Image source, SNSDundee United's Premiership trip to face Hearts at Tynecastle has been rescheduled for Sunday, 1 September at 15:00 BST.
The game has moved back 24 hours because Hearts are in Europa League play-off action on Thursday, 29 August.
New midfielder David Babunski has spoken of his "honour and gratitude" at leading out Dundee United on their return to the Premiership. (Evening Telegraph)
Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.
Ronny Costello
Fan writer
Heading into any match where fans boast about sending shockwaves through Scottish football should naturally evoke some apprehension.
Only no such thing happened, and this is our dear neighbours we are speaking about so there is nothing to fear.
Sure, headlines like that garner attention on social media, but as Raith discovered last season, games aren’t won on X.
Derby fixtures are special, immensely special. They are sorely missed when either team is in a different division. The last encounter, a 2-2 draw in April 2022, set the stage for heightened anticipation for the 2024 edition. With live TV coverage, it being flag day, and a sold-out stadium, the excitement was palpable.
As a United fan in various group chats on WhatsApp, views on team selection took up most of the conversation aside from the usual social media screenshots, silly GIFs, and TikTok videos. There was even talk that the ‘derby fear’ had set in, allegedly worse than Man Flu I’m told...
Then came kick-off.
We were outstanding in the first half, scoring two excellent team goals and deserving to be ahead. In fact, we probably should have been leading by another goal or two.
Trapanovski should have made it 3-1 and put the game beyond our neighbours but it wasn’t to be and with 11 minutes left. The one error on Ross Graham’s report card saw a penalty be awarded and duly converted. Just like in 2022, it finished 2-2 again.
Fans of both teams will claim they deserved the win, but overall, a draw was probably a fair result. For us, this match will likely be filed under the ‘What if’ category. What if Trapanovski had gotten past the goalkeeper and tapped it in...
The game was end-to-end, filled with action, only one instance of VAR, drama, chances, clearances, last-gasp tackles, and singing songs about our arch-rivals - a brilliant derby atmosphere and an excellent advert for Scottish football!
No sign of bloodthirsty sharks today, but then again, they haven’t had a feeding frenzy at Tannadice for 20 years.
Ronny Costello can be found at the Dode Fox Podcast , external
Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter
20-year-old Miller Thomson produced an exciting performance for Dundee United in a thrilling Dundee derby.
If that showing, including his goal, is anything to go by, what a prospect.
Image source, SNSIt's fair to say Jim Goodwin knows a thing or two about captaincy.
Having had the armband wrapped round his bicep often enough in his own playing days, he knows the tools required for the trade.
In the absence of club captain Ross Docherty and last season's vice-captain Tony Watt in Sunday's curtain-raiser against Dundee, the United manager had a decision to make.
Instead of opting for one of his Championship winners, summer signing David Babunski led the team out at Tannadice.
In pre-season, last year's player of the year Craig Sibbald was handed the armband, but Goodwin explained why the midfielder didn't have it in the derby.
“Craig Sibbald has had it in pre-season but he is not the most vocal,” said the former St Mirren skipper. “He leads by example. He is a good team player.
“Babunski is a bit more vocal and is going to be a big player for us, albeit I don’t think we saw the best of him on Sunday because it was so intense in the middle of the park.
“I could give it to Declan Gallagher, Kevin Holt or Ross Graham or a number of players in the squad.
"The armband is neither here nor there. I want leaders all over the park.”
Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin rues delays associated with Brexit that have held up new winger Meshack Ubochioma getting to full fitness. (Courier - subscription), external
Watch Sportscene analysis of Miller Thomson's performance in the Dundee derby.
We asked you for your thoughts following Sunday's pulsating Dundee derby.
Here's what you had to say:
Chris: The best DFC side since 99/00 needed an awful lot of help to sneak a draw against a newly promoted United side still clearly bedding in.
It's disappointing to leave with a point but there's a lot of promising signs between the ultra-direct style of play and the new signings showing real quality. Will Ferry early shout for Player of the Year.
Paul: Should’ve had Dundee buried by half-time... looking good. A few foreign gems there, dying to see them hit their stride! As a footnote fair play to Dundee giving a guard of honour.
Ben: First game back up so the rust and pressure was on. I'll take the draw. Now we build off it and get that defence sorted! New lads looked good and hungry which is key for our survival this season.
