Dingwall and the Dundee Derby - from the stands

We may only be two weeks into the season but the opening fixtures have already taken me to some of the farthest flung corners of the country.

Two totally different fixtures in terms of build up, hype and eventual product on the field, but both were enjoyable in their own ways.

Here, I’ll look back on my experience of the two opening league fixtures at Tannadice, home of my beloved Tangerines and Dingwall, home of the Mallard.

Dundee Derby

It seems to make most sense to go in chronological order, so we’ll start with one of Scotland’s best fixtures - the Dundee Derby.

There has always been a fair amount of debate around Scotlands ‘best’ derby. Realistically, it depends which one you’re most emotionally invested in.

Clearly, the Old Firm is the one that garners the most attention both domestically and internationally, because of the size of the clubs involved, the fact that the games between them effectively decide where the title ends up and all the general hatred and vitriol directed towards each other.

The Edinburgh version again involves two of Scotland’s biggest clubs, but is on a much smaller scale to its Glasgow counterpart. More often than not the games between the two Edinburgh clubs seem to flatter to deceive and leave you wanting a little bit more considering the supposed quality of two squads of players on show.

To Dundee then. A unique derby in so many ways, with both teams sharing one street and the away side taking the well known walk from one ground to another on matchday. These matches are more often than not full of thrills, drama and goals.

Am I biased? Possibly. But I’ll always look for footballing entertainment over anything else.

Not that I can enjoy it very much during the 90 odd minutes the game is live for.

Thoughts in build up

When the fixture list comes out, naturally the first games I look for are the derbies, more specifically, the first one. So to have it come out the fixture generating computer first up, was quite something.

I would probably have preferred to have it after a few games to allow some of our new signings and new system time to bed in a little bit more, but I suppose what better fixture to find out if people are likely to sink or swim.

As United slightly unspectacularly muddled their way through the League Cup group stages, the spectre of this individual fixture loomed ever larger on the horizon. Especially with Dundee banging in goals left, right and centre.

Simon Murray is a good signing and it felt inevitable he would have some sort of say in the outcome of the game. This would indeed come to pass.

The group stages came to an end and United would just about scrape themselves through thanks to results elsewhere. Not overly pretty, but through they were.

This was unexpected throughout the fanbase so probably gave people a lift they weren’t expecting going into this game of games for the people of Dundee (and beyond).

A lot has been made in recent times of Dundee’s long winless run at Tannadice, now stretching over 20 years. I did have a more than minor worry that matchday one of season 2024/25 might be the day that it finally went. Of course this record will undoubtedly end at some point, but if we could keep it going as long as possible, that would be great. 

In the week leading up to the game I could just about keep my nerves in check and was looking forward to the season starting and seeing how our plethora of new players would get on.

Matchday arrives

Sunday instantly it had a slightly different feel to it than the rest of the days leading up to it. I was full of nervous energy and tension in the morning and on my walk along to get the bus from Glasgow to Tannadice.

I have a United spotify playlist that comes out on occasions such as this one and that made me feel a bit more hyped up for the game. Inspiral Carpets being a favourite. If you know, you know.

Arrive at the bus to a sea of mixed emotions. Some hell bent we were winning comfortably. Some were terrified. Rest of us somewhere in the middle.

The bus was as lively as ever. Plenty of excitement and nerves in equal measure.

Fast forward a couple of hours and we’d landed in Dundee.

Tannadice was looking as good as ever, especially after the summer refresh job done by the new stadium sponsor.

Able to get my season ticket on my phone this year. Groundbreaking stuff. Dundee United, the envy of all. Or something like that. Saves me forgetting my physical season ticket which has happened more than once.

Into the game, towards our usual seats in time for the pre-match guard of honour, flag raising etc. 

Just a normal home game for us Arabs.

Game time

Pre match nerves turned to in match stress as soon as the whistle went. 

The atmosphere was tremendous. As much as I don’t totally enjoy the emotions leading up to these games, there’s no doubt it’s a great advert for our game. Especially on a weekend where there were no English games and we probably had more people tuning in than normal, I am glad that the game panned out how it did. Well, mostly.

As expected the game was totally 100mph at the start and didn’t really ever slow down much. 

The game had all the hallmarks of a derby up here, with passion, fight, heart and, to be fair, a decent amount of quality on show, given the frantic nature of the game.

In the build up to the game I was telling everyone who would listen that Trapanovski was going to be a game changer for United this season - so you can imagine I was just a bit pleased when he tucks away a lovely finish to make it 1-0 after great work from our new frontman Van der Sande. Absolute carnage in the stands. It was good to be back.

Unfortunately it wouldn’t last long, with Dundee’s equaliser being part unlucky, part slightly calamitous defensively.

But the boys in tangerine still remained on top, and after tremendous work from Sevelj (glad he ignored my request to ‘take a touch’) Miller Thomson taps in to make it 2-1. Cue bedlam mark 2.

The rest of the half was pretty comfortable and half time arrived with three out of four sides of Tannadice in a joyous mood.

The second half began fairly even, with Dundee pushing for an equaliser, but United looking strong defensively.

In their search for an equaliser, Dundee risked over committing and that showed itself most evidently when Trapanovski somehow found himself totally through on goal following a simple clearance after a Dundee corner. I was sure it was 3-1 and game pretty much done.

The finish isn’t even a bad one, but the effort from Lyall Cameron to get back and clear it off the line was some going. It felt like a massive moment.

From that point onwards it was pretty much one way traffic, not in the way I’d have liked it.

