PREMIER NEEDS OUR DERBY, INSISTS BAIN
IN the battle against relegation, Dundee United’s trip to Dens Park today is yet another must-win game for Mixu Paatelainen’s men. As far as Dundee keeper Scott Bain is concerned, however, it’s a fixture the whole of Scottish football can’t afford to lose.
Having kissed goodbye in recent years to Old Firm clashes and the Hibs-Hearts rivalry, Bain believes the last thing the Premiership needs is for the Dundee derby to drop off the fixture list next season.
Even if that grim prospect won’t stop Paul Hartley’s men from trying to inflict the most painful of derby defeats on their city foes today.
‘It’s one of the best games of the season for us and, for that reason, it would be a shame if United were to go down,’ said 24-year-old Bain.
‘We’ve done well in the last two derbies I’ve played in and I really enjoy them. It’s such a different experience to every other game in the league.
‘But all we can do is hope we beat them. They might be cut adrift if we win but it’s not our problem. We just need to focus on ourselves and push to get into the top six.’
The last Dundee derby was a glorious advert for the Premiership.
United were 2-0 up with nine minutes left at Tannadice in August, but a terrific Greg Stewart strike offered hope for Dundee. Then a wonder save by Bain from Simon Murray kick-started the move that saw James McPake score a dramatic stoppage-time leveller.
Equally memorable was the showdown 12 months ago when the Dark Blues lost 6-2 at Tannadice.
But Bain, whose injury allowed hapless German keeper Arvid Schenk to make his first — and only — Dundee appearance last New Year’s Day, is just as anxious to avoid a repeat of the 2-2 game.
‘I would hope this game is not like the last one in August,’ said the keeper. ‘As good as it was to watch, I’d prefer a straightforward win.
‘We played really well in the first half and should have been out of sight. We had a few chances, with one cleared off the line. Suddenly, though, we found ourselves 2-0 down. But the boys showed great character to get the point.
‘We won’t be thinking about the 6-2 game this Saturday. Yes, we were disappointed but we were missing players. When we had our full-strength team out at Dens in April, we beat United 3-1. But it does sit in the back of your mind that we want to do better in the derbies this season.’