Action from the weekend’s Scottish Premiership as champions Celtic take on Kilmarnock, while Dundee United host Dundee in the derby
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00:30And it's a real head-to-head.
00:59It's a real head-to-head.
01:00Keogh has made his move.
01:01It's a great ball and they're going to win it now.
01:02Santa Claus bringing the trophy out.
01:03Celtic champions again for 23-24.
01:27Will the beat go on for Celtic this season?
01:30Welcome to Sports Scene.
01:31Mark Wilson and Michael Stewart in attendance.
01:34The Dundee Derby and St Morin versus Hibs to come.
01:37But we start with the champions and the unfurling of the premiership flag.
01:41Kilmarnock, the visitors at Celtic Park.
01:43Commentary comes from Paul Mitchell.
01:45They secured it in style, losing just three times, winning 29 matches, outscoring their
01:53opponents by 95 goals to 30, and it is Calum MacGregor who takes the Scottish Premiership
02:01trophy and places it on the plinth, the Celtic starting XI today.
02:08They all played their part but the new goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel.
02:19The championship flag is raised again.
02:24Across Celtic Park, Jim Craig, Lisbon Lyon.
02:28Celtic legend.
02:32With the title flag flying above Celtic Park, Celtic's quest to ensure that the title of
02:38champions remains with them come May 2025 starts today against a team that caused them
02:43more than a few problems last time.
02:46Kilmarnock beat Celtic twice in the same season, for the first time since 1964-65 when they
02:52also won both the league and league cup game.
02:57For Celtic, the end of the season in style with six straight league wins.
03:01Familiar look to the Celtic side that starts today, only one player making his full debut,
03:06and that is goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
03:09Kilmarnock were valiant but fell short in the Europa League qualifier in Bruges, five
03:19changes to that side, it's a side that doesn't have Joe Wright who's injured and Robbie Dees
03:24who's suspended.
03:25In come David Watson, Fraser Murray, Matty Kennedy, Liam Fowler and there's a debut for
03:31on loan Sunderland player Oliver Bainbridge.
03:41Celtic an opening day defeat, rarely go together in the same sentence, just one defeat in the
03:46last quarter of a century on opening day.
03:50Kilmarnock started last season's campaign with a memorable win against Rangers on a
03:54back-to-back double it would be if they could win here today.
04:01Carter Vickers did well but it's straight to the path, Matty Kennedy, he tried to open
04:18up.
04:20David Watson was calling for it, Matty Kennedy quick fancied his chances there.
04:32Sticking for Kilmarnock, here's Forrest, that's lovely by Forrest, away from Lyons, Lyons
04:40fighting back.
04:41Into the middle it goes, can be happy to see it out, Taylor picked up on the inside, back
04:55to McGregor.
04:56Celtic again, hoping to go wide, Bainbridge with a header away, there's such a threat
05:11on that left-hand side, Taylor, Varelai, Forrest, taking it in turn, Johnson, Kiyoko, it's a
05:23Kiyoko in touch from Kiyoko, McCrory has made enough of a save, and Brad Lyons clears.
05:29He read the goalkeeper's intention, lifted it beautifully.
05:3515 minutes gone, Kilmarnock here being credited with 10% of the ball, feels generous with
05:47his own Celtic.
05:48Forrest, inside Donnelly, Donnelly recovers well.
05:54Lyons loses out though, chance, Hattati!
05:59Well, it's been coming, no doubt about that, Aurelio Hattati, big smile on his face.
06:07Forrest and McGregor, Watson, they played it back, Lyons got caught, perfect little
06:14ball on the inside, and Hattati from Taylor, and Roby McCrory had made a great save from
06:21Kiyoko just a couple of minutes ago, no chance, got a hand to it, just couldn't keep it out,
06:27it had enough power, and Celtic at the head, that's Celtic Park.
06:34Kiyoko, get it back again, Kiyoko, McCrory with a save.
06:43Well, there's one of the reasons that Celtic want to keep Matt O'Reilly.
06:48Just a beautiful little ball through, read it well, and McCrory with a take.
