Dundee started well and Leigh Griffiths was unlucky to see his header go just wide after a superb cross from Jordan Marshall. Soon after the same pair combined again this time Leigh Griffith's shot was well saved by the United keeper.
Ten minutes from half time and Ryan Sweeney was replaced by Liam Fontaine, Ryan had not recovered from a injury picked up earlier. Dundee keeper Adam Legzdins made a great save to deny Pawlett pushing his shot onto the post.
Second half and the game became pretty scrappy, but Shaun Byrne had a great chance but his shot was saved by the United keeper , the ball fell to Griffiths but the ball would not come down in time and his effort went over the bar.
Alex Jakubiak came on for Max Anderson and Jason Cummings replaced Paul McGowan as Dundee knew that this was a game they could win and refused to settle for a point.
But it was United who grabbed the vital goal when Harkes shot home from the edge of the box, Dundee pushed forward to try and level the game and came close twice in the final minutes, first Sheridan was about to shoot but a good tackle denied the big striker. Then Jordan Marshall has a shot which was blocked on the line.
Dundee: Legzdins, Kerr (Sheridan 85), Ashcroft, Sweeney (Fontaine 35), Marshall, Anderson (Jakubiak 60), Byrne, McGhee, McMullan, Griffiths, McGowan (Cummings 74). Unused Subs: Lawlor (gk), McCowan, Panter.
Referee: John Beaton.
Att: 12,806
