DUNDEE ............. 2 DUNDEE UTD ..... 1
Dens men ditch foes with goals of beauty
Blues brothers: McGowan (left) celebrates with Dundee teammate Kamara after his superb winner saw off their city rivals in the Betfred Cup last night
FOR Dundee United, beating Dundee on penalties in the Betfred Cup at Dens Park last month was only enough to secure a tie in the next round against the same opponents at the same venue.
Last night, 10 days on from that first derby, Neil McCann’s side took full advantage of their unusual second chance to secure the club’s first cup victory over their city foes in 21 years.
This was a fully deserved victory secured with goals of the very highest calibre. A stunning strike from French-Moroccan magician Faissal El Bakhtaoui and an instinctive winner from homegrown Scot Paul McGowan.
Those memorable moments arrived either side of a Billy King leveller for United that came hugely against the run of play.
Dens Park and Tannadice may be situated just 200 yards apart but, despite that brief scare for the hosts, the Premiership side were streets ahead of their Championship visitors.
As McCann attempted to impose his side’s derby dominance, he had to do without suspended captain Darren O’Dea and injured striker Sofien Moussa.
Mark O’Hara, who cancelled out Paul McMullan’s opener for United here on July 30, dropped to the bench. Into the starting line-up came Jack Hendry, Marcus Haber and El Bakhtaoui.
For United, Scott Fraser dropped to the bench and Scott Allardice missed out altogether. That meant a debut for former Hibs midfielder Fraser Fyvie, while there was a start for veteran forward Scott McDonald.
Backed by their large following, Dundee went for the jugular from kick-off. First, Scott Allan’s corner caused United all manner of problems. Then it took a fine Mark Durnan tackle to stop Roarie Deacon bursting clear on goal.
After an Allan free-kick was cleared, McGowan chipped the ball onto Haber’s head but he headed wide with the goal at his mercy.
As Dundee kept up the pressure, Haber set up Allan with a fine crossfield pass. But the on-loan Celtic midfielder ballooned his shot wildly over the bar.
There was a blow for United when captain Tam Scobbie fell awkwardly while defending an attack and injured his groin. The defender could take no further part and his place was taken by Jamie Robson.
As Scobbie limped up the tunnel, Dundee should have taken the lead. Deacon’s head flick was pushed past William Edjenguele by El Bakhtaoui. But with only Scott Bain to beat, he dragged an awful shot wide of goal.
On the half-hour mark, however, the 24-year-old atoned for that miss in quite stunning fashion.
Deacon’s cross from the left was headed out by Edjenguele to El Bakhtaoui 25 yards out.
With his first touch, he cushioned the ball into position before striking a sensational half-volley into the top corner, via the underside of the crossbar.
Three quarters of Dens Park rose to acclaim a wonderful strike in a week when Ryan Edwards of Partick Thistle and Celtic’s Kieran Tierney had also supplied memorable Betfred Cup goals.
In an attempt to respond, United mustered their first attack of note, only for McMullan to fire over the bar.
But Dens Park was stunned five minutes before half time when Ray McKinnon’s side levelled.
Sam Stanton drove down the right before sending over a terrific, dangerous ball that King cracked superbly into the net.
McCann’s side burst out of the traps after the break, with El Bakhtaoui and Deacon both coming close with efforts.
At the other end, McMullan sent a terrific delivery over that McDonald was millimetres away from diverting into the net.
Dundee then had a strong claim for a penalty waved away by referee Steven McLean after Kevin Holt had his shirt grabbed as he tried to turn home a Hendry header at the back post.
But the home side’s winner arrived on 64 minutes after a switch of play from right to left by the hugely impressive Deacon.
Allan looked up and found McGowan at the edge of the box. He diverted the ball beautifully into the far corner past the despairing dive of Harry Lewis.
As Dens shook, McGowan raced the length of the pitch to celebrate, cupping his ears at the United fans and earning a booking.
It then required a fine save by Lewis to stop Haber’s header from a cross by El Bahktaoui adding gloss to the scoreline.
United pressed for an equaliser and when substitute James Keatings beat goalkeeper Bain to the ball, King could not take advantage of the loose ball as he shot wide.
At the final whistle, Dundee fans revelled in a famous derby victory, chanting: ‘Easy, easy, easy.’
Their side are now just two matches away from McCann’s target of a first major final for the club since 2003.
Minutes earlier, the despondent United fans had begun streaming down Sandeman Street and into the night.
For the losers, this time there will be no second chances.