Dundee head coach Steven Pressley praised his players for ignoring his tactics to secure a famous derby victory. Goals from Drey Wright and Owen Bevan gave the Dark Blues first blood in the City of Discovery at Tannadice.
Pressley admitted the performance bore no resemblance to what the team had worked on in training, but he was equally delighted with the three points.
No tactical influence
“I said to the group after the game, I love tactics, but days like this make me prouder,” Pressley said. “When a group comes together and wins a game without any tactical influence.”
He added: “I was probably a bit more animated than usual today because we obviously set out with a tactical game plan and we carried virtually none of it out. Truth be told, I didn't see evidence of hardly any of our detail today.
“But what it did show me is that derby games are not won on tactical detail. They're won on courage, they're one on determination, they're won on grit. All the things that my players served up today. So I couldn't be prouder.”
Momentum and feel-good factor
Pressley said the team had spoken during the week about finding ways to win away from home, adding: “That you don't always need to play particularly well, but when you show that determination you've got a chance.”
The win moved Dundee joint-top of the table, and Pressley admitted he was enjoying the moment more than usual.
“Yes, terrific. I've said this many times throughout my career, I've not enjoyed good times enough,” he said. “You do have to enjoy moments like these. There's no doubting that momentum is important in football. But also the feel-good factor around your club.
“To win a derby game at this stage of the season is enormous for us. Enormous. I think as well, when we consider it's been a real transitional period from one team to the other.”
Simon Murray's influence
Dundee were without Simon Murray before the game, but Pressley said the striker still had a major bearing on the win.
“Of course it was (for him),” Pressley said. “I think last week at Aberdeen, the injury to Simon, definitely in my opinion had an effect on the group.
“It had an effect on myself, that I do know. But that was very much for him. He was in the dressing room before the game, half-time, after the game. He's got a huge role to play. The players listen to him, they respond to him. He's got a big influence in the group. Although he wasn't playing today, he was there in spirit.”
Wright sent Dundee on their way with a long-range strike, and Pressley highlighted his importance.
“He's been such a pivotal player for us since coming to the club,” Pressley said. “He's a leader in his own way. He brings such a calmness to the group. He's a great stabiliser for many of our younger players.
“I'm delighted for him because he was a doubt going into the game. But typical Drey, he plays with the injury. So I'm really delighted with him. He scored a long-range effort against St Mirren last year as well.”
Pressley added that the goal gave the team more belief, saying: “Then there was just that mindset that we weren't going to give this up. United put us under a lot of pressure in the second half. But we put our bodies on the line. Owen (Goodman) made a couple of saves, our centre-backs defended with their lives. There was just so much of that today.”
