Dundee 2 Dundee United 1

Last updated : 25 January 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Dundee came from behind to win the Tayside derby 2-1 at home to Dundee United.

With six minutes gone the first shot on target came from home defender Lee Wilkie, but his effort hit his own player Nacho Novo in front of goal and was scrambled clear.

Barry Robson for United then saw his effort blocked by Dundee new boy Neil Barrett before Novo shot high and wide for the home team.

Dundee were forced to bring on Brent Sancho for the injured Wilkie and he almost scored with his first touch, but Paul Gallacher saved his close-range effort with half an hour played.

Five minutes before the interval Barrett found space 18 yards from goal, but his right-foot shot was poor and Gallacher gathered easily.

With 44 minutes on the clock United were rewarded a penalty kick when Sancho felled Charlie Miller on the edge of the box.

Ex-Dundee player Billy Dodds stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way to put the visitors one up.

Dundee hit back in the second minute of the second half when Novo fired home from close range after a deflected Mark Fotheringham free-kick caused mayhem in the United box.

With 69 minutes played the home team went 2-1 up thanks to substitute Steve Lovell. A good run by Lovell saw him jink past Alan Archibald and David McCracken in the United area before he curled a right-foot shot past Gallacher from ten yards.

Moments later Archibald fired in a left-foot shot from 40 yards which took a deflection and went inches past the post.

Derek McInnes had a half chance for United when the ball dropped to him on the edge of the box, but his right-foot shot went high and wide with four minutes remaining.

Garry Brady then did likewise for the home team a minute later.

A minute into time added on Robson had a great chance to equalise when a corner dropped to him eight yards out, but unfortunately for United his shot went inches over the crossbar and ended up in the disgruntled away fans behind the goal.