06:54Just enough to push it away, and Kilmarnock defenders chasing everything including Celtic
07:00shadows.
07:03Oh, Ben Bridge, I realise at the start of the week they end up playing in front of 50,000
07:09at Celtic Park.
07:11Russell, used his legs well there, there's the opportunity, and driven all the way at
07:18the goalkeeper.
07:19Money and Kennedy have decided to trade places, and Kennedy was waiting there, got the volley
07:26away, plenty of power in it too.
07:2854 minutes played, Celtic looking for a second.
07:39Forrest into Kiyoko, Kiyoko has another little nibble, McCrory with a save,
07:44second attempt comes up.
07:46I think the flag went up anyway.
07:49It was good.
07:51Drifted in from the right side, saw what the danger was, you see Ben Bridge having a little
07:57You couldn't stop the first one, nor the second, McCrory out very quickly.
08:01Touched it away, and Miros at the fingertips perhaps, just taking it over.
08:14Well, Liam Donnelly doing exactly what you want him to do, set the defence.
08:19That hasn't made any difference, because Liam Scales has scored.
08:24Liam Donnelly was trying to set up Oliver Benbridge to help the defence,
08:29but the corner was a good one, the header even better.
08:33And Liam Scales sends the ball low, that's Robbie McCrory, and Celtic are two ahead
08:38with five to play in the opening half.
08:42O'Reilly's corner, and the header as he got away,
08:47there's a slip from Lewis Mayo, and the header was perfectly placed off the post.
08:53Celtic smiling again, Liam Scales the reason this time.
09:02With Mayo on the deck, Scales floating high in the air,
09:06and that was the perfect place to pop the ball.
09:17Into Scales, Scorer, Celtic second.
09:21Into the Scorer, Celtic's first.
09:24Hattati, down the side, James Forrest.
09:29Right on the line, nicely kept in, Hattati.
09:34McGregor, onto Forrest.
09:38They've said that over the years here. Here's Hattati, slight deflection.
09:43Well, it was on target but deflected wide, and Celtic would settle for a corner.
09:50And they struck it well.
10:00That could bounce and finish anywhere, it was Liam Scales who got the shot away.
10:04Beambridge on the line, that was horrible from Kilmarnock.
10:09It was played across by Lyons, Scales got it away, Beambridge off the line.
10:15He thought he was beaten.
10:28Celtic come again, German winger, Lewis Coon.
10:34Steps inside, still going, he's got the chance, deflected!
10:41The third Celtic player on the score sheet, Celtic's third goal of the afternoon.
10:50Lewis Mayall clearly plays the winger onside.
10:56Gets his head down, attacks Beambridge, comes across.
11:00He just clips off the heel of Lewis Mayall.
11:06Dodger goals panel.
11:09You don't have a lot of work but if the shot was on target, you give it to the striker.
11:16Collective shoulders of Kilmarnock slumped as Celtic go three ahead.
11:22Nothing Lewis Mayall could do about that one.
11:25Up and over.
11:29What a save.
11:45Kilmarnock through Donnelly.
11:51It's a great little ball in!
11:54That was Fraser Murray who headed it wide.
11:58He did a little glance on this, I think he got too much on it.
12:02What a heck of a close.
12:06Here's McGregor.
12:12I've seen this movie before, Celtic relentless, not settling at three.
12:16Here's McGregor going through, great footwork, can he finish?
12:20Came close!
12:22And then Rayo Atati followed up.
12:25And knocked it over the top.
12:28McGregor surprisingly, in the number of minutes he's played against Kilmarnock,
12:31just the one goal.
12:34Rayo Atati, one today, looking for two.
12:45And then to change of play again.
12:47Quickly into the area, Kogu waits!
12:52The lead of nothing, Celtic create something.
12:55And Kogu may feel he should have scored for the first time this season.
13:00Here on opening day.
13:02Palmer looked up, really teasing, tempting ball.
13:06And Kogu, such a finisher.
13:10On that occasion, couldn't find a way to get it on the back of the net.
13:14And it may have stuck on three goals against Killie.
