Dundee 3 United 1

United’s losing run continued as they succumbed to defeat against their city rivals for the first time in more than a decade.  By Michael Blackley. Jackie McNamara’s side have now gone 10 games without a victory, after Dundee won a hard-fought derby 3-1 at Dens Park. The disappointing defeat came despite United creating a catalogue of chances in the first half, when a Nadir Ciftci penalty quickly brought United level after Greg Stewart gave Dundee the lead.  But goals from James McPake and Paul Heffernan gave the home side a resounding win to avenge the Tangerines’ 6-2 victory on New Year’s Day. McNamara made three changes from the side that lost to Ross County at Tannadice on Saturday, with defender Ryan McGowan returning from suspension to replace John Souttar, while Calum Butcher returned in place of Paul Paton and Henri Anier came in for Blair Spittal. In what was a frantic first half filled with chances at both ends and no shortage of feisty challenges, both sides looked dangerous from the kick off. It was Dundee who pressed first, when a corner from the right caused all manner of problems in the United box before being scrambled behind.  At the other end, United’s first opportunity came when Aidan Connolly burst forward before releasing McGowan on the right.  The Australian defender delivered a fine drilled cross but Anier couldn’t quite connect. It was an extremely lively start and Dundee had a long-range effort from Kevin Thomson well held by Cierzniak, then a wicked Connolly cross was diverted behind by Thomas Konrad and a Ciftci effort was well held by Scott Bain after he was nicely teed up by Erskine. After an even and entertaining first 13 minutes, the game then twisted and turned in a frantic two minute spell. First Dundee took the lead when Greg Stewart struck an effort from long-range which Cierzniak appeared to have covered, only for the ball to creep under his body and over the line. Then United showed the right attitude and responded immediately when Erskine burst forward then powered in a shot which Kevin Thomson was judged to have handled in the box.  After the Dundee skipper was booked, Nadir Ciftci cooly slotted home his second penalty in four days to get United level. Chances continued to come thick and fast at both ends, with Cierzniak pulling out a fantastic one-handed stop from another Stewart effort, then Bain saved from Erskine after the wide man was set up by Ciftci. But Dundee, who had been looking dangerous from corners throughout the opening stages, then took the lead for the second time when centre-half James McPake rose unchallenged in the area to power a header from a corner beyond Cierzniak. United again refused to lie down and were unlucky not to draw level immediately once again, when a Connolly corner caused all sorts of problems before being hacked away, then a Butcher shot had to be well saved then hacked off the line and Connolly had a fizzing effort from the edge of the area which went just wide. Paul Dixon was having some joy down the left flank and he managed to burst to the line before crossing for Connolly, who did well to get a shot in which appeared to be deflected wide – only for referee John Beaton to give a goal kick. As the game neared half time, United kept pushing and came close to an equaliser when a Dixon free kick from the right reached Butcher at the far post, only for his low drive to be hacked away. While United went in at the break 2-1 behind, they were applauded off by the usual strong following of Arabs, who had seen no shortage of hunger and desire, as well as good attacking play, in the opening 45 minutes. They weren’t to produce a similarly high-tempo performance in the second half, however, as Dundee battled their way to victory. United came out for the second half without striker Henri Anier, who was replaced by youngster Blair Spittal. With Dundee opting to sit back much more, United were finding it more difficult to fashion chances. In the opening quarter hour, the best spell of pressure came from a couple of corners, when a Ciftci cross was headed wide and a Rankin shot from the resultant corner was deflected behind. Midway through the second half, United came close when a deflected Butcher effort was tipped beyond the post by Bain. Connolly then played an exquisite through ball to Spittal, only for Bain to rush from his line to clear, before Connolly was replaced by Bilate. Against the run of play, Dundee then went 3-1 ahead when a dangerous driven cross from the left was met at the back post by the onrushing Paul Heffernan, who poked the ball home. As the game entered its final quarter hour, Jackie McNamara made his last throw of the dice, by bringing on Robbie Muirhead for Calum Butcher. But it was now the home side which was the more dangerous, with Cierzniak having to save well to deny a glancing header by Heffernan following a cross from the right. United were then reduced to half chances, including a late driven effort by Dixon that deflected wide, as they fell to a rare victory to their city rivals. Man of the match: Aidan Connolly - he was United's most creative player while on the park and tracked back well in an energetic performance. Dundee: Bain; McGinn, McPak, Konrad, Dyer; Thomson, McGowan, McAlister (Davidson, 73) McGinn; Heffernan, Stewart (Harris 83) Subs not used: Letheren, Clarkson, Wighton, Ferry, Gadzhalov United: Cierzniak; Dillon, Dixon, Fojut, McGowan; Butcher (Muirhead, 73), Rankin; Erskine, Connolly (Bilate, 66), Ciftci; Anier (Spittal, 46) Subs not used: Szromnik, Souttar, Paton, Telfer Attendance: 10,510