The Dundee derby in numbers

Dundee v Dundee UtdImage source, SNS
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There may be six places and 13 points between Dundee United and Dundee in the Scottish Premiership at present, but that gap has not been obvious on the three occasions the sides have met this season.

An opening-day draw at Tannadice, was followed by a win apiece in January - one for United in the league and one for Dundee in the Scottish Cup.

Those tightly-contested matches belie what have been two contrasting campaigns.

United have thrived on their return to the top flight, whereas Dundee have floundered after last season's top-six finish and find themselves embroiled in a relegation battle.

Indeed, this is the biggest gap in points between the sides after 29 matches in the Premiership since 2015-16 - when there was a 16-point chasm at this stage of the season, with Dundee on 36 points and United on 20.

Both sides come into Sunday's game at Tannadice having struggled of late, hoping for a morale-boosting result to kickstart the run-in.

United have won just one of their past seven, while Dundee haven't tasted victory in the league since 5 January and have conceded 24 goals in that time.

There is plenty on the line too.

Jim Goodwin's side are only three points ahead of Motherwell in seventh with four games until the split - a win against their neighbours would settle any nerves in the race for European football.

For Dundee, the focus is all about survival. St Johnstone have narrowed the gap to two in recent weeks and Docherty is under serious pressure to end their recent woes.

Stat graphic: Sam Dalby's 13 league goals have been worth 12 points to Dundee United, a league-high total for any player in the division this term.Image source, SNS

What they said

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "I am surprised [by Dundee's struggles]. A lot of people will be surprised given the investment that was made in the squad.

"But every team in the league outwith Celtic have, at one stage or another, experienced some difficult moments and it is how you come through it.

"They have got real quality players, but we have got some really good quality players in our team that we believe can go and cause Dundee problems.

"We are still hurting from the cup exit. We felt we performed well on the night - it was just one of the rare occasions when we weren't able to find the back of the net.

"We want to make amends for that one, but in the previous two league fixtures, we have performed really well."

Dundee stat graphic: Only Celtic’s Callum McGregor has won possession more times this season (175) than Dundee’s Lyall Cameron (148).Image source, SNS

Dundee manager Tony Docherty: "It would be a big win and it would kick-start a really challenging period.

"A derby is different. The build-up to the match is brilliant. The actual game, the occasion, the walk down to the stadium, the atmosphere - it's fantastic.

"It's traditional, it's very unique and it's something you should savour. But you only enjoy it or savour it when you get the desired result.

"It's important you play the game not the occasion, that there's calm heads and you carry out the game plan. Allow all the noise round about you but focus on what you can do as a player individually and as a team what you can bring together."

Key stats

  • Dundee have only won one of their last 17 away games at Tannadice in the top flight (D11 L5), and are winless in 10 (D6 L4) since a 2-1 victory in August 2004 under Jim Duffy.

  • After only losing two of their first 10 home league games this season (W5 D3), United have since lost three of their last four in the Premiership (W1).

  • Dundee have lost each of their last three away league games, last losing more in a row within a single season in the competition in January 2022 (5).

Dundee United stat graphic: Dundee United are unbeaten in their last five Scottish Premiership meetings with Dundee (W2 D3) and are looking to win back-to-back derbies against their rivals in the competition for the first time since January 2015 under Jackie McNamara.Image source, SNS