Watch the goals as Dundee Utd strike late to win derby

George O'Neill
BBC Sport Scotland

Scottish Premiership top scorer Sam Dalby's dramatic late goal earned Dundee United a derby win at Dens Park and moved Jim Goodwin's promoted side up to a scarcely believable third place.

Simon Murray's second-half penalty - awarded after a VAR review for a Kevin Holt handball - had put Dundee in front after a goalless first half.

But Vicko Sevelj nodded United level within four minutes before Wrexham loanee Dalby popped up with his 10th goal of the season on 88 minutes.

Holt made a surging run from the back and swept across goal for Dalby to thud an unerring first-time finish past Dundee goalkeeper Trevor Carson.

The result takes United above Aberdeen on goal difference, while Dundee drop to ninth.

United have now lost just one of their past nine games as they continue to impress in the top flight, and they are unbeaten in the past eight meetings with their city rivals.

"Delighted for all the supporters," Goodwin said. "I thought it was a really entertaining game of football, two teams going at it.

"I'm delighted our supporters are going home with the bragging rights."

United deliver another late show

United have a happy knack of scoring late goals - that is now 16 in the last 15 minutes of league games - and none have been sweeter than one up the road.

It is a trait that visibly gives Goodwin's players confidence.

After a tightly contested game, it was the visitors who seized the initiative in the closing stages.

Both Holt and Ryan Strain went close before Dalby found the back of the net, with the packed away end behind the goal roaring their team on.

The build-up to the winner was magnificent too. Emmanuel Adegboyega's strength to keep the ball initially, Will Ferry's floated pass out to Holt, and Holt's pick-out.

There is a real connection between this group of players and the fanbase, as shown by the joyous celebrations at full-time.

They have shown their league position is no fluke, and moving above Aberdeen means thoughts will inevitably turn to what United may achieved come May, and whether it will result in trips to the continent.

The focus will rightly be on Dalby's goal, but the equaliser showed United's versatility. Long throws are a real weapon - Holt's winner against Aberdeen last time out came from one - and Sevelj ghosted in at the back post here.

Attentions now turn to Hearts, who visit Tannadice on Sunday.

Dundee's defensive failings cost them dear

Only Ross County and St Johnstone have conceded more Premiership goals than Dundee, and it was the nature of the concessions that will frustrate Tony Docherty.

His team had chances to win this one, and when Murray sent Jack Walton the wrong way from the penalty spot, they were the side in control.

However, Seb Palmer-Houlden failed to deal with Ross Graham's long throw, and his attempted clearing header turned into an assist for Sevelj.

United's passing and movement was excellent for the winning goal, but from Dundee's perspective the defending was poor.

There was no discernible defensive structure when the came to Ferry, Holt got in behind all too easily, and Dalby was not properly picked up by anyone in dark blue.

St Johnstone are next up for Docherty's side, before back-to-back matches against Rangers and Celtic at Dens.

They need to plugs holes at the back if they are to avoid being dragged into the battle at the bottom.

What they said

Dundee Utd doing 'all we can' to keep Dalby - Goodwin

Dundee manager Tony Docherty: "We should never lose that game. We got the penalty and that should be it, that should be enough.

"From the long throw, we get first contact and then we switch off second phase. That changes the momentum of the game.

"We found a way to lose that game, and that really angers me and frustrates me. The second goal, it's our negligence that allows them to score."

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "Winning was the plan before the game. We we're on great form coming into it.

"We spoke about the incentive that if we win we could go third and now we're above Aberdeen on goal difference which is fantastic for this group of players, a newly-promoted team."

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