13:17Nine appearances prior to today.
13:22Scares goes long, Kogu's sprung the offside trap.
13:25Kogu!
13:29Well, they thought he'd sprung the offside trap.
13:32But the flag goes up.
13:35Let's see how close it was.
13:39Well, closer than it looked at first attempt.
13:41He thought he'd got there.
13:43Brought it down beautifully, the first touch wonderful,
13:45the second perfection.
13:47But the offside flag for now has denied Kogu.
13:52Yep, you're offside, mate, says Don Robertson.
14:00Success rate, five percent.
14:05Lovely little flick on the inside.
14:09And that will be a yellow card as well.
14:12Bad lines, can argue, but it was a lovely touch inside.
14:16My home.
14:17And Palmer got the flick away first.
14:24In the Scottish Cup.
14:28And O'Reilly, a seniority, plays it to Kiyoko,
14:31runs it to McCrory.
14:34And McKenzie will battle it out.
14:37Celtic fans, what a penalty.
14:40I feel McCrory met Kiyoko before the ball.
14:46Kiyoko's injured.
14:50It's close for offside to start with.
14:53And I'm not sure where McCrory was supposed to go.
14:58Kiyoko won it well.
15:00And he was committed.
15:03Kiyoko won it well.
15:05And he was committed.
15:10Reading skills tell me,
15:12Don Robertson's explained, that's not a penalty.
15:15I think it's the right call.
15:18FANS SHOUT OUT
15:31McGregor, still trying to go past people.
15:35Ball on the inside, Kiyoko looking for that finish.
15:38Pushed away, chance!
15:41Anthony Ralston has the big smile as Celtic hit four on opening day.
15:47And the Scotland international, in a tough summer,
15:50gets his August off to a flying start, and a big smile.
15:55Celtic certainly never gave up, deep inside stoppage time.
15:59McGregor couldn't halt the passage of play.
16:03McCrory touched it to the side, but to his dismay,
16:07Anthony Ralston was waiting for it.
16:10Lovely ball on the inside, Kiyoko involved once more,
16:14and Ralston, not an easy finish, right back across the goalkeeper.
16:19And Celtic hit four against Kilmarnock.
16:24It's over the cross, through the legs of the goalkeeper.
16:28Celtic four, Kilmarnock nil.
16:38Well, Kilmarnock with the first seed to beat Celtic in the league last season.
16:42Celtic opened with 16 matches unbeaten.
16:45Today a familiar-looking Celtic, it's a familiar-looking outcome.
16:49Opening day joy for Celtic.
16:51A tough, tough shift for Kilmarnock.
16:54He would, as you would expect, give it everything.
16:57But Celtic came out the gates as champions.
17:00Attati, Scales, Kuhn, and finally Anthony Ralston rounded it all off.
17:05Opening day success for Celtic.
17:07They defeat Kilmarnock by four goals to nil.
17:15Yeah, I think I have to be so pleased for the first game of the season.
17:18You hope that after the pre-season that we've had,
17:21with the fluidity of the team and the work and the mentality,
17:24that that then just can come into your first game.
17:26And it certainly did that.
17:28So, yeah, very pleased for everyone.
17:30I still thought we could start the second half in some good moments,
17:33and we got up the pitch well enough.
17:35But it was always my intention at 60 minutes to make some changes,
17:38with Thursday night in mind as well,
17:41and bring some freshness on to give the lads a hand.
17:44So, try to balance and navigate a squad that's a wee bit struggling for injuries at the minute,
17:49makes it a bit more difficult.
17:50We don't have the biggest of squads, and we need to lean on our younger ones.
17:53But we look forward to Thursday night, as I say.
17:56We got through yesterday without any more injuries, making things worse.
18:01We put this away, and we just deal with what's ahead of us now.
18:05An utterly dominant performance from Celtic today.
18:08Mark Wilson, how impressed were you by your former side,
18:11and how ominous for the other teams?
18:14Yeah, well, very impressive this afternoon.
18:16Because sometimes these games, opening games of the season,
18:18can take on a different form.
