Billy Dodds helped Dundee United make it ten games without loss at Tannadice but the Terrors did it the hard way, from two down at half-time, as they tried to confirm their top-six position.
It was a typical derby opening with much enthusiasm but little panache. Craig Easton created the first opening when he worked a seventh minute one-two with Jim McIntyre and hit a 20-yard chipped shot which the back-pedalling Julian Speroni fingertipped over the bar.
Three minutes later the Tangerines should have taken the lead when McIntyre's knockdown gave Andy McLaren clear sight on goal, but the striker skewed his left-foot shot wide.
With their midfield dominant, the hosts continued to pressurise the Dees back line. Only a brilliant stop from Speroni prevented Dodds from netting when he met McLaren's cross to the far post.
Despite this, it was the visitors who took the shock lead in the 17th minute with their first attack. Slack defending from Barry Robson gave Steve Milne the chance to cross for Steve Lovell to easily outjump David McCracken and head into the top corner of the net.
The flow of play continued towards the Dundee goal. Another fantastic save from Speroni in the 26th minute prevented the equaliser for the shell-shocked Tangerines. Wilson thumped a curling 35-yard free-kick which seemed to deceive everyone, but the Argentinian clawed it out of the top corner.
Frustratingly for the United bench, next it was Easton in the 34th minute who blasted wide when Robson wriggled clear of David Mackay and gave the midfielder a pathway to goal.
Worse was to come for the Tangerines in the 39th minute when Dundee doubled their lead with only their second attack. Neil Barrett headed a long ball on and with the United defence caught square, Milne latched on and smacked a low 20-yard shot past the diving Paul Gallacher.
Steven Robb had the chance in the opening minutes of the second period to put game beyond doubt. Again taking advantage of poor defending, the youngster slid past Wilson, but his shot was blocked by McCracken.
As the ball zipped to the other end, McIntyre wasted another good chance, heading just over.
In the 54th minute, United substituted McIntyre with Jason Scotland and it paid dividends two minutes later.
The Trinidadian ran through to take the pass from Mark Kerr and although his shot was saved by Speroni, Dodds was first to react to slide the ball into the net.
This revived the flagging hosts. Chances continued to fall for the Tangerines but a combination of wastefulness and good goalkeeping prevented the equaliser until five minutes from the end.
Mark Fotheringham brought down Dodds in the area and the little striker got up to convert the spot-kick himself.