Dundee Utd0–1Dundee

Recording the first win over your city rivals in over four years would normally be the only story in town, but as has so often been the case for Dundee in this period of tangerine dominance, it was United that continued to command the headlines and the chat in the city’s pubs when it emerged that Rangers wanted Jim McLean to become their new manager. McLean spent Sunday afternoon having discussions with the Ibrox board, with no decision forthcoming, and it was impossible not to conclude that this sudden uncertainty impacted the United side in Saturday’s derby. After such a complete performance on Wednesday night against Standard Liege, when observers were suggesting that lifting the European Cup was a real possibility, it jarred the senses to see a United team offer up such a stuttering performance. McLean brought Derek Johnstone back into the side for the injured Derek Stark, pushing Billy Kirkwood back into his more traditional midfield role.

United tried to force the pace of the early exchanges, but they struggled to impose themselves and lacked the creative spark to open up the Dundee defence and the visitors started to dominate. Their pressure told in the 18th minute when Stewart McKimmie, winning a battle for the ball with Davie Dodds, fed Peter Mackie who, through on goal, rounded Hamish McAlpine to slot the ball home. Ralph Milne and Dodds had half chances before the break and Johnstone nearly brought United level in the early part of the second half, but his overhead kick went wide before he was withdrawn for John Reilly, but the truth was, United looked unlikely to find a way past the Dundee backline that was being superbly marshalled by Bobby Glennie.

This was United’s first reversal to Dundee since 20th October 1979 when they also lost 1-0, but fans were less concerned about bragging rights than the thought that the man who won them their first major trophies and has made the team a genuine force in Europe may take on the task of restoring the ailing Glasgow side. McLean offered no comment after his Sunday conversations. Now, United fans can only sit and wait, whilst you would not be surprised if Dundee’s fans were hoping for an unlikely double of a derby win and a United suddenly shorn of their managerial genius. For that, they may not mind the focus being on United for a little bit longer.