Then after a Ross Graham tackle, inevitably on Simon Murray, VAR just had to go and get itself involved, didn’t it.

To be fair, as soon as he was onside it was a definite pen, unfortunately. Felt for big Ross as he actually handled Murray well for most of the game too, but that’s the difference when we move up a level. He’ll learn from it, I have no doubt.

The impressive McCowan sticks away the penalty and that was 2-2.

‘Just don’t lose’.

Thank god Curtis Main is a big, diving dumpling or it could have been a disaster. But big, diving dumpling he is and the game finished as a draw.

Fair result over the piece, in my eyes.

Post match

It was quite telling that despite the overall disappointment after losing the lead twice, the team and manager got a good reception from the home end post match. There was a lot to like about the performance, especially in the attacking aspects. 

The new players had all shown up well in their baptism of fire and if Trapanovski’s dink had just a little bit more on it we’d have taken home 3 points, I have no doubt.

The pre-season concerns defensively still exist and we often looked overrun in midfield, but there are still new signings to arrive and get up to speed and I think most people appreciate this.

This was a fixture that did have the potential to go a bit south if things hadn’t gone to plan, but the full team had stood up to a tough challenge against a (whisper it) decent Dundee team.

Just the 35 matchdays left to go. The invincible season remains a distinct possibility.

Dingwall - one of the best away days going?

After the derbies, one of the first fixtures I look for is Ross County away. What a trip it always is.

I have witnessed a real mixed back of results up there previously, from the Nicky Clark 90th minute winner and subsequent pitch invasion after securing Europe, to the 4-0 defeat that spelt the end of Liam Fox’s pretty disastrous tenure as United manager.

But the trip itself is always a good one, even if sometimes the 90 minutes on the pitch isn’t up to much.

So, you can imagine I was pretty pleased when the fixture computer gave it to us on the second gameweek of the season. Mallard bound? Yes please.

The train / bus up and back is always a lively event due to the early start and lengthy travel times. Brief refreshment stop in Inverness then the short trip across the Kessock Bridge towards the bright lights of Dingwall.

A lovely part of the world, especially if you catch it on a nice day.

Once arrived in Dingwall, there’s only one place to go pre match. The Mallard awaits.

Ode to the Mallard

A pub that backs onto the train station and is a 5 minute walk from the ground. Now that’s a setup. If only all away days were like this.

We arrive to a pre order of nine venoms getting served up. What could possibly go wrong. The poor bartenders.

There’s always been a good atmosphere in The Mallard whenever I’ve been there, usually finding it predominantly away fans. I imagine the County regulars find somewhere a bit less raucous on matchdays when there’s a decent travelling support in town.

Can’t say I blame them.

The venoms are scooped and we make our way along to the Global Energy Stadium.

Sore one - but probably a fair result

We did actually arrive a few minutes before kick off, but due to the queues we ended up not witnessing United’s miss of the year contender after 15 seconds.

Probably for the best as certain members of our squad may have headed back to The Mallard in total disgust.

Unfortunately, that would be about as good as it got in the first half as the rest of it was pretty dire for the 1,000 or so who had made the trip up the A9.

The fact that County couldn’t score in that first half would give me cause for concern if I was one of their supporters. Doubt they’ll have a half that dominant again all season.

Even Jack Walton did his best to donate them a goal by giving away a penalty, but credit to the big man he made amends with a good save down low.

I timed my jaunt to the pie queue horribly and managed to miss United’s only goal of the game. 

But a lovely goal it was.

The hero that is Will Ferry made a driving run into the box and cut it back to the equally heroic David Babunski to tuck it away in the corner.

Lovely stuff. Sounded like bedlam in the stands too.

Sigh.

At least the pie was good. A venison effort. 9/10.

The rest of the half I honestly felt as comfortable as I think you can be when in an ever precarious 1-0 lead. We were the better side and if there was going to be a second goal in the game it looked more likely to be another for United.

Then 7 goes up on the board.

Absolutely no idea where that had come from, and I know I wasn’t alone in my bewilderment.

4 minutes pass relatively incident free until a long boot up the park results in three united players going for the same ball, 5 seconds later it’s 1-1.

Double sigh.

Sickener for staff, players and supporters alike, but probably not an unfair reflection on the game overall, given the first half.

Back to the Mallard for a couple then the long, well oiled journey home.

A good day. Could’ve been a great one if stoppage time had gone differently. But alas, such is life when you support Dundee United. Thanks Dad.

Overall thoughts after the first couple of matches

My overall feelings after the first two games of the league season are probably those of quiet optimism.

I am encouraged by most of the new boys that we’ve seen, especially our Macedonians. The others I am more than willing to give a bit of time to settle in. if we could stop writing players off after 8 minutes on the pitch, that would be great.

There certainly won’t be too many 0-0’s involving United this season, I am prepared to wager. We look as good going forward as we have for years, with man on fire Trapanovski and the boys.

However, the pre-season concerns defensively haven’t really abated at all.

Losing Ryan Strain to long term injury in the League Cup group stages was pretty unfortunate and it’s clear a bit of reshuffling has been required on the back of this, but we still look liable to concede far too often for my liking.

I am hopeful that when Odada is fit, we will see a three man midfield that should give us a bit more steel and stop us looking so open in the middle of the park. And also allow the maestro Babunski to start playing higher up the pitch.

It is always a rollercoaster watching the Tangerines, but I am strapped in and ready for the next 8 months or so of highs, lows and everything in between.