18:19Sometimes a bit sticky, a bit slow, people getting into their rhythm.
18:22I don't think Celtic had any of that this afternoon.
18:25Everything was quick, the tempo was good, real intensity.
18:29And to match it, the quality was outstanding on show.
18:32It absolutely was.
18:33Michael, there's so much speculation during the summer,
18:36swirling around about who Celtic will bring into the club.
18:39But when you look at the players that are already there,
18:41and Rio Hatati, who got the opening goal in the 17th minute,
18:44they're already so strong, aren't they?
18:46Yeah, they are.
18:47Look, there's no question that they're going to be looking and needing to strengthen,
18:50to have an impact on Europe.
18:51But the improvement from the overall squad here today was quite clear to see.
18:55This is an interesting one.
18:57For me, you see O'Reilly winning it back.
18:59The quick interchange as soon as they win the ball,
19:01and then they're able to get the strike away with Hatati.
19:03But look, the turnover, bang, press him, win the ball, Greg Taylor,
19:07two touches, pass him to Hatati, one touch at his feet,
19:10into the bottom corner.
19:11That was the big difference.
19:13Especially the earlier parts of last season, for me,
19:16was the intensity that Celtic played at.
19:18Part of that is down to the stronger players in the squad being back in the team.
19:22We saw that at the end of last season.
19:25But as Mark's saying as well, sometimes the opening games,
19:28we've seen it already, the opening weekend here,
19:30some of the teams have been a little bit slow to get going.
19:33Not with Celtic, and in large part, better players on the team.
19:36But the tempo from them all, out of possession,
19:40harassing the opponent straight away, winning the ball back,
19:42high up the park, constantly moving.
19:44One touch, two touch, three touch.
19:46Very seldom was it more than three touch from a player.
19:48That makes it impossible to defend against at times.
19:51It's interesting what Michael says there, Mark, as well,
19:53in terms of Kyogo, because last season as well,
19:55Kyogo maybe didn't look quite himself.
19:57Today, he looked back to his best, didn't he?
20:00He certainly did.
20:01He looked like the Kyogo that Celtic fans saw in the first season.
20:03I think that was great from last season.
20:05A lot of Celtic fans say he wasn't getting involved in any build-up.
20:08But today, within the opening 25 minutes, he was involved in everything.
20:12You see his movement there.
20:13Double movements, great first touch to set up his chance
20:16and unlock him not to score.
20:17But here again, he gave Mayo and Finlay the run around all day,
20:21so sharp with his movements, coming off into space.
20:24I think Celtic actually did well to allow those big spaces for him to come off.
20:28But you see his movement there again.
20:30Goes one way and feints the other, and he gets the opportunity.
20:34Koon, of course, should have scored there.
20:36But today was much more like the Kyogo that the Celtic fans are used to seeing.
20:40And this one, this was the only surprise.
20:42Great passage of play there from Celtic.
20:44Little triangle, and he should score that one.
20:46But there we go again.
20:47You think he's miles offside there.
20:49What a first touch and a great finish.
20:51When you see the replay, he is inches off.
20:54But again, it's the movement.
20:55He goes to the ball.
20:56Scales knows he's going in behind.
20:58And look at the two centre-halves.
20:59They have no idea he's going in behind.
21:01It was so tight, wasn't it?
21:03That goal, I was just going to say,
21:04when you look at that still when he's offside,
21:07just to touch on exactly what Willow was mentioning there,
21:10you look at the team as a whole.
21:11They're spread out.
21:12The full park is being used.
21:14And sometimes, you know, for certain teams,
21:16you think you've got to be closer
21:17to get those wee short interchanges.
21:19The Celtic had that.
21:20But because the movement was so good,
21:22they were able to get short interchanges
21:24and then they were able to spread the game
21:25because the players, the energy they showed,
21:27they were always supporting their team-mate
21:29without everything being too congested.
21:31They had a perfect balance between short and sharp,
21:34but then being able to stretch the game as well,
21:36which ultimately, for Kelly,
21:38it became a nightmare trying to stop that.
