A horrible season for Dundee United culminated in relegation on Monday night.
Tonight we look back on how the disaster unfolded game-by-game.
It comes with a don’t-watch-alone warning for Arabs.
Aug 2: United 0 Aberdeen 1. After a poor pre-season United went down to Aberdeen on the opening day. Summer signings Rodney Sneijder and Darko Bodul only made the bench.
Aug 8: Motherwell 0 United 2. United ran out winners at Fir Park. A tight game was decided by a Louis Laing own goal and a Simon Murray strike.
Aug 11: United 2 Dundee 2. The derby was going United’s way thanks to a Blair Spittal double. A late collapse saw Greg Stewart and James McPake net to grab a point.
Aug 15: Hamilton 4 United 0. United were destroyed by Accies. An error-strewn performance allowed the home side three up by the interval. Chants for gaffer McNamara to be sacked.
Aug 22: United 1 Celtic 3. The Hoops were comfortable winners .
Aug 29: Ross County 2 United 1. It had been a bad week with the news Sneijder had been released on medical grounds. United were bolstered by the arrival of Billy Mckay but still lost.
Sept 12: United 1 Kilmarnock 2. United trailed but the fightback looked on when Mckay struck but a Kevin McHattie strike meant defeat.
Sept 19: United 1 Inverness CT 1. At least the losing streak ended, but having taken the lead when Mckay netted early, United failed to capitalise. More alls for McNamara to go.
Sept 26: St Johnstone 2 United 1. The end for McNamara. Despite taking the lead it was another abject performance and came as surprise time was called on the manager’s reign.
October 3: Partick 3 United 0. Dave Bowman was put in charge. United slumped to the bottom of the table. Bowman said there was a perception that United were soft touch.
October 18: United 0 Hearts 1. An international break gave United time to find a manager in Mixu Paatelain just in time for the visit of Hearts.
Oct 25: Celtic 5 United 0. He didn’t need telling, but Mixu got an indication of the size of the job facing him his team thrashed. Mixu blasted them.
Oct 31: United 1 Ross County 0. The game was decided by a Mckay penalty nine minutes from the end. Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima watched on and the plan was to sign him. Permit problems delayed that for two months.
Nov 7: Aberdeen 0 United 2. The high of Ross County wouldn’t last and midweek saw United exit the League Cup at Hibs. Pittodrie saw the Dons canter to a comfortable win.
Nov 21: United 1 St Johnstone 2. Another bad afternoon. Mckay scored, but United were behind by half-time. The manager moved to strengthen his team by signing former-fans favourite Gavin Gunning.
Nov 28: United 1 Hamilton 2. United took the lead but lost. Experienced Guy Demel and Florent Sinama Pongolle were added to the squad. Neither were fit to play.
Dec 5: Kilmarnock 1 United 1. Sinama Pongolle made his debut. A run of three defeats ended, but this was a missed opportunity.
Dec 12: United 0 Partick 1. Demel was fit to play, but Sinama Pongolle lasted just 11 minutes.
Dec 19: Inverness CT 2 United 2. A mistake by Michal Szromnik cost points. It wasn’t the first time the lack of an experienced replacement for Rado Cierzniak proved costly.
Dec 30: Hearts 3 United 2. The last game of the year. United led through Mckay, but by the time Mark Durnan struck they’d conceded three.
Jan 2: Dundee 2 United 1. Kawashima finally made his debut but his blunder cost the points. Just to compound the misery Demel was red carded.
Jan 15: Utd 1 Celtic 4. Celtic ran out comfortable winners. Finn Riku Riski was brought in on loan from Rosenburg but this was his only start.
Jan 23: United 5 Kilmarnock 1. United’s best performance of the season. They blew away one of their rivals in the battle to avoid the drop.
Feb 13: Hamilton 0 United 0. At New Douglas Park late penalty save from Kawashima secured a point.
Feb 16: United 0 Motherwell 3. United were humbled 3-0 by fellow strugglers ‘Well on one of the darkest nights of the season. It was a big blow.
Feb 20: United 2 Hearts 1. With all looking lost, chairman Stephen Thompson issued an apology and scathing condemnation of the team. The players held a crisis meeting and the result was a spirited performance and a late Paul Paton goal secure the points.
Feb 27: Ross County 0 United 3. A rare good day and a fine victory. County were no match for United.
March 2: United 0 Aberdeen 1. A goal from Simon Church gave the Dons victory. It was a blow but not entirely unexpected
March 12: Motherwell 2 United 1. Henri Anier grabbed a deserved lead, but the home side were level by half time and went on to win.
March 20: United 2 Dundee 2. Another dramatic derby and another fightback from a team two down at one stage. This time it was at least United who finished strongly to take a point via a Mckay double. The game hinged on a red card for Dundee goalie and, in all truth, until that point the Tangerines were well beaten.
April 2: St Johnstone 0 United 1. More hope came after Dow secured the points at McDiarmid Park.
April 5: Partick 1 United 0. The Tangerines headed for Firhill and should have had the game won in the first half. Kris Doolan struck a late winner.
April 9: United 0 Inverness CT 2. A second defeat in three days. Gavin Gunning picked up the ball in open play and walked off because of an injury. It would be his last act as a Tangerine.
April 24: United 1 Hamilton 3. There were protests outside and it now was a matter of time before relegation.
May 3: Dundee 2 United 1. Nightmare becomes reality as the drop is confirmed. It had to be at Dens Park, scene of so many previous triumphs.
This article originally appeared on the Evening Telegraph website. For more information, read about our new combined website.