Dundee boss Paul Hartley is looking for a similar performance but a different result when his side return to Tannadice tomorrow to face United for the first time since the League Cup tie between the teams back in September.
That Wednesday night, the Dark Blues made the short walk to the home of their local rivals with the memory of a 4-1 Premiership defeat from the previous Sunday at the hands of the Tangerines at Dens still fresh in their minds.
Hartley’s men were desperate to make amends and raced out of the traps in front of a packed house and they seemed to have gained a reward for their good start when they were awarded a penalty.
However, Greg Stewart’s spot-kick was saved by Rado Cierzniak in the United goal and then Dundee hearts sank shortly after when Martin Boyle was sent off just before the half-hour mark for a challenge on Stuart Armstrong.
Dundee’s 10 men continued to battle valiantly and the tie looked certain to head to extra-time and possible penalties when Jarek Fojut powered a last-gasp header past Kyle Letheren to give United victory and break Dark Blue hearts.
Now, Hartley is hoping for a display of similar intensity in tomorrow’s lunchtime league game as Dundee look to end a run of six Premiership matches without a win.
The manager said: “We played well down there and we will have to do so again.
“We will have to be at our best to get a result against a very strong United team who have really good attacking players.
“We need to have a look at who their threats are.
“But then we have to be offensive on our play also.
“We know they have good players but we have to go there with a game plan to try and win it.”
As a player, Hartley experienced the red-hot atmosphere of the Old Firm and Edinburgh derbies and he admitted that the Dundee ones compared favourably.
He said: “They have been really good.
“I have not enjoyed the results but the atmosphere and some of the play has been excellent in the two games so far.
“The walk across the road is a little bit unusual. We are only 50 yards or so apart.
“The timing of the game is a little bit different also as it is an early kick-off.
“So we have to prepare differently in terms of when you train.
“We will look at it and the times of when we train.
“But I think it has the makings of another cracking game.”
Hartley is hoping to welcome back Paul McGowan for the derby after the player missed the last five matches through injury.
When asked if the former St Mirren midfielder was a big-game player, Hartley replied: “Definitely. Paul has been one of our best players this season.
“We have definitely missed him and hopefully he will be back in contention for the game on Thursday.”
Eyebrows were raised at Dens prior to kick-off last Saturday against St Mirren when it was revealed that Hartley’s team selection did not include playmaker Gary Harkins with the fans’ favourite starting on the bench.
The manager admitted that he felt it was the right decision.
He said: “Gary had a little injury and then he was suspended. He also had an illness throughout that period so we just felt we had to go with a team that could win the game on Saturday.”