The last Dundee derby at Tannadice was the most exciting televised game of football this season.
And I wouldn’t be surprised if Friday night’s return match at Dens matches it.
BT Sport must be loving the fact that they’ve got the rights to them.
The first derby had everything – lots of goals, plenty of proper tackles, some controversy and a great atmosphere under the lights of a full stadium.
It’s a match that rarely fails to deliver compared to the Edinburgh one, for example.
One of the big reasons for that is that it doesn’t seem to matter what the league positions are – both teams go for it. It was the same in my time.
Another big reason why these two teams will serve up a cracker again is that their attacks are better than their defences.
We all know what Lawrence Shankland can do – he’s the best striker in the league. What’s more, I think he’ll be an even better player after mixing with the Scotland lads and scoring for his country.
And in the Dundee team, Kane Hemmings is showing signs of getting back to his best.
His confidence will be up after scoring a few goals recently.
And he’s also got probably the best passer of a ball in the league feeding him – Graham Dorrans.
I was really impressed with Dorrans when Dundee played us but his match sharpness will have gone up another level since that game.
Who knows how long he’ll stay because he clearly could still be a Premiership player but as long as Dundee have got him, it will be a striker’s dream.
This game is as near to a guarantee of goals as you get and it will come down to which defence can be the more solid to limit the damage.
I think United are slight favourites but the extra fire that the Dundee players have in their belly after the 6-2 could help edge it for them.
Even if United do win, it’s far too early to say that it will be a decisive moment in the title race.
* One player who won’t be in the United team is Scott Banks.
You never know what’s happened behind the scenes but it is a bold call to let his contract run down at Dundee United so early in his career.
The lure of the English Premiership is there for all to see and if he does go to Crystal Palace the development fee they will have to pay United is small change. It doesn’t even represent a risk for them.
I haven’t seen Banks play but I really hope it works out for him.
When you finish your career it’s the big games you played in that you look back on.
* Jim Weir has done exactly the right thing in stepping down as Forfar manager.
Your health is your wealth, as they say.
Football managers always want to be in control so the temptation is there to be back in the dugout when in other professions you would be at home recuperating.
As for Jim’s successor? Big Stuart Malcolm would be a good shout. He was a dressing room leader during his time as a player at Station Park and has been doing well as a manager with East Kilbride. I’m sure he’d be a popular appointment with the fans.