George: Good solid start with a 'new' team still getting to know each other. Positives for the season ahead.
Ross: A game of two halves. Utd had the upper hand in the first, the Dee in the second. Two penalty decisions (one for, one against) when neither were, made it probably a fair result.
"A bit disappointed, but an element of relief as well."
After a pulsating Dundee derby on opening day, you can guarantee many fans on both sides of the road would have shared the thoughts of writer and United supporter, Neil Forsyth.
United - Championship winners - were welcomed onto the pitch with a guard of honour from their city rivals, who finished sixth in the top flight last season, and Forsyth said his club "more than matched Dundee" on Sunday, which gives him confidence for the season ahead.
"You just need to work off today," he told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "They had a great season, so I certainly don't see why we can't have a mid-table finish if we play like that.
"We've made some good signings, there's a strong bench as well, so hopefully it makes for quite an exciting season ahead.
"It feels like we've got a decent squad and I certainly don't think we'll be in any problems at the bottom of the table."
Watch the best of the action from Tannadice as Dundee United and Dundee share four goals in an opening-day thriller. (Available to UK users only)
Jim Goodwin is disappointed his Dundee United side missed a chance to extend their lead before Dundee's equaliser in their 2-2 draw at Tannadice.
The Dundee derby was in the spotlight on TV, radio and online as the Scottish Premiership kicked off, but what did you make of the 2-2 draw?
United fans, are you happy with the way Jim Goodwin's squad is shaping up?
Give us your thoughts here.
Image source, SNSDundee United manager Jim Goodwin had mixed feelings about having to settle for a point in a 2-2 draw at home to Dundee on his side's return to the Scottish Premiership.
"I was delighted with the opening 45 minutes," he told BBC Scotland. "I thought the shape of the team and the structure of the team was very good.
"I thought we deservedly got ourselves in front. The goals we concede - disappointing.
"We cause our own problems for the first one and the second one, the penalty, I'm not arguing with the decision - it was the correct call. I can't be too hard on the back three - I thought they defended well all day - and I think, in that one key moment, we got caught on the wrong side.
"Kristijan Trapanovski was through one-one-one on the goalkeeper and I thought he was going to get round him. He went for the chip and it nearly came off.
"Definitely disappointed because I thought we had the opportunity to kill the game off and we didn't.
"I am not trying to say we were dominant. I am pleased with the point as I think the chances created by both teams was relatively even.
"Prior to the game, I had concern that we could match them physically. I was wondering if we would get outfought, but the pleasing thing is I don't think we did.
"We definitely need to strengthen in key areas - but plenty of positives."
Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSKristijan Trapanovski opened the scoring with a fine finish
The first Dundee derby to start a top-flight season since 2001 ended the same way as the last one - only this time it was a Luke McCowan penalty for Dundee rather than a 90th-minute Jim Hamilton goal that secured a 2-2 draw.
It means United still have not won on matchday one of a Premiership season since 2014.
But they are now unbeaten in seven derbies, while Dundee have not won at Tannadice in 13 visits, and they will no doubt settle for a point on their return to the top flight.
The jury was out on Jim Goodwin's rebuilt United side after they scraped into the League Cup last 16 as one of the best runners-up following an opening defeat by League 1 champions Falkirk.
Nevertheless, they scored 18 goals in the following three victories and their summer signings continue to impress.
His sojourn into the Eastern European transfer market appears to have unearthed some gems, while Dutch-born striker Jort van der Sande gave hints of being another good addition.
However, 20-year-old wide man Miller Thomson, who spent last season on loan to Montrose, showed there is local emerging talent there too as this United look to have improved on the version that ground their way to the Championship title last season.
Defensively, though, there remains work to be done.
Image source, SNSMiller Thomson was on loan to Montrose in Scottish League 1 last season, but the 20-year-old wing-back suggested he is ready for the top flight as he was a constant threat in addition to the goal that put Dundee United 2-1 ahead in their 2-2 draw with Dundee.
Dundee United: Walton; Sevelj, Graham, Gallagher, Holt, Ferry; Babunski, Sibbald, Thomson, Trapanovski, Van der Sande.
Substitutes: Richards, Moult, Odada, Middleton, Fotheringham, O'Donnell, Cleall-Harding, Forbes, Stirton.
Dundee: McCracken; Ingram, Portales, Graham, Larkeche, McGhee, Cameron, Sylla, McCowan, Palmer-Houlden, Murray.
