Dundee United 3, Dundee 0, Tannadice, William Hill Premiership, 26th April 2024

Dundee made five changes for the last Derby of the season, with Brad Halliday, Drew Wright, Joel Cotteril, Tony Yogane and Simon Murray all dropping to the bench to make way for Ryan Astley, Imari Samuels, Joe Westley, Scott Wight and Ashley Hay.

Dundee got off to a slow start and United looked better in the midfield going forward. Westley had a wee chance but curled the ball wide of the goal. United took the lead on 14 minutes with a slow motion goal, a shot took two deflections and when in off the post.

Dundee hit back but Luke Graham was unlucky when his shot was cleared off the line. United then came close twice as Dundee lost the ball in midfield. 

There was a period of end-to-end stuff, with Dundee taking their turn. Dhanda made a fine pass to Cameron Congreve, who managed to shrug off a few defenders to make a run into the box. When he went to pull the trigger, the home defence blocked his shot for a corner that came to nothing.

Dundee then got a free kick after Wright had been fouled. The resulting free-kick was swung deep in the box, and Graham got his head onto it, but his shot came off the back of an orange shirt and out for a corner. From the corner, Dundee thought they had levelled the scoring through Westley putting his body on the line to nod the ball into the net, but after a VAR check, the referee decided that the goal shouldn’t stand after a shirt pull from Ryan Astley in the build-up.

Ethan Hamilton had a shot which was blocked and soon after the half time whistle went. At least Dundee were only one goal down.

Second half and in the first 15 minutes both teams battled in midfield with Und being better getting to the second ball. They pushed forward and had a few efforts on goal.

Both clubs made changes in the 68th minute. Simon Murray and Charlie Reilly took the field for Scott Wright and Cameron Congreve, while United put on Ivan Dolcek for Max Watters

But two minutes later it was 2-0 when Ferry shot home, minutes later it was 3-0 and game over, Strain heading home. 

Dundee kept coming forward but struggled to get the ball down and play football as they did a few months ago.

The time went quickly and it was time up with thankfully no more goals for United. 

Big game next week as we face St Mirren at Dens, only bonus the week is Kilmarnock and St Mirren lost at the weekend.

Dundee: McCracken. Samuels, Koumetio, Graham, Astley, Hamilton, S. Wright (Murray 69), Dhanda, Congerve (Reilly 69), Westley, Hay (Yogane 79). Unused Subs: O’Hara, Halliday, Cotterill, Jones, F. Robertson, D. Wright

Referee:  Matthew MacDermid 

Att: 13,207

Kilmarnock 2, Dundee 2, Rugby Park, William Hill Premiership, 11-April-26

Dundee made two changes to the Dee starting eleven. Billy Koumetio replaced the suspended Ryan Astley in central defence, and Joel Cotterill came into the midfield for Fin Robertson, who was on the bench.

Kilmarnock started well and put Dundee under pressure from the start. And they scored in 14 minutes when Hugill shot home after slack defending from Dundee.

Dundee continued to struggle with when they did get forward, the cross balls were very poor. But on 27 minutes a bit of pace from Tony Yogane and his cross was headed home by Simon Murray for a great goal.

Three minutes later and Simon Murray scored again, but it was ruled out for offside, it was a tight decision. 

But Kilmarnock scored again six minutes later when the ball fell to Michael Schjønning-Larsen who shot home. 

At half time Brad Halliday was replaced by Imari Samuels with Drey Wright switching to right back. The switch made sense because Halliday had been booked, and the change gave Dundee a better balance.

Second half was almost the same as the first half with Dundee struggling. McCracken saved well to keep Dundee in the game. 

Just before the hour the Dee made three changes, sending on Joe Westley, Scott Wright, and Ash Hay for Yan Dhanda, Cameron Congreve, and Simon Murray. Westley played on the left, with Wright through the middle behind Hay, and Yogane moving to the right wing.

Dundee did improve and Charlie Reilly came on for Tony Yogane as Dundee fought hard to get back on level terms. The equaliser came in the 81st minute thanks to a beautifully executed goal. Drey Wright sent an accurate diagonal pass across the pitch. Samuels first touch was perfect and that allowed him to advance into space down the left and he played a beautiful pass through the defence for Scott Wright  to slip a low shot past the keeper.

Then in a crazy last few minutes and Dundee were awarded a penalty when Scott Wright was fouled in the box. Var got involved and it took eight minutes to decide it was a penalty.

Up stepped Joe Westley but Kelle Roos went the right way and saved. That was the end of the game. And to be fair Kilmarnock were the better side and Dundee were well below par.

Dundee: McCracken, Halliday (Samuels at half time), Koumetio, Graham, Drey Wright, Hamilton,  Cotterill, Congreve (Scott Wright 59), Dhanda (Westley 59), Yogane (Reailly 71), Murray (c) (Hay 59) Unused Subs: O’Hara (gk), Fin Robertson, Montsma, Jones.

Referee: Ross Hardie.

Att: 6,435 

Dundee 1, Celtic 2, Dens Park, William Hill Premiership, Dens Park, 05-April-26

Dundee made two changes to the Dark Blues’ starting eleven. Simon Murray and Yan Dhanda came in for Ash Hay and Joe Westley, who were both on the bench.

Celtic started well and had Dundee under some pressure, it paid off when they scored early after a good move Jon McCracken made a great save but the ball fell to Yang who touched the ball into the net.

That was the story off the first half and finally Dundee had a few moves but failed to create anything clear cut to score. Celtic hit the post but Luke Graham cleared the ball.

At least they got to half-time just 1-0 down.

Second half and Celtic started well and missed a great chance in the first few minutes. But soon after Dundee had a shot which looked like hand ball, the referee missed it, but Var asked to check it on the screen.

Result penalty to Dundee,,,,Up stepped Simon Murray to score with ease. It was game on and Dundee looked much better in their attacks.

Ash Hay and Joel Cotterill came on for Simon Murray and Fin Robertson, then Scott Wright replaced the injured Tony Yogane. The loss of Yogane was particularly disappointing because, yet again, the full back marking him had been replaced after struggling to handle the young winger.

Celtic were desperate to get the win, and it was no surprise that they stepped up the pressure towards the end. Kelechi Iheanacho had replaced the ineffective Cvancara and he was on hand to score when Celtic finally did create a clear chance in the 82nd minute. Marcelo Saracchi crossed from the left and Iheanacho turned quickly to shoot past McCracken.

Soon after Ryan Astley was sent off for a second booking, it looked a bit soft. The game ran away from Dundee as time went quickly.

Dundee: McCracken, Halliday, Astley, Graham, Drey Wright (Koumetio 90+2), Hamilton, Fin Robertson (Cotterill 67), Congreve, Dhanda (Reilly 90+2), Yogane (Scott Wright 73), Murray (c) (Hay 67). Unused Subs: O’Hara (gk), Samuels, Westley, Jones.

Referee: Steven McLean.

Att: 9,007