Dundee United scored a sweet victory over their local rivals Dundee in a derby match that doubled up as a relegation dogfight.

In a ferocious first 16 minutes goals from Billy Dodds and Stevie Thompson set Dundee on course for only their second win in 11 matches.

Newly promoted Dundee pulled one back after 28 minutes but United restored their two-goal advantage through Kjell Olofsson with 20 minutes remaining.

United remain second bottom and deep in relegation trouble but are now only one point behind Dundee, who have a game in hand.

Dundee could fall further into trouble if the fail to improve their home form. This was their third straight Dens Park defeat and their second in six days.

The visitors started brightly. Dodds showed clinical finishing to put United one up in the 10th minute after being released by Olofsson.

Dundee were rocked again six minutes later when a Thompson shot was deflected into the net.

But they stormed back into the match with James Grady and Barry Smith both going close before Shaun McSkimming scored from close range.

Brian Irvine could also have equalised on the hour but his header rattled the bar and bounced to safety.

Olofsson had the last word with 20 minutes to go with a wonderful shot into the corner after a cross from Bernard Pascual had only been half cleared.

Dundee: Douglas, Smith, Adamczuk, Irvine, Raeside, Annand, Grady, McInally, Sharp, McSkimming, Tweed. Subs: Falconer, Coyne, Robertson, Rae, Langfield.

Dundee Utd: Dykstra, Malpas, Olofsson, Easton, Dodds, Miller, Duffy, Thompson, De Vos, Mols, Pascual. Subs: Dolan, Mathie, Skoldmark, Gray, Gallacher.