DERBY PREVIEW - WILL ‘THE FUNNY TEAM' BE THE HUNGRIER SIDE?

You’d think the above scenario would be enough to send every Dee within a hundred miles of Dundee scampering to Dens for tickets – apparently not. Unbelievably, whilst United’s allocation of 4000 tickets has been sold out for days, Dundee have several thousand still to shift.

Of course, none of the above will have any bearing on Saturday’s outcome at all – and if you are (over) confident about Saturday because of the above, then think back through the last nine derbies, which have seen existence-threatened times throughout for DFC, and we’ve not won any!!

It’s not all doom and gloom on the derby front though. There are several that we should have taken more from – one in particular springs to mind for me - the game at Tannadice when there was the alleged boycott at Fat Sam’s by Dundee supporters. It finished 2-2, and I think Dundee were barely in our half the whole game. Here’s an excerpt from FootyMad’s independent match reports archive….

“Worse was to come for the Tangerines in the 39th minute when Dundee doubled their lead with only their second attack…..”

and they’d obviously scored on the other one too!!

Such was the game – we just couldn’t score. Well we could of course – twice - but you catch my drift. The possession United had in that game was phenomenal, but in the first half, Dundee attacked twice and scored twice – a more one-sided half, in terms of ‘ownership’ I’ve never seen.

There have been other result-influencing decisions by referees too – I remember Dundee being awarded a penalty for a foul that TV evidence proved was outside the box – and who can forget Mark Wilson being sent off, and subsequently banned, for a foul he didn’t commit?

These games have gone though – and the run stands – nine games without victory for us.

Relegation Battle

At most of these other derbies there has been little more at stake than personal pride and bragging rights. The points may have contributed to top/bottom six placings – but none were as important as this Saturday – where defeat for either club will mean the trapdoor to Division One opens a little wider, and for Dundee, a drop in takings they might not survive.

There’s no doubting DFC have had the better of the last few seasons, in terms of results at least, and I think the added incentive of oblivion may give them an edge and resolve of the kind administration brought them. They’ll be no mugs. However United have qualified for Europe, are on a decent run of form (unbeaten in four and seven points from the last three league games), have reached a cup final and, for the first time in ages, have their destiny in the SPL in their own hands, having been bottom for a lengthy period.

It’s impossible to call, as they always are, but one thing is for sure – this is a big one, and despite Dundee failing to sell their tickets yet, there will be a cracking atmosphere for a vital game.

It’s certainly not looking good for the Funsters, crowds down, season ticket prices up, struggling to sell 8000 tickets to their own future, and it’s very future threatened – but we will be unwise to underestimate them, and let’s not forget the three points are equally vital to ourselves.

We can win this game – we have better players, we are on a good run of form, confidence is up, tempo and attitude have improved under Chisholm, and so on………..

Can’t wait.

United Mad.