21:40I want to say something quite controversial now.
21:42I thought it was quite a good weekend
21:43for the referees and VAR overall.
21:45But the Keogh penalty claim, Michael,
21:47it was a curious incident, wasn't it?
21:49Yeah, it was because it's such a tight one as well.
21:51And, you know, thinking perhaps it was offside,
21:54there was a wee bit of a delay in time.
21:56You see, when you look at it in real time,
21:58there's a difference here
22:00between the one we saw in the first half
22:02where Keogh knocks it past McCrory
22:05and it looks like it's maybe going in
22:06and gets cleared away,
22:07and one that you'll see in the Dundee derby as well.
22:11That there is a foul for me.
22:13Keogh could get that once he knocks it past McCrory
22:16and then it's a goal scoring opportunity.
22:18For me, that's a penalty kick.
22:20Although he's not wiped out,
22:22it's more of a bump,
22:23but still, I think that should have been given as a penalty.
22:26It didn't matter much at the end of the day
22:27in terms of the final outcome, Mark.
22:29Do you agree with Michael?
22:30Oh, it's still more of a penalty.
22:31I guess anywhere else in the pitch, it's a foul.
22:33So it certainly was.
22:34And I think Mael just maybe played him onside
22:36if you looked at Mael's foot creeping in.
22:38So for me, it was a penalty, but it didn't matter.
22:40Yeah.
22:41Overall, the referees, I think, have done pretty well this weekend,
22:43we should say.
22:44In terms of Celtic, overall, fantastic performance, Mark.
22:48They'd sealed the win fairly comfortably.
22:51It was a tough day for him, Mark.
22:53Oh, it certainly was.
22:54And when you see Mael Diermeier gets too tight,
22:57the scales, you know, slips.
22:59But what a fantastic delivery.
23:00But what a header this is.
23:02Because all he has to do, he has to just direct it.
23:04The pace is already on the ball,
23:05but he's still got an awful lot to do.
23:07He had a good afternoon.
23:08Scales has come in for some criticism.
23:09Last season, he held his place down.
23:12But that's what Michael was talking about.
23:14Celtic filling every position in the pitch.
23:16Look at that pass from Kyogo out to Kuhn there.
23:18Knows exactly Kuhn's going to keep his width.
23:21But if you're a Kilmarnock defender
23:23and you're playing against Nicholas Kuhn,
23:25what do you think he's going to do?
23:26He's going to come in and he's left.
23:27Finlay doesn't really help out.
23:29Runs past the ball and they get a huge slice of luck.
23:32But it's no more than they deserve.
23:33You know, they created chance after chance.
23:35Maybe could have been more.
23:37So many impressive performances and Kuhn
23:40starting off where he left off in pre-season.
23:42Yeah, it was a case of icing on the cake at the end
23:45for Celtic as well, Michael.
23:46Difficult Euros for Tony Ralston,
23:48but maybe he should have played up front.
23:51Good finish.
23:52Yeah, and this is another example of quick turnover.
23:56The bodies that are bombing forward,
23:58being able to expose the gaps in the back line.
24:00That pass from O'Reilly makes it, again, quick play.
24:04It's not just in terms of having speed
24:06of the actual player.
24:07It's the speed of the pass in Celtic here.
24:09One touch, bangs it into Kiyoko's feet.
24:12He can then get it out, have the strike
24:14and then you've got Ralston,
24:16who's up in support of the attack there.
24:20This is ominous for the rest of the league
24:23because Brendan Rodgers,
24:26I think a lot of Brendan Rodgers' good work
24:28from when he was first at the club
24:29was forgotten about at the start of last season.
24:31This is a top manager who was dealing with a squad
24:35that was missing a lot of key players.
24:37They're going to have to strengthen
24:38to have the impact in Europe that they expect and want.
24:41But certainly with the squad that they've got already,
24:44that was a far superior performance
24:46than a lot of what we saw last season.
24:48So much chat amongst Celtic fans.
24:50Obviously, Mark, in terms of transfers, etc.
