Dundee had started with lots of promise and for the first 15 minutes led United a merry dance and some of the passing movements were a delight to watch.
Clearly rattled by this good build up play Gallacher looked very nervous in Goal and almost gifted Dundee the lead in the 10th minute when a mishit clearance led to Juan Sara with only the keeper to beat. He, too, seemed to find a dose of nerves take over and he mishit his shot and sent the ball straight at the keeper who saved with his left foot, with both corners gaping.
It has to be said that this was Dundee's only real chance, a tame Milne header and a Torres effort being our only other real shots on target. For a team renowned for good build up play this is shocking indeed.
When United led at the break it was obvious Dundee would have to attack in the second half and this left us with glaring holes at the back for United to exploit. If they had taken their chances United could and probably should have won this game handsomely. Another Dens Park massacre was on the cards but poor finishing by Scotland's number 9 and others let us off the hook.
In my opinion the man of the match was the man all Dees love to hate, Charlie Miller. He was a livewire in midfield, played like a general and had some of the players round about him been up to his standards a rout could have been on the cards. I hate so say it, but Charlie was magnificent, and read the game like I read the Broons.
This was no brilliant United side, in fact I expect they can play much better as well, but Dundee were so powder puff and lacking in ideas it was a joke. What United had that we didn't was aggression and fight. Every time a Dundee player had the ball he was chased and harried, tackled and pushed, nudged or tugged at. This is the tactics used in derbies all over Britain, maybe the world, yet the Bonetti's still try to get their team playing slow, entertaining football on such a frenzied, blood curdling occasion. When a United player was on the ball, he was given acres of space and allowed to get his cross in with Dundee players standing off him and making no attempt to get stuck in.
United deserved their win, no doubt about that, they fought and would have died for the three points today. That was the impression they gave. Dundee had some good moments, too, but not enough of them. And too often when the heat was on our players lacked either the hardness or the desire to go in and win the 50-50 ball.
Julian Speroni was Dundee's best player, he made some excellent saves and came out at all times with confidence and his handling was brilliant.
Barry Smith can never be called a non-trier but he had some in the team today and Ivano should be looking at those who lack the bottle for a fight and try to replace them. Hot and cold, the captain tried, but had a dismal day.
No one should mention cowardice when speaking of Lee Wilkie and though the unfortunate goalscorer for United, I have heard he is about to sign an extension on his contract, so this is good news for Dundee fans. He was pathetic first half but in the second he came on to more of the Lee we know and love with some wonderful last ditch tackles.
I question whether Ivano should have brought Walter Del Rio back after the defence had 2 shut outs in their last two matches, yet Mackay was dropped for a player back from suspension and though Walter did some nice things he wasn't rock steady and I felt he caused the early panic from Wilkie who had been playing well with Smith alongside him.
Gavin Rae blew hot and cold, and though he would get pass marks from me, only just, he didn't look commanding enough. Compared to Charlie Miller, he was very average and lacked the final pass to set up chances.
Kiko Torres showed some great touches, neat flicks and things, and some cultured midfield play, but that's not what wins derbies. He lacked the passion and the blood curdling ball winning that United players had.
Juan Sara was brave and tenacious, though he should have gave Dundee the lead with that bad miss in the 10th minute. He was tugged at, nudged off the ball, fouled on many occasions missed by Hugh Dallas and in the end had to go off injured. He had no support as Milne seemed to be playing a deep lying role and was more often in his own half than up helping his fellow striker.
Giorgi Nemsadze got an amazing reception from the Tayzurri when he entered the field of play midway through the second half. And how he loved it. He did add to the Dundee repertoire with some neat through balls and some divine touches and he should be back to his best before long.
Of the dumplings of the day, I have to say Massimo Beghetto was never at the races, panicky and lacking the urgency required in a derby. My favourite player, Beto Carranza, chose today to leave his box of magic tricks at home and had a disastrous match. Stevie Milne can't be faulted for effort, but he, too, lost the plot and at times was doing brilliant things then thumping the ball wildly out of play instead of finding a man with his pass. Javier Artero does not have the heart for a fight, and derbies are slogging matches with the heavies usually coming out on top. If you don't have the desire or will to tackle or challenge in a derby you've a snowball's chance in Hell of winning one. Fabian Caballero replaced the injured Sara and gave very little in his time on the field. What happened to that burst of pace, that lung bursting spurt towards goal, the wee flicks and touch of genius on the ball that endeared him to us not so long ago?
Yet there was one touching moment at the final whistle. As the fans made their way to the exits and the players left the field one seemed very reluctant to do so. Julian Speroni, who had nothing to be ashamed of in his brilliant performance remained in the goal area, kicking divots and looking so distressed. Yet some said this was a game that meant nothing, an end of the season kick about.
A few of us who saw this remained to give him a cheer and some support. At one point he looked in our direction, and his dismay at the result seemed to take over and the guy was in tears. To his credit United goalkeeper Gallacher, the only player to do so, ran all the way to the Dundee goalmouth to console his opposite number. Nice touch, Mr. Gallacher.
But also an enigma. Those who say these foreign players are no more than mercenaries, who come here with no love of the jersey or the cause should have witnessed Julian's dismay. If this wasn't passion for the cause and pride in the jersey, tell me what it was? Get him signed, Peter Marr, we need more of this kind with a pride in their team.
I asked for the fans of both sides to behave themselves with the media looking for anything bad to report on the friendliest rival supporters in the whole wide world. And what did I find? Fighting? Running gangs chasing each other all over Tannadice Street? Nothing of the kind. I saw nothing but friendship.
My abiding sporting memories outside the football itself was: Charlie Miller shaking Giorgi Nemsadze's hand as he made his return to the field of dreams, a generous touch, Charlie, and not one that went unnoticed; Paul Gallacher's consoling of Julian Speroni at the final whistle; and going down the road.
Yes, going down the road. SO, WE LOST. BIG DEAL. What was more important, what would happen outside the ground. With legions of police seeming to be there, (God knows why?), I saw, as normal, Dundee fans walking alongside Arabs.
I saw pals in dark blue meeting pals in tangerine and after the initial banter and leg pulling, a few cuddles and plenty of handshakes as well. The usual "One team in Dundee" songs from the fans of the winning team with the losers yelling "Have you just won the league, or what?"
Then, driving down Tannadice Street I saw this guy staggering across towards a policeman trying to sell him a United sweepie ticket. Boy, he even had his name on the back of his Arab top. "Lochee Arab."
Lochee Arab, a formidable poster on all United and Dundee websites, a pal from across the ether. A chance not to be missed, I stopped my car and we had a few handshakes and a blether about the game. First time we'd met and both rather pleased about it. When the police told me I was blocking the road, (well, we were in the middle of Tannadice Street) I had to move on, but not before LA had sold me one of his sweepstake tickets and a promise to meet him for a pint soon.
So eat your heart out, West Coast media. You couldn't match this if you tried. Anywhere in the world. Dundee and Dundee United may have fought a game of football, maybe not a very great one, and my team lost. But we can teach you all about common decency and mutual dislike tinged with respect. But then I doubt if the likes of Jim Traynor would ever understand.