Ashley Hay’s cool finish earned Dundee a hard-fought derby win over Dundee United at Tannadice in the Scottish Premiership.
Having scored in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Kilmarnock, Hay once again found the back of the net against Dundee’s city rivals as they made it three straight league wins.
In the final minute of the first half, he capitalised on a misjudged header from Dundee United midfielder Pan Camara to race through on goal and find the bottom corner.
It was the anomaly on an afternoon where both sides wasted several gilt-edged chances.
Dundee defender Billy Koumetio twice missed the target with the goal gaping, while full-back Ryan Astley volleyed over the top.
United were outplayed in the first half, but had the better of proceedings after the break without finding a way to goal.
Luca Stephenson had the best of the chances for the home side, but was denied by a brilliant save by Jon McCracken.
They continued to push forward in the closing stages, but Dundee stood firm to take the bragging rights and end United’s five-match unbeaten run, sparking joyous celebrations on the pitch and in the away end.
Pressley isn’t the type to get carried away and he stressed before kick-off at Tannadice that his team can still improve in multiple areas, but this was a game they would not have won earlier in the campaign.
They stood firm in the second half, putting bodies on the line as United turned the screw.
Koumetio was superb at the back, making 15 clearances and winning nine of his 12 aerial duels and he was backed up by centre-back partner Luke Graham.
When the Dundee defence was breached, McCracken was there to bail them out, with the save from Stephenson simply outstanding.
Hay led the line well in addition to his match-winning goal and was supported by Yan Dhanda, who delivered an excellent all-round display, putting dangerous balls into the box and doing the dirty work going the other way.
Not only have they won three in a row, they are now unbeaten in their past four trips to Tannadice and have moved nine points above Kilmarnock in the relegation play-off spot.
United boss Jim Goodwin will look back with regret on the Camara error that led to the goal and the chances they wasted in the second half.
From 42 touches in the Dundee box, they only managed five shots on target – a poor conversion rate by anyone’s standards.
One moment late on summed up their day. Amar Fatah wriggled past a couple of defenders before teeing up the usually reliable Zac Sapsford, but he took a needless touch and was unable to get his shot away before being swarmed by dark blue shirts.
Performances like that will deliver points more often than not, but it is results, rather than performances, that matter on derby day.
Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: “It’s not the result we were hoping for. We get undone by a mistake on our part – it’s a situation we have to deal with a lot better.
“Second half, we were by far the better team, but the big criticism is we didn’t do enough with the possession.
“Credit to Dundee, they defended their box well and McCracken makes a magnificent save.
“The magnitude of a game like this, our supporters want bragging rights after the game and that’s not the case.”
Dundee manager Steven Pressley: “It was really difficult to pick out any individual in that performance.
“It was an incredible team performance, filled with unity, team spirit and real quality at times.
“We knew we would have to endure some difficult moments, we’d have to stand up to the game and do the dirty side well. They did that to exceptional standards.
“We knew coming into this game – we’re on the back of two really important results – but we know the importance of this game. It was a pivotal game and I couldn’t be prouder of the players.”
Dundee host league leaders Hearts next Sunday (14:00), while Dundee United are away to Celtic next Saturday (15:00).
