Dundonians are no different from the Old Firm and the Edinburgh pair in that nothing compares to the derbies. How boring to be an Aberdeen fan and be forever deprived of such a momentous occasion. Those that talk of amalgamation are obviously not among the ones who savour these annual fixtures.
In front of a crowd of 11,454 we make the short trip to Tannadice to try to stop a sequence of 3 defeats in a row and do so with some aplomb and by doing so keep United bolted to the bottom of the league and still with fewer points than a triangle, which was the standard joke among all schoolboys, especially those of a Dark Blue persuasion.
Charlie Miller made his home debut for the Arabs, but United are swept aside by a team with far too much skill and subtlety for them to match. CLAUDIO CANIGGIA is the darling of the Dens Park faithful when he reacts to a neat Falconer through ball and clips a perfect finish past Combe and into the far corner of the net. In the second half we see a goal that will be spoken of for all time in the annals of derby matches.
Caniggia plays the perfect weighted pass into the path of GIORGI NEMSADZE. The Georgian skipper dances past his man, sees Combe off his line and sends the most delightful of chips over the keeper's head to seal the points and score a remarkable goal. The United fans stream for the exits with a speed that would have worried Alan Wells in his heyday, and Dundee turn on the style for the remainder of the half to run out easy and very worthy 2-0 winners. A United protest against the board takes place outside and the bemused and joyful Dundee fans throng to the nearest pubs to celebrate their team's 3rd derby victory in a row.
On the 18th November they follow this up with a very convincing 5-0 victory at Dens against lowly St Mirren with CLAUDIO CANIGGIA tapping in two easy goals for a man of his standard, followed with a superb GAVIN RAE strike, a peach by JAVIER ARTERO and a scorcher from STEVIE MILNE. The Artero goal sticks in my mind as it was created beautifully and finished expertly. The move is started by Artero from a central midfield position and when he sends Caniggia racing up the right the maestro takes the ball to the byeline before cutting back the perfect pass for Harry to slide the ball home, putting the keeper the wrong way in the process.
Dundee's failing all season was that they never managed to win 3 games in a row at any time, and this as much as too many defeats that should never have happened cost them a 4th top place and a certain European spot. Following up on two splendid wins in which they scored 7 without reply they travel to Gorgie land in Edinburgh to face Hearts. With Nemsadze injured in the pre-match kick about BETO CARRANZA, his replacement, turned on a scintillating first half performance and scored a fantastic goal, a curling free kick that gave Niemi in the Hearts goal no chance in Hell of saving it.
This lead is held to half time and the Dundee faithful are dreaming of 3 wins in a row. Football's a cruel old game, though, and the second half sees a complete turnaround in fortunes. Suddenly a defence that had looked so convincing for weeks was pierced in dramatic fashion. First they fail to mark at a corner kick and allow a free header for Murray to head home.
Worse is to follow. With 3 minutes to go, controversial refereeing by our old favourite Mr. Freeland costs Dundee a point that they would have deserved. Juanjo clearly pushes Marocco to the ground as he races down the right, a fact clearly proven on the TV coverage that night, but is allowed to go on and from the resultant attack Cameron fires Hearts in front. With injury time looming and the Dundee heads down now Bonetti brings down Fulton and Cameron nets the third.
The 3rd December proved to all that were at that game at Dens that the best team doesn't always win. Totally outclassing St Johnstone we led by a superb JUAN SARA looping header that beat Alan Main all ends up. This is followed by as good a footballing display as Dundee have turned on all season, but the goal that would have guaranteed the points eluded us, and late in the second half when Carranza had the chance to do just that he tried to show off when sent through on goal and his placed effort comes back off the post.
When the assistant referee shows that 3 minutes of injury time were to be played we bite our nails and pray to any God we know of to give us the points. But he isn't at home and Hugh Dallas decides to play God to St Johnstone. He plays much more than the allotted 3 minutes, some reckon he played 5, some even more. A harmless looking cross from Sylla from the right should be easy meat for keeper Rocatti and central defender Wilkie, but both panic! and as Marco knocks the ball towards big Lee the ball strikes his chest and crosses the line for a goal that could only be scored in the Beano or the Dandy. Two of many daft points lost last season, and one which showed the roller coaster on the downward curve in all its horror.
