating the miss of the season contender.
He laughed: “The keeper got a touch on it and it hit off my heel. I have seen it already. It’s on film so there is proof!
“We can have a laugh about it now because we won the game. Had it been 0-0 then it would have been a very different story.”
Scully’s spot-kick save ensured he was one of the few Pars players to emerge from the defeat with any semblance of credit. The meek defeat was night and day from their courageous display in a narrow, extra-time defeat at Celtic a week prior.
And he pulled no punches in the aftermath.
The Dunfermline No.1 said: “We know that we dropped well below our standards. It is one of the games you look at and say that you have no complaints about getting beat.”
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