Dundee United 3-0 Dundee

• United win Tayside derby at Tannadice
• Nadir Ciftci on target twice
• Victory not enough to clinch fourth place

Dundee United defeated their city rivals at Tannadice but it was not enough to keep alive their hopes of playing European football next season.

Nadir Ciftci scored two first-half goals, punishing a slip by Dundee goalkeeper Kyle Letheren for the opener and adding another from the spot.

Dundee battled throughout but Blair Spittal's cool finish after the break put the result beyond the Dark Blues.

However, St Johnstone's win in Aberdeen means it is they who finish fourth.

United began the Scottish Premiership match one point and one place behind the Perth Saints, who must hope third-placed Inverness, who have already qualified for Europe, win the Scottish Cup final against Falkirk next weekend to free up a Europa League qualifying place.

Dundee were the sharper in the tackle in the early minutes and their efforts had their fans in good voice.

Kyle Letheren comes out to clear the ball from Nadir Ciftci but slips at just the wrong moment

Yet they trailed after only eight minutes when Chris Erskine clipped a ball through for Ciftci to chase and he was gifted the chance to walk the ball into the net when Letheren slipped when he came out to clear.

Home full-back Ryan McGowan was a threat with his throw-ins from the right and with Erskine and Spittal looking in the mood, United looked capable of extending their lead.

Dundee offered a threat too, notably from the lively Luka Tankulic and Greg Stewart, the latter tormenting Erskine on the goalline out on the left to set up Stephen McGinn for a side-footed shot at goal which United keeper Radoslaw Cierzniak saved.

Paul Hartley's men found themselves two goals down when Thomas Konrad, who was already on a booking, nudged Ciftci off the ball to concede a penalty.

The Turk kept his cool to send Letheren the wrong way and double the visitors' lead.

Dundee never gave up but had no answer to United's clinical finishing.

Spittal won the ball in midfield and had the sense to quickly get back to his feet and race for goal where he latched on to John Rankin's precise through ball.

He picked his spot to rifle a low shot beyond Letheren and at that point it was United who were heading for fourth place in the Premiership.

Ryan McGowan leapt above Dundee defender Gary Irvine to meet Erskine's cross from the right and crack a header off the crossbar as United turned the screw.

John Souttar tested Letheren's reflexes with a cheeky back-heel from six yards. and in the closing minutes McGowan volleyed wide after some eye-catching skill by Ciftci out on the right wing.

However, Chris Kane's 70th-minute goal for St Johnstone at Pittodrie meant United's victory earned local bragging rights rather than a possible Continental foray next season.

Nadir Ciftci sends Kyle Letheren the wrong way and doubles United's lead against Dundee

Jim McAlister and Nadir Ciftci compete for the ball in one of many robust challenges in the second half

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Dundee Utd

• 1CierzniakSubstituted forSzromnikat 90+2'minutes
• 2Dillon
• 5FojutBooked at 90mins
• 4SouttarBooked at 42mins
• 3DixonBooked at 90mins
• 24SpittalSubstituted forCooteat 75'minutes
• 8Rankin
• 16McGowan
• 17Erskine
• 7Ciftci
• 10MuirheadSubstituted forConnollyat 68'minutes

Substitutes

• 20Butcher
• 21Telfer
• 22Connolly
• 23Smith
• 26Szromnik
• 30Anier
• 43Coote

Dundee

• 1Letheren
• 19McGinnBooked at 16mins
• 5McPakeBooked at 63mins
• 4KonradBooked at 24minsSubstituted forGadzhalovat 45'minutes
• 2Irvine
• 18McGowan
• 20McAlisterBooked at 89mins
• 11FerrySubstituted forHarkinsat 60'minutes
• 15Stewart
• 48McGinnSubstituted forWightonat 67'minutes
• 21Tankulic

Substitutes

• 24Black
• 26Gadzhalov
• 29Harkins
• 31Brodie
• 33Wighton
• 35Colquhoun

Referee:

Bobby Madden

Attendance:

10,812

Match Stats

Home TeamDundee UtdAway TeamDundee

Possession

Home48%

Away52%

Shots

Home13

Away10

Shots on Target

Home5

Away3

Corners

Home3

Away7

Fouls

Home19

Away10

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Dundee United 3, Dundee 0.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+3'

Second Half ends, Dundee United 3, Dundee 0.

Posted at 90'+3'

Attempt saved. John Souttar (Dundee United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

Substitution

Posted at 90'+2'

Substitution, Dundee United. Michal Szromnik replaces Radoslaw Cierzniak.

Booking

Posted at 90'+1'

Paul Dixon (Dundee United) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Paul Dixon (Dundee United).

Posted at 90'+1'

Greg Stewart (Dundee) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 90'

Foul by John Rankin (Dundee United).

Posted at 90'

Luka Tankulic (Dundee) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Booking

Posted at 90'

Jaroslaw Fojut (Dundee United) is shown the yellow card.

Booking

Posted at 89'

Jim McAlister (Dundee) is shown the yellow card.

Posted at 88'

John Souttar (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 88'

Foul by Greg Stewart (Dundee).

Posted at 87'

Nadir Ciftci (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 87'

Foul by Jim McAlister (Dundee).

Posted at 86'

Attempt missed. Greg Stewart (Dundee) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right from a direct free kick.

Posted at 85'

Foul by Jaroslaw Fojut (Dundee United).

Posted at 85'

Gary Harkins (Dundee) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 85'

Attempt blocked. Nadir Ciftci (Dundee United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 83'

Attempt missed. Ryan McGowan (Dundee United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.

Posted at 83'

Nadir Ciftci (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 83'

Foul by Gary Irvine (Dundee).

Posted at 82'

Foul by Ryan McGowan (Dundee United).

Posted at 82'

Gary Harkins (Dundee) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 80'

Corner, Dundee. Conceded by Jaroslaw Fojut.

Posted at 79'

Attempt saved. John Souttar (Dundee United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Posted at 78'

Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Paul McGowan.

Posted at 77'

Attempt saved. Craig Wighton (Dundee) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Posted at 76'

Attempt blocked. Paul Dixon (Dundee United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

Posted at 76'

Aidan Connolly (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 76'

Foul by Gary Irvine (Dundee).

Substitution

Posted at 75'

Substitution, Dundee United. Alistair Coote replaces Blair Spittal.

Posted at 74'

Attempt saved. Luka Tankulic (Dundee) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

Posted at 73'

Ryan McGowan (Dundee United) hits the bar with a header from the centre of the box.

Posted at 72'

Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by James McPake.

Posted at 70'

Foul by Ryan McGowan (Dundee United).

Posted at 70'

Greg Stewart (Dundee) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

Posted at 68'

Substitution, Dundee United. Aidan Connolly replaces Robbie Muirhead.

Substitution

Posted at 67'

Substitution, Dundee. Craig Wighton replaces Stephen McGinn.

Posted at 65'

Foul by Jaroslaw Fojut (Dundee United).

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