Ashley Hay’s clinical finish earned Dundee a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Dundee United at Tannadice, extending the Dark Blues’ winning streak in the Scottish Premiership and earning bragging rights in the city derby.

Having already scored in Dundee’s 2-1 win over Kilmarnock earlier in the week, Hay once again found the back of the net, capitalizing on a misjudged header from Pan Camara in the final minute of the first half. The striker raced through on goal and slotted the ball into the bottom corner, providing the decisive moment in a tightly contested match.

First Half: Missed Opportunities

The opening 45 minutes saw both sides create several gilt-edged chances, though finishing let them down. Dundee defender Billy Koumetio twice missed from close range, while full-back Ryan Astley volleyed over the bar. Despite these misses, Dundee held the upper hand, outplaying their city rivals and establishing control before Hay’s breakthrough.

Second Half: Dundee United Fight Back

United improved after the break, dominating possession and creating chances, with Luca Stephenson testing Dundee goalkeeper Jon McCracken with a brilliant effort. However, Dundee’s defense stood firm. Koumetio excelled at the back, making 15 clearances and winning nine of 12 aerial duels, supported by partner Luke Graham. When the defence was breached, McCracken made a series of crucial saves to deny United, including an outstanding stop from Stephenson.

Despite dominating the second half, Dundee United could not convert their possession into goals. From 42 touches inside the Dundee box, the visitors managed only five shots on target, highlighting a poor conversion rate. Late in the game, Amar Fatah set up Zac Sapsford, but a needless touch prevented a clear opportunity from materializing.

Key Performances

• Ashley Hay (Dundee) – 8.46: Scored the decisive goal and led the line with composure and impact. Player of the Match.
• Billy Koumetio (Dundee) – Defensive rock, dominating in aerial duels and clearances.
• Jon McCracken (Dundee) – Made key saves, keeping the clean sheet intact.
• Yan Dhanda (Dundee) – Delivered dangerous balls into the box and contributed defensively.

For Dundee United, standout performers were harder to find, with the team struggling to convert dominance into goals. Pan Camara’s early mistake proved costly, and the squad was left to rue missed chances throughout the second half.

Manager Reactions

Steven Pressley (Dundee):
“It was an incredible team performance, filled with unity, team spirit, and real quality. We knew we would face difficult moments, and the players stood up and did the dirty work exceptionally. I couldn’t be prouder.”

Jim Goodwin (Dundee United):
“It’s not the result we were hoping for. We get undone by a mistake, and although we were better in the second half, we didn’t do enough with possession. Credit to Dundee for defending well and for McCracken’s magnificent saves.”

What’s Next

Dundee will travel to league leaders Hearts next Sunday (14:00 GMT), aiming to continue their positive run. Dundee United face a tough test away to Celtic next Saturday (15:00 GMT), looking to rebound after the derby defeat.