Dundee United ensured it was a miserable start to the New Year for their near neighbours as they trounced Dundee 6-2 in the derby at Tannadice.
With leaders Celtic’s game at Partick postponed due to the weather, the Tangerines took full advantage to move to within two points of the Hoops in the table thanks to a comprehensive win over their city rivals.
Dundee’s woes started in the warm-up when keeper Kyle Letheren appeared to suffer a thigh injury and failed to make the start, meaning a shock debut for back-up Arvid Schenk.
And it turned out to be one to forget as the big German was picking the ball out of the net after little more than 30 seconds of play.
United moved forward with purpose and Chris Erskine’s volley into the ground deflected off Stuart Armstrong and the ball trickled past the helpless Dundee keeper.
The visitors did not buckle, however, and deservedly drew level in the 24th minute.See more derby reports and photos in Friday’s CourierAfter Calum Butcher earned a booking for barging into Gary Harkins 20 yards out, Greg Stewart stepped up to take the resulting set piece which he curled superbly beyond Rado Cierzniak.
But that seemed to spark United into action and they were back in front three minutes later.
Sean Dillon’s pinpoint pass out wide found Gary Mackay-Steven on the wing, he cut inside and his cross-cum-shot sailed beyond the despairing Schenk.
Dundee hardly had time to settle before it was 3-1 on the half hour, and it was yet more dodgy defending from the Dark Blues.
Townsend’s cross from the left was allowed to reach Erskine at the back post and he was given the time and space to stroke the ball past Schenk.
Dundee would have wanted to reach the interval so they could regroup, but United piled on the misery in 41 minutes.
It was Mackay-Steven again as he picked the ball up in the right channel and slotted a low left-foot effort beyond Schenk to make it 4-1 at the break.
The game was pretty much over a contest, although Thomas Konrad did clip the crossbar with a header just after the hour mark which could have given Dundee hope.
However, Jaroslaw Fojut made it 5-1 in 64 minutes with a powering front post header to rub further salt into the wounds, and sub Charlie Telfer put even more gloss on the scoreline eight minutes from time when he slotted home from the edge of the area.
Luka Tankulic grabbed a second for Dundee late on, but it was of little consolation to the visitors in the end.