Dundee v Dundee United: Live Match Article

Good hi,

Welcome to the preview and live article for what is arguably the biggest and most prestigious game to be played in Dundee today. Arguably 2 of the world's teams go head to head in what is being billed as today's early kick off in the Scottish Cup.


Form

Dundee are the form team coming into this game after smashing 2 past sort of maybe rivals St Johnstone, despite only having 10 men and Mark Stewart.
Dundee Utd have failed to score in any of their last game and haven't beaten Dundee since last year.



New Manager

Dundee will go into this with high confidence after recently appointing a good proven young manager. Dundee Utd will lack the energy of a good new young manager and because their manager has been there so long, the team will lack motivation.



Recent record

Recent record favours Dundee. Dundee go into this game having won 2 games already at Dens park this season, where as United have only won 1 game at Dens park this season. With double the amount of Dens Park wins this season, Dundee will be looking to further assert their dominance in the City.



The Road to Dens (cup performance)

The road to Dens has been a tough one so far for both teams, because there is staffie sh*te all over the pavement on Sandeman Street and on the corner to Provost road. Also Dundee go into this cup tie on the back of a thumping win over high flying Morton who are running away with the Irn Bru first division. Dundee Utd had to make do with a cagey win over lowly 3rd division The Rangers, who to their credit had been on an astonishing cup run prior to getting beaten by United, advancing further than they had ever done before, so instead of patronising The Rangers I think we should give them a lot of credit for making it to the last 16. Massive achievement for them.



Unbeaten Record

Dundee are unbeaten in the Scottish cup so far this season. Not looked at the record of the other quarter finalists, but pretty sure none of them will still be unbeaten in the Scottish Cup seen as we are now into March. If Dundee can remain unbeaten for the rest of the season in the Scottish Cup then they might just have an outside chance of winning it.



League Standings

The table below shows the league positions of Dundee and Dundee United.

I------------12th------------------------------------------------------------
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I-------------------------------------------------------8th------------------
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---------DUNDEE---------------------------------DUNDEE-UTD---------------

As you can see Dundee are higher up in the table of league positions. This will no doubt give them the edge going into the cup game.


Nicky Riley v Gary Mackay Steven

It's hard to talk about this fixture without mentioning the big debate. Nicky Riley v Gary Mackay Steven, arguably 2 of the world's football players at the moment. These 2 are arguably on a different level to Messi and Ronaldo right now. To say they are on the same level would be way off the mark. You have to remember as well that Riley and Steven are doing it in the tough, physical conditions of Scottish football. They aren't just doing it in the tippy tappy English Premier League against tippy tappy flare teams like Stoke and West Ham. Footballers are real men up in Scotland. Until the likes of Gerrard, Rooney, Terry etc prove themselves in a proper physical league, they shouldn't be considered on the same level as Derek Young and Gary Bollan, who have. Do you honestly think they could hack a cold, snowy day at Ross County? Not a chance. Forgotten what I was talking about now.




Fans

Dundee Utd have reportedly only sold 4000 tickets for the derby where as Dundee are expected to sell over 5000. Very disappointing from Dundee Utd and this lack of willingness to turn up and support their team will no doubt affect the player's motivation and performance on the park.

Everything is pointing towards a Dundee win, but you never know in football, Dundee Utd could just pull off one of the biggest cup upsets in history.

Teams

DUNDEE: Douglas, Irvine, Toshney, Grassi, Easton, Riley, Davidson, McAlister, Conroy, Milne, Baird.


DUNDEE UTD: Cierzniak, Watson, Dillon, McLean, Douglas, Flood, Rankin, Mackay-Steven, Armstrong, Gardyne, Daly


NO SHOUTING

Live @ http://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewLiveArticle/193327