Football Aug 31, 2026

Dundee United 0-2 Dundee: Drey Wright and Owen Bevan score to give Dark Blues bragging rights in derby

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Dundee United 0-2 Dundee: Drey Wright and Owen Bevan score to give Dark Blues bragging rights in derby

Dundee enjoyed another memorable trip across the road as they secured a deserved 2-0 derby victory away to Dundee United to move joint-top of the fledgling Scottish Premiership table.

Drey Wright opened the scoring late in the first half before Owen Bevan notched after the break as the Dark Blues made it three wins in their last four visits to Tannadice.

Steven Pressley's side are now level with Celtic and St Mirren on the six-point mark, albeit having played a game more than most of their rivals, after making it two wins from their opening three league matches.

By contrast, United endured a demoralising evening as they went down to a third straight defeat in all competitions to remain second-bottom with just one point from their three Premiership matches.

Terrors boss Jim Goodwin made six changes to the side that lost 4-0 to Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup, including restoring influential left-back Will Ferry after a minor injury.

There was just one enforced tweak to the Dundee side that lost to Aberdeen in the same competition, with Alan Forrest replacing Simon Murray after the captain sustained anterior cruciate ligament damage at Pittodrie.

Swiss striker Bradley Fink, who finalised a season-long loan move from Wycombe earlier in the day, was listed among the substitutes.

Despite being sidelined for the foreseeable future, veteran forward Murray joined his team-mates to make the traditional short pre-match walk from Dens Park to Tannadice.

The visitors had the first two notable attempts, with forwards Charlie Reilly and Joe Westley both going close with efforts from outside the box.

United's first chance came in the 28th minute when Vicko Sevelj's header from a Mehdi Merghem corner was pushed away by Owen Goodman.

Dee defender Ryan Astley then made a brilliant challenge in the six-yard box to stop Idjessi Metsoko turning in Merghem's low delivery from the right.

Dundee made the breakthrough in the 43rd minute when Wright seized on a loose pass from Abdoulaye Yoro just inside his own half and surged forward before unleashing a powerful shot into Jack Walton's bottom right-hand corner from 20 yards out.

Yoro had a chance to redeem himself early in the second half but his low effort from the angle of the six-yard box was superbly saved by Goodman. A couple of minutes later, the Dundee keeper appeared to be struck by a vape as he retrieved the ball to take a goal-kick in front of the United fans.

The Dark Blues doubled their lead in the 57th minute when Bevan inadvertently diverted the ball over the line from close range with his heel after team-mate Forrest drilled an angled shot across the face of goal from 10 yards following a corner from Fin Robertson that was not dealt with by the hosts.

United knocked on the door in the closing stages but Dundee rarely looked like relinquishing their sense of authority.

Dundee manager Steven Pressley:

"I was probably a bit more animated than usual today because we obviously set out with a tactical game plan and we carried virtually none of it out.

"Truth be told, I didn't see evidence of hardly any of our 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 was a good example of it. You don't always need to play particularly well, but when you show that determination you've got a chance."

Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin:

"I know what this game is all about, at the end of the day, it's all about winning games, results are what matter most.

"I don't need to look at the stats from the game today to see that 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 at the end of it."

Tags:

football report

Share this article

Related Posts

Paul Merson's Premier League season preview: Who wins title and finishes in top five - and who are relegation contenders?

Paul Merson's Premier League season preview: Who wins title and finishes in top five - and who are relegation contenders?

In his latest column, Paul Merson predicts the 2026/27 Premier League season at both ends of the table.The new season kicks off on Friday as champions...

Premier League 2026/27: Why history is on the side of Chelsea and Tottenham without European football

Premier League 2026/27: Why history is on the side of Chelsea and Tottenham without European football

Chelsea and Tottenham begin the season with new optimism, refreshed squads and without the potential distraction of midweek European football.For Chel...

Curtis Jones transfer news: Inter Milan sign midfielder from Liverpool in £30m deal with sell-on clause included

Curtis Jones transfer news: Inter Milan sign midfielder from Liverpool in £30m deal with sell-on clause included

Inter Milan have confirmed the signing of Curtis Jones in a £30m (€35m) deal from Liverpool.Liverpool are set to receive a fixed fee of £25.7m plus £4...

Carlos Baleba transfer news: Manchester United and Brighton agree £70m deal for midfielder

Carlos Baleba transfer news: Manchester United and Brighton agree £70m deal for midfielder

Manchester United have agreed a £70m deal for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba.The deal is worth £65m guaranteed, plus £5m in add-ons, and Brighton h...

Premier League season preview: Each club's pre-season preparations analysed ahead of new campaign's kick-off this Friday

Premier League season preview: Each club's pre-season preparations analysed ahead of new campaign's kick-off this Friday

Football hasn't stopped this summer, so to make sure you're up to speed with how every Premier League team is shaping up ahead of the new season we've...

Yankuba Minteh transfer news: Brighton reject Liverpool bid of £60m for winger

Yankuba Minteh transfer news: Brighton reject Liverpool bid of £60m for winger

Brighton have rejected a £60m bid from Liverpool for winger Yankuba Minteh.Your Site News understands the proposal did not meet Brighton's valuation a...