Caballero grabs derby double

Caballero's strikes gave Dundee a commanding lead

Dundee 3-2 Dundee United

Dundee secured a first derby victory over their city rivals for two years, but endured a torrid final 10 minutes after almost blowing a three-goal lead.

Fabian Caballero scored twice in the first half with Jonay Hernandez adding a third after 55 minutes to put the home side on easy street.

But United fought back in the closing stages of the game through former Dundee striker Jim Hamilton and Jim McIntyre, and nearly snatched an unlikely point.

Both sides started the game at pace and each forced a corner in the opening minute.

The visitors carved out the first real chance of the game in the eighth minute.

Craig Easton found space on the left flank and delivered a teasing ball into the area for Derek Lilley.

Hernandez gave Dundee a three-goal lead

The striker timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap but was thwarted by Julian Speroni, who raced from his line to gather.

But it was Dundee who took the lead in the 11th minute with some clever interplay which undid the United defence.

Steve Lovell tracked back into his own half to dispossess Miller, before racing through the middle of the park to feed Novo wide on the right.

The Spaniard picked out Caballero in the United penalty area, leaving him the simplest of tasks in heading the ball past Gallacher.

Lilley had a chance to equalise four minutes later when Thompson set him up on goal with a clever dummy, but Speroni dived low and to knock the ball away with his legs.

Then at the other end Lovell gathered a Giorgi Nemsadze diagonal ball on his chest and raced past Jim Paterson into the penalty area.

But Gallacher got a touch to his powerful shot and Jim Lauchlan cleared the danger.

The home side doubled their advantage in the 30th minute, when Caballero's 16-yard strike was deflected into the net by Lovell.

The Argentine gathered a pass from Novo on the penalty spot and, with his back to goal, turned Lauchlan and fired a shot in on goal.

MacIntyre's goal set up a tense finale

However, his effort looked fairly weak until it bounced off his strike partner and spun into the net.

United boss Paul Hegarty went for broke, putting on a third striker, Jim Hamilton, in place of defender Jamie McCunnie.

And it almost paid off in the 47th minute when the visitors stretched the home defence, but Hamilton was unable to take advantage and sent his effort wildly over the bar.

Dundee extended their lead in the 55th minute.

Lovell, who had been a constant menace to the United defence, gathered the ball wide on the edge of the box before playing in Jonay Hernandez.

The Venezuelan collected the pass and fired a low shot past Gallacher into the left-hand corner of the net.

United fought gamely and Hamilton grabbed a consolation for the Tannadice men after 67 minutes, volleying into the net from 16 yards.

And MacIntyre's 83rd minute strike saw Dundee clinging on for all three points after they appeared to be cruising to victory.

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Dundee: Speroni, MacKay, Wilkie, Hutchinson, Hernandez Santos, Smith, Nemsadze, Rae, Novo (Milne 90), Caballero (Khizanishvili 86), Lovell (Sara 90).

Subs Not Used: Langfield, Brady.

Booked: Lovell, Novo.

Dundee Utd: Gallacher, Lauchlan, Wilson, McCraken, McCunnie (Hamilton 36), Easton, Miller, McIntyre, Paterson, Thompson, Lilley (Smart 79).

Subs Not Used: Combe, Duff, O'Donnell.

Booked: Easton, Miller, McIntyre.

Attendance: 11,539

Referee: K Clark.