Dundee toast derby delight at Tannadice as tactics axed and Steven Pressley hails injured star's unseen role

He was forgiving over the nature of the frenetic derby environment. No amount of tactical work can guarantee a right-back scoring from 25 yards into the corner of the net. Drey Wright scored Dundee’s opener two minutes from half time. Defender Owen Bevan flicked in a second 12 minutes after the interval following a corner that was half cleared by United.

“I was probably a little bit more animated than I normally am,” said Pressley. “Because we set out with a tactical gameplan and we carried virtually none of it out! I didn't see evidence of hardly any detail today, but what it did show me is that derby games are not won on tactical detail. They're won on courage, they're won on determination, they're won on grit. All the things that my players served up today. So I couldn't be prouder. We've spoken in the week about how we find ways to win away from home, and I think that that was a good example of it.”

What happened in the Dundee derby

Dundee are now second in the table behind Celtic on goal difference, although they have played one more game than ten other teams in the league. They have won three times in their last four visits to the ground of their fiercest rivals. Pressley described Wright’s opening goal as giving his team “belief”. The full-back, who was a doubt before the game with an ankle knock, was superb throughout.

The manager also noted the non-playing contribution of skipper Simon Murray, who joined his teammates on the traditional walk across the road 90 minutes before kick-off. He was also present on the pitch at the end with his knee in a brace. The striker suffered a cruel ACL injury last weekend against Aberdeen and could be missing for the rest of the season.

“He played his own role,” said Pressley. “He was in the dressing room before the game, half-time, after the game. He's got a huge role to play. The players listen to him, they respond to him. He's got a big influence in the group. Although he wasn't playing today, he was there in spirit, let me tell you. And it was a win for him. I think last week at Aberdeen, the injury to Simon definitely had an effect on the group. It had an effect on myself, that I do know. But that was very much for him.”

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin admitted the outcome “wasn’t what we hoped or prepared for”. He felt his side had been in control and were only troubled by the visitors on the counter-attack.

“Take nothing away from the strike by Drey Wright, it’s a hell of a strike from 35 yards into the side netting," he said. "He could hit a hundred balls from that area and 99 of them would not go where it went. But every mistake by us seems to be punished.

Jim Goodwin’s Dundee derby verdict

“The second goal is the real sucker punch. We defend the initial part of the set-play OK and then don’t react to the knockdown. It’s a fluffed shot from (Alan) Forrest I think it was, it hits off the Dundee player who doesn’t know a great deal about it and ends up in the bottom corner.”

United made six changes to the team beaten by Celtic the previous weekend. “Results are what matter most,’ said Goodwin. “We’ve probably had more possession of the ball, more attempts on goal, more penalty box entries, more dangerous attacks.

“But it counts for nothing if we don’t have the three points to show for it. That’s the reality of the situation we find ourselves in. I believe in this group of players, I believe in my staff. I believe we’re doing lots and lots of good things week to week. But ultimately, all of that hard work we’re doing Monday to Friday needs to come to fruition at the weekend - and unfortunately in the last three weeks that hasn’t been the case.

“I’ve got to take responsibility on my shoulders as the manager,” he added. “I’ve signed all of these players, brought them all to Dundee United - and I believe in every single one of them.”

Dundee goalkeeper Owen Goodman looked to have been hit by an item thrown from the Eddie Thompson Stand in the second half. “I’ve just been made aware of that so I’m unsure,” said Pressley. “Whatever he was hit with, it didn't affect him.” Goodman was spotted speaking to police officers after the game.

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