The Tannadice faithful arrived in high spirits for the first Dundee derby of 2026, but it was the traveling supporters who left with the bragging rights as Dundee edged out Dundee United 1-0 in a fiercely contested Scottish Premiership clash. On a chilly January 2nd evening, Ashley Hay's clinical finish on the stroke of half-time proved the difference, sealing a third consecutive league win for Dundee and ending United's five-match unbeaten run.
Both managers had selection dilemmas to juggle ahead of the match. Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin, hampered by injuries to Pan Camara (hamstring), Ross Graham and Ryan Strain (both groin), and Isaac Pappoe (knee), opted for an unchanged squad. Across the city, Dundee manager Steven Pressley kept changes to a minimum after their midweek win over Falkirk, with Cam Congreve returning from injury and new signing Joe Bevan named among the substitutes, pending paperwork clearance. Skipper Simon Murray remained suspended, while Joe Westley (ankle) was ruled out, but both Finlay Robertson and Clark Robertson returned to bolster the squad.
The early exchanges set the tone for a pulsating affair. In the fifth minute, United's Pan Camara swung in a dangerous cross, met by Krisztian Keresztes whose powerful header was expertly tipped over by Dundee goalkeeper Jon McCracken. Moments later, Dundee nearly struck first as Yan Dhanda's pinpoint free-kick found Billy Koumetio, whose header fizzed just wide of Dave Richards' post. The visitors pressed again, with Koumetio and Ryan Astley both squandering promising opportunities, Astley blazing over from close range after being teed up by Tony Yogane.
As the clock ticked toward half-time, Hay had a sight of goal from the edge of the box but fired over. Yet, the young striker would not be denied. In the 45th minute, a moment of indecision from Camara—misjudging a long ball and heading directly into Hay’s path—opened the door. Hay shrugged off Bert Esselink's challenge, bore down on goal, and slotted calmly past Richards into the bottom corner. The away end erupted, celebrating a lead that felt deserved given Dundee’s first-half enterprise.
Dundee United, stung by the setback, emerged after the break with renewed urgency. Will Ferry’s long throw nearly found Zac Sapsford, but the Australian’s shot sailed over. United dominated possession, racking up 42 touches inside the Dundee box, but struggled to convert pressure into clear-cut chances. Their best opportunity fell to Luca Stephenson, whose close-range effort was brilliantly parried away by McCracken—a save that would prove pivotal.
Defensively, Dundee were resolute. Billy Koumetio stood tall at the back, amassing 15 clearances and winning nine of his 12 aerial duels, ably supported by partner Luke Graham. Whenever the backline was breached, McCracken provided a formidable last line of defense, none more so than his acrobatic stop from Stephenson. Yan Dhanda, meanwhile, was a constant threat going forward, delivering dangerous balls into the box and tracking back diligently to help his side see out the win.
As United pressed for an equalizer, frustration mounted. Amar Fatah danced past defenders late on and teed up Zac Sapsford, but the forward hesitated, allowing Dundee’s defenders to smother the chance. United’s conversion rate was a sore point, with only five shots on target from their 42 entries into the box—a statistic that would haunt manager Jim Goodwin post-match.
Reflecting on the defeat, Goodwin lamented, "It's not the result we were hoping for. We get undone by a mistake on our part—it's a situation we have to deal with a lot better. Second half, we were by far the better team, but the big criticism is we didn't do enough with the possession. Credit to Dundee, they defended their box well and McCracken makes a magnificent save. The magnitude of a game like this, our supporters want bragging rights after the game and that's not the case."
On the opposite touchline, Pressley was effusive in his praise for his players, stating, "It was really difficult to pick out any individual in that performance. It was an incredible team performance, filled with unity, team spirit and real quality at times. We knew we would have to endure some difficult moments, we'd have to stand up to the game and do the dirty side well. They did that to exceptional standards. We knew coming into this game—we're on the back of two really important results—but we know the importance of this game. It was a pivotal game and I couldn't be prouder of the players."
Dundee’s triumph marked their third straight league win—the first time they’ve managed such a streak since 2014—and back-to-back away derby victories for the first time since 1999. The win lifted them nine points clear of Kilmarnock in the relegation play-off spot and maintained their ninth-place standing. For United, the loss dropped them to seventh in the table and ended their hopes of consecutive derby wins in the competition for the first time since January 2015.
Historically, encounters between these sides have been tight, but Dundee’s recent form in the fixture is notable. Prior to this match, United had won two of their last three Premiership meetings with Dundee, as many as in their previous 10. Dundee’s previous away league win at Tannadice was a thrilling 4-2 triumph in March of the previous season, but not since 1999 had they enjoyed successive away derby victories in the top flight.
Looking ahead, both sides face stiff tests in the coming week. Dundee will host league leaders Hearts next Sunday, January 11, at 14:00, aiming to extend their winning streak and climb further from danger. Dundee United, meanwhile, travel to Celtic Park on Saturday, January 10, at 15:00, seeking to bounce back and reignite their push up the table.
The first day of Scottish football in 2026 delivered drama across the Premiership, with Rangers' comeback win at Celtic and Hearts extending their lead at the top. Yet, for the city of Dundee, it was Ashley Hay’s decisive strike and Dundee’s defensive heroics that stole the headlines, ensuring the blue half of the city will savor derby bragging rights—at least until the next installment of this storied rivalry.