Substitutes: Carson, Sharp, Astley, Tiffoney, Mulligan, Main, Robertson, Richardson, Lochhead.
Dundee United have made Nigerian winger Meshack Ubochioma their tenth summer signing.
The 22-year-old arrives from Hungarian side Zalaegerszegi TE on a two-year deal, with a club-held option of an additional 12 months.
Jim Goodwin described the latest arrival at Tannadice as an "exciting talent".
The United manager added: "His pace on the transition and unpredictability with the ball at his feet perfectly complement his intelligent use of possession, and we hope he can replicate the impact he made on Hungarian football.
"Meshack also has the potential to develop into a real asset for the club in years to come and we feel we have an apt environment in which to nurture his raw talents."
Andy Campbell
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSThe first Dundee derby since April 2022 pitches newly promoted Championship winners United against one of last season's Premiership success stories.
Dundee, in their first season back in the top flight, drew praise from all quarters after Tony Docherty's first campaign as a manager. The Dark Blues finished sixth and have followed that up with four wins out of four in the League Cup group stage.
Sunday's meeting will be the first test of whether Jim Goodwin's United can emulate their city rivals' impressive Premiership return.
Dundee striker Simon Murray will be facing one of his former clubs and aiming to add to the 10 league goals he scored earlier in 2024 for previous club Ross County and his five League Cup goals so far this term.
The last derby at Tannadice finished 2-2, while the Dark Blues have not won there in 12 visits since a 2-1 success in 15 August 2004.
Image source, SNSThis will be the first Dundee derby on matchday one of a top-flight season since 2001-02, when Dundee United’s Jim Hamilton scored a 90th-minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw.
The home side is unbeaten in each of the last 10 Scottish Premiership games between Dundee United and Dundee (W6 D4) since the Tangerines won 4-1 at Dens Park in September 2014. Indeed, Dundee United have lost just one of their last 16 top-flight home games against rivals Dundee (W5 D10), a 1-2 reverse in August 2004.
Dundee United haven’t won on matchday one of a Scottish Premiership season since 2014-15 (3-0 v Aberdeen), going winless in four such matches since (D2 L2).
Dundee are winless on the opening matchday in their last four Scottish Premiership seasons (D2 L2) since a 3-1 win over Ross County in 2016-17.
Since 2015-16, only one of the last 11 newly promoted sides has lost on matchday one in the Scottish Premiership (W5 D5), with Livingston going down 1-3 to Celtic in 2018-19.
Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSWith the new Premiership season kicking off this weekend, BBC Sport Scotland have been taking a look at some new faces to keep an eye on.
Kristijan Trapanovski, the 24-year-old Macedonian winger who arrived from Shkupi, was Dundee United's revelation during the League Cup group stage, scoring three times in two games and being a threat in the two others.
Manager Jim Goodwin will be hoping Richard Odada proves to be a similar gem, although it might be too much to ask for the Kenya midfielder to be handed a quickfire debut in a frenetic opening-day Dundee derby.
Online clips of the 23-year-old breaking up attacks and sidestepping opponents before spraying precise diagonal balls will have excited the Tannadice faithful, but can he replicate that Beckenbauer-esque cool in the heated atmosphere of the Premiership having failed to become a first-team regular at Red Star Belgrade and Philadelphia Union?
Image source, SNSDundee's Jordan McGhee and fellow defender Kevin Holt of Dundee United took the short walk from Dens Park to Tannadice to preview Sunday's derby opener.
Speaking to Sky Sports, external, here's the best of what the pair had to say...
Dundee defender McGhee: "My first derby was a really tough one. I had just signed for Dundee and we lost 6-2. It took a while to get over that and it still hurts.
"Sunday's game is hopefully a chance to rectify that. I've played in plenty of derbies, it's about cool heads. We'll play our usual game and hopefully everything takes care of itself.
"We'll walk down before the game, it's a historical thing for Dundee teams of the past. We'll do that with the fans behind us and probably get pelters from United fans, but it's all part of the experience."
United defender Holt: "We want to put a marker down and say this is the league we deserve to be in.
"All the hard work [of last season] is for games like this. Games like Sunday's is what it's all about.
"[A win] would be huge for us in the changing room. You see what Dundee did last year, finishing in the top six, we look at that and think that's where we want to be."
