06/05/00 Dundee 3 Dundee United 0
By Dundeefc.net
April 24 2002
SAT 6TH MAY
DUNDEE 3 (Falconer 49 & 73, Grady 64)
Dundee United 0
Attendance: 8,581
Subs: Grady (for Luna), Robertson (for Rae), Miller (for Tweed) Bayne, Langfield
A Willie Falconer double and a goal from James Grady gave Dundee a decisive win over rivals Dundee United at Dens Park.
A tremendous second half display gave the dark blues their first points of the season against the Arabs.
You just knew it was going to be our day - the High Corner was packed out and absolutely jumping with the whole thing being recorded by a TV crew.
As if that wasnt enough then the site of the giant Flag unfurled and being carried down Kinghorn Road and Main street by the JMB Crew was a site to behold!
It was a comprehensive victory for the home side but there can be no doubt that the Arabs will claim it was aided by the first half dismissal of Quim aka Joaquim Ferraz, for an off-the-ball incident with Lee Wilkie.
But the warning signs had been there before United were reduced to 10 men.
The visitors had been let off the hook in the 30th minute when Pat Billio had sent a spot kick wide of the mark.
It was the visitors who almost raced into a third minute lead when Ferraz tried a spectacular bicycle kick, only to see it going well wide of the target.
The home side retaliated with a spell of pressure which had the United defence defending desperately. But the visitors next attack almost proved fruitful as Dundee keeper Rab Douglas had to tip a Ferraz header onto the bar and over for a corner.
Both sides were taking turns to attack and Dundee's Wilkie came to the rescue of the home side when he threw himself to block a David Hannah shot from the edge of the box.
There was high drama in the 30th minute when Dundee won a penalty when Steven Boyack was upended by Craig Easton in the United box.
The young United midfielder had failed to shield the ball out of play and stupidly lashed out at Boyack after being dispossessed 10 yards from goal.
There was little protest from United of their fans as referee Jim McCluskey pointed to the spot. Billio stepped up confidently but sent his kick wide of Alan Combe's right hand post and the visiting fans celebrated the let-off.
There was more drama to follow two minutes from the break when Ferraz was red-carded for an off-the-ball incident involving Wilkie, who appeared to be head-butted by United's Portuguese striker.
Ten-man United started the second half facing an uphill task but within four minutes had conceded the almost inevitable first goal.
Javier Artero, picked up a pass from Boyack, and when his cross came over from the right veteran striker Falconer thundered a header in off the bar from six yards out.
The home side now had total control of the match and five minutes later Artero again cut the ball back to find Grady unmarked on the penalty spot.
But the substitute shot was straight at Combe in the United goal who gathered comfortably.
But in the 64th minute, after so much pressure, Dundee unsurprisingly doubled their lead.
Boyack swung a cross in from the right hand side and Grady raced in between the United defenders to blast a header past Combe.
The visitors looked demoralised and Gavin Rae could have had a third if his header hadn't been straight at Combe when it looked easier to score.
Dundee were now rampant and it was no surprise when they increased their lead to three in the 74th minute.
It was Falconer again who was on hand to head home from three yards out after Grady had headed back across the goal following a Boyack corner.
It was easy for the home side now and the only surprise in the closing minutes was that they never added to their lead.
The Bobby Cox and the Derry was in full voice whilst the Arabs that remained in the Shankly seemed to throw there scarfs onto the track behind Combes goal.
My My My what a beautiful Saturday