Dundee United’s derby-day heroics will count for nothing if they suffer the embarrassment of relegation at the hands of city rivals Dundee, says John Rankin.
The experienced midfielder, who is out of contract in the summer, has rarely suffered the bitter taste of derby-day defeat in his five years at the club.
Instead, United have been the dominant force in the city. And nothing underlines that more than the 6-2 New Year’s Day victory of 2015.
Those are the type of games and performances that will live long in the memory for Rankin.
But he says those moments will be tainted should it be written that the Dark Blues put the final nail in United’s coffin at Dens Park on Monday night.
“That’s not something I want to experience,” said Rankin.
“It’s also not something I can really imagine happening.
“In my time here there have been some huge derby performances.
“I can always remember the first derby at Tannadice when we beat them 3-0 and the New Year’s Day 6-2. That was extra special. A great experience.
“As I said we have had good times but I don’t want all of that to be wiped out. If we do go down, the likes of the 6-2 will be forgotten about and mean next to nothing.”
A Kilmarnock victory at Hamilton tomorrow afternoon opens up the prospect of Arabs’ nightmare scenario coming to fruition.
But Rankin takes inspiration from the idea that all eyes could be on Dens Park come Monday night.
“The league wanted this I think. That’ll be why the TV cameras will be there. This scenario gives us extra motivation.”
If Rankin needs anything more to help make him feel good, he can point to an excellent derby record.
He’s faced Dundee 10 times in competitive fixtures as a United player and only lost twice — in January when the home side ran out 2-1 winners and just before the split last season when the Dark Blues ended a 10-year derby drought via a 3-1 success.
As well as playing his part in last year’s famous New Year destruction, the 33-year-old has helped his team to victories on another five occasions.
And on the road there has been no happier hunting ground than the stadium just a couple of hundred yards from their front door.
Of course, much has been made of United clinching the title there on the final day of the 1982/83 season.
Their first two major trophy successes also came at Dens as they lifted the League Cup in 1979.
The following season saw them retain the trophy when a toss of a coin decided the final against Dundee would go ahead at “neutral” Dens.
That December day in 1980 saw Jim McLean’s side run out comfortable winners by 3-0. That success actually came during a run of nine undefeated visits over the road stretching from March 1980 to November 1984.
And the overall derby record at Dens is impressive. In 87 city clashes there, United have been undefeated on a remarkable 59 occasions.
Of those games there have been 39 victories and just 28 defeats, with the visitors scoring an impressive 145 goals.
Even when the Dark Blues were in their pomp during the 1960s, United had a decent Dens record and, prior to those trophy-winning visits in the early 80s, their most famous visit came on September 11, 1965.
Lining up against a home side that, ironically included one Jim McLean, Jerry Kerr’s team hit five thanks to a Finn Dossing hat-trick and one apiece from Dennis Gillespie and Lennart Wing.
On Monday, though, a one-goal win would suit Rankin.
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