The big Sky match on 11th December sees a cracker in which Dundee face Celtic at Dens and to many this was our best performance of the season as we more than matched the champions with flair and skill, gut bursting effort and sheer magnificent football at times. But on this occasion fortune didn't favour the brave. Defending that wouldn't have been allowed in the Sunday Boys Under-9's league allowed Petrov to score, with Steven Tweed and Di Marchi the biggest culprits in the howler that allowed him in. But Dundee come back bravely and from then on turned on a great display that led to a second half equaliser when the most perfect of Caniggia crosses from the left is heading to the unmarked Sara in front of goal. TOM BOYD tried desperately to head past his post but to his horror he planks it straight into the corner of the net for a deserved equaliser.
Some will say this was the game that cost us the transfer of the great god Claudio as his performance that night was memorable to say the least. He teased, taunted and demoralised the Celtic defence without having an able back up to put the many chances away. In injury time for the second game in a row AGATHE gets on the end of a game of pinball with the ball bobbling all over the place and when he heads the winner home the Dees fans are stunned and dejected after seeing a fine performance earn nil points at the end.
But just when we're on a downer we come away with another classic performance against Killie at Rugby Park on December 16th. With Caniggia in Argentina for a court hearing we look like losing heavily to Kilmarnock who take an early lead in the 3rd minute with Cocard scoring. Shortly after half time they double their takings with another goal, this time a header by Martin Baker. Those who said this team full of imported players from lands of warmer climes, could never play in the middle of a Scottish winter were shocked when they produced as fine a fight back as they are ever likely to see. IVANO BONETTI has scored many more remarkable goals than the first, but Marshall fluffs his low shot aimed for the far post and the ball squirms under him to bring us a lifeline. Then came STEVIE MILNE'S finest half hour in the great Dark Blue. First his pace takes him clean through the centre of the Killie defence and his finish is superb, sliding the ball past the outrushing keeper. With time running out he is quick to react to an Artero cross from the right and his first time volley hits the roof of the net for a great win and a great personal performance from a striker who has a great future ahead of him.
On the 23rd December dropped points again cost us dearly against Aberdeen at Dens and though we play them off the park for 75% of the game we have to settle for a measly single point. Early in the game a mix up between Tweed and Rocatti gave the Dons the lead through Di Rocco and once again our defensive frailties are exposed for all to see. But we take the game by the scruff of the neck and in the 59th minute after great work by Marocco his cross is laid back by Sara for wee BETO CARRANZA to smash an unsaveable shot past Esson for a great equaliser. The Argentine combination again soon after with Beto this time being the provider and when he sent JUAN SARA in his shot beat the keeper to give Dundee the lead. Three minutes only we hold that lead, and though it seems like sour grapes when Referee Freeland, an Aberdonian, points to the spot for an offence that no one but he could see, he had gifted his fellow Dons a most undeserved equaliser and another daft 2 points elude us.
Then comes the final match before the month's break and the Dees fans who make the trip have to drive through a snow storm and some tricky roads to arrive at Motherwell, where we'd played our first game of the season in such fine style. The game is in doubt with snow swept to the sides of the park and the grass freezing quickly. The game begins but very soon freezing fog descends and the Dees fans behind their goal cannot see the goal their team are shooting into. They barely see JUAN SARA open the scoring in the 3rd minute when he races through the Motherwell defence almost from the half way line, rounds Goram and slots home. The fog gets worse, but it doesn't stop Dundee from continuing to play delightful football in the conditions and they add a beautiful second goal. Stevie Milne races down the left and his most perfect of crosses is met by none other than GAVIN RAE who blasts a fierce header past Goram.
The second half sees the fog mercifully lift just when we fear abandonment could cost us 3 quality points. Then JUAN SARA strikes again, starting the move with a great pass to Rae who shimmies past two defenders as if they aren't there. His low cross to the far post is shinned home by big Juan and the famous t-shirt gets it's second airing of the day.
With the Dunfermline match cancelled a week later at Dens Dundee approach 2001 with the first half of the season of beginnings, to season one of the Bonetti Revolution. The football we had witnessed was amazing, the signings of Caniggia and Carranza breathtaking, the fans were slowly building a hero worship of Ivano and Dario and the players seemed to be improving as they found their feet. Could they make the top 6, which was the aim of the management team right from day one, or would the bubble burst in 2001? We could only wait and see, but the excitement was there to see, feel, taste and relish.