Next derby clash is not a Dun deal
McDaid: Blues are a different team now
DECLAN McDAID warned Dundee United they will be facing a different Dundee beast by the time they square up again in the next derby.
Two-goal hero McDaid notched a priceless double against Arbroath on Saturday to cut United’s gap over their city rivals to just six points in the race for the title.
The 23-year-old former Ayr United winger was part of James McPake’s shellshocked Dark Blues side who were thrashed 6-2 by Robbie Neilson’s Tangerines in front of the live cameras at Tannadice in August.
But McDaid has told their bitter foes to beware of a backlash when they go head to head on Friday, November 8 at Dens Park as they seek derby revenge.
He said: “Yes, 100 per cent, I would say that it will be a different Dundee team by the time that comes around.
“I don’t think there was that big a gulf in the derby. It was a weird game where everything went in for them.
“I wouldn’t have said they were 10 times better than us as a team so it should be a better game here the next time.
“We are going to hold that (the hurt) in until the next one and remember it.
“I think we were a bit shocked by what happened at Tannadice but we knew it wasn’t a 6-2 game.
“We didn’t play terribly, it was just a weird, weird game so it didn’t shatter our confidence. We have continued trying to play well and do the right things.
“That’s it starting to come together now.”
Dundee seized the opportunity to breathe new life into their title charge at the weekend having watched Championship leaders United slump to a shock 1-0 defeat the previous night at Alloa.
And McDaid has rubbished early-season suggestions their Tannadice rivals were all set to storm their way towards the title.
He added: “It was a bit early to say that. I played in this league last year and I don’t think anyone can stroll it.
“Obviously they had a good start but as you saw on Friday night Alloa were bottom and beat them.
“In this league anybody can beat anybody so I don’t think they will stroll it.
“People were talking about this gap already but we were only seven games in. It wasn’t a lot, still single digits.
“We know what we are capable of and we had been playing well.
“The results will come and hopefully the Arbroath result will be the start of a wee run for us.”
McDaid bagged two quality strikes either side of half-time and the attacking midfielder revealed how he’d been challenged to find the net. He said: “I am absolutely buzzing after that. Playing in my position, you obviously want to be scoring goals and it hasn’t really been happening for me.
“I knew it was coming eventually and I am delighted to get two in one day. I just want to kick on now and get more.
“We had been working hard all week on breaking teams down and you saw it could have been a lot more than two.
“It was great to see our work coming to fruition.
“I was really pleased to open my account for the club especially at home.
“I am just glad to get it out of the way as it was getting into my head a wee bit not scoring.
“The gaffer and the assistant were winding me up about it saying, ‘Is there any chance of you scoring?’!
“So I’ll be able to shut them up now. There is always a really good spirit about the place.
“I think we have been playing well but it is tough as teams sit in a lot against us which makes it difficult.
“But as I said, we have worked hard this week on how to break that down and we showed that today.”