IT was a Beautiful Sunday for Dundee United.
The Tangerine half of the city were in full party mode after Ian Harkes late strike earned them bragging rights in the first top-flight Dundee derby in five years.
The two teams are literally separated by the breadth of a road, and on the park it was just as narrow a gap between the clubs as it could’ve gone either way in an exciting fixture in front of the TV cameras.
Tam Courts surprised some as he handed the returning Benjamin Siegrist back in goal for the derby with 16-year-old Kerr Smith also thrown in the deep-end at right-back to replace injured Liam Smith.
For visiting manager James McPake it was two changes from the goalless draw with Livingston as Paul McMullan and Paul McGowan replaced Luke McCowan and Alex Jakubiak.
The Dark Blues were once again without Charlie Adam who didn’t manage to comeback from a groin injury for the rival clash.
It was a typical, or a standard of pre-Covid times, divided crowd inside Tannadice with all four stands packed including a healthy support making the few-hundred yard journey from Dens Park.
The home fans welcomed their heroes to the pitch with a display spanning the three stands with a banner reading Tangerine Army.
Little did the fans who draped the display from an upper tier of the stand know just how much fight their players would have to put in to claim a precious derby victory.
And despite the welcome, it was Dundee who started brighter with Cammy Kerr taking sight of goal within the first sixty seconds after a driving run and lay-off from Shaun Byrne.
The hosts responded with a couple of efforts of their own as Peter Pawlett took the space he was afforded on the edge of the area and fired two shots towards Adam Legzdins goal, but both flew over.
The first real opportunity of the afternoon though fell to Dundee after eight minutes. Jordan Marshall advanced down the left flank before swinging an inviting cross to on-loan Celtic man Leigh Griffiths. The striker rose well but could only direct his header wide of the far post.
Just six minutes later and Griffiths was again close to breaking the derby deadlock. Marshall once more acted as provider with a cut-back to Griffiths in the centre of the box, but his half-volley was palmed clear by Siegrist.
If there were any doubts over the commitment of either side they were eased just before and after Griffiths’ latest effort.
First Scott McMann and Marshall both launched into a fierce but fair challenge, before Ryan Sweeney blocked a powerful Marc McNulty effort from threatening goal with his face.
The centre-back was later in the half withdrawn after feeling dizzy following the terrific block.
The tide of the match then began to change to favouring the hosts as Pawlett again tried his luck from range after a surging run, but the post denied him an opener ten minutes from the break.
Harkes could’ve opened the scoring in stoppage time of the first period as he flicked the ball through sub Liam Fontaine’s legs before unleashing a fierce strike only stopped by the charging Lee Ashcroft who threw his body in the way as both sides were left rueing their missed chances from a breathless opening 45 minutes.
It sometimes the case that the interval halts any flow of the game, but this wasn’t the case, both sides reminded of the battle they were in when Jordan McGhee threw himself into a full-committed challenge on Jeando Fuchs, winning the ball cleanly before clattering into Fuchs.
It looked as though the match would end a split of the points as neither side could make their chances count, another example for Dundee coming twenty minutes from time.
Byrne controlled well before jinking onto his left and slamming at goal, Ryan Edwards produced a stunning block but the rebound fell to Griffiths who blazed over with the goal at his mercy.
The passed up opportunity seemed to rejuvenate United who went on to snatch the lead with nine minutes left.
Harkes steadied himself before firing a low shot at goal from the edge of the area which the despairing Legzdins could only push further into the top corner as Tannadice erupted.
Among those celebrating were the family of legendary United boss Jim McLean, of whom a statue was unveiled outside the stadium on Saturday evening.
And while the scenes of jubilation lasted a few minutes, with smoke bombs let off and an overexcited fan charging onto the pitch, it was almost wiped out with a last-gasp leveller.
First Griffiths rose well to tee up Cillian Sheridan who looked certain to score but for a magnificent last-gasp Charlie Mulgrew sliding challenge just three minutes from time.
And in stoppage time Dundee got as close as they ever could do without finding the net. McMullan whipped a cross into the packed area which fell to Marshall. He spun and shot towards the bottom corner where Edwards was again the saviour for United as he cleared off the line.
Come the final whistle the roar of relief and joy from the home support was a booming one, before cheers turned to singing as the hosts revelled in a Beautiful Sunday to remember while the visitors trudged out hoping it was one they would quickly forget.
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