24:53Should Celtic spend big in terms of the Champions League
24:57that they can look forward to?
24:58And do you think they will spend big?
25:01I don't think they will spend big.
25:02I mean, what is spending big to challenge the Champions League?
25:05You have to spend £30-40 million
25:07for any decent player to affect that level.
25:09So they have to spend within their means.
25:11Now, if that's big, if that's between £7-10 million,
25:14perhaps, maybe that's what it's going to take to get Ida in.
25:16But they certainly need a couple of players.
25:18They certainly need a left-back to push Greg Taylor.
25:20They certainly need a striker in.
25:22Maybe that is Ida or someone else.
25:24So one or two others.
25:25And Brendan Rodgers keeps alluding to that.
25:27He needs quality to make any sort of impact.
25:29But domestically, with the squad he's got just now,
25:31on today's evidence,
25:32that looks strong enough to win this league.
25:34Yep, Celtic off to a very strong start indeed.
25:37Next up, the glorious return of the Dundee Derby.
25:41A top-six finish for the Dark Blues last season
25:43and United back in the Premiership
25:46after sealing the Championship title.
26:02Matthew Goodjoy with a kill as the finish is.
26:05Levert!
26:07He's done it again!
26:09That's a wonderful finish.
26:11It's a dangerous blow.
26:13Tony Walsh has run it surely for Dundee United.
26:28Well, the opening weekend of the season
26:30features a Dundee Derby for just the fourth time
26:32and there's starts for new signings
26:34Seveld, Strapanovski, Babunski-Ferry
26:37and van der Sande for United.
26:40Plenty of changes at Dundee over the summer as well.
26:43Simon Murray is a Dundee fan who used to play for United.
26:46He becomes the latest to feature for both clubs in this fixture.
26:52The Dundee players forming a guard of honour
26:55for Jim Goodwin's side
26:57who's been lynched back to the top flight at the first time of asking.
27:04Well, the city's been starved of this fixture too often in recent years
27:08but it's back.
27:10United looking to dine at the top table
27:15for the foreseeable future.
27:19Both clubs have been in the second tier too often
27:21for their liking over the last ten years
27:24in Dundee's case, last ten or twenty years.
27:30Expect this one to be fiery.
27:33Here's Strapanovski.
27:36And already the United new signings are making a big impression.
27:42Seveld's with the shot.
27:44First save of the match for John McCracken.
27:47Strapanovski teeing up the Croatian.
27:55That's a brilliant challenge by Gallagher.
27:58Strapanovski.
28:00Couldn't resist.
28:01Wrong way out.
28:05One of the two North Macedonians that Jim Goodwin has signed.
28:09Of course he brought Bojan Jovski to Aberdeen.
28:11He'll be hoping we have a similar impact here.
28:19Here's Thompson.
28:21Jim Goodwin's got some real faith in Miller-Thompson.
28:25Baboonski should have done better than that.
28:27He knows it.
28:31He began his career at Barcelona.
28:35Baboonski and the youth team there.
28:38Good pedigree.
28:43Dundee can't really get a hold of the ball.
28:45When they have done, they've not made best use of it.
28:47And that's been slipped through.
28:49Opportunity here for Strapanovski.
28:56Put on a plate for him.
28:59And finished expertly.
29:04Well, van der Sande as well here.
29:06Calmly rolled it to Strapanovski.
29:11And that's his fourth Dundee United goal already.
29:15And it's the first goal of the Premiership season.
29:19After two goalless stalemates on Saturday,
29:22Strapanovski lights up the derby.
29:25And it's advantage United.
29:29It's been more than two decades since Dundee
29:31won across the road at Tanned Ice.
29:35Jim Guthrie was the last-stop Blues boss
29:37to lead them to victory here.
29:41McKellan for Murray.
29:44McKellan's back onto it.
29:46It's Murray.
29:47Palmer-Holden's there.
29:48It will score.
29:52One man.
29:56And Shep Palmer-Holden ensures the United lead
30:00didn't last long.
30:02A matter of minutes.
30:09Well, McKellan's springing into action.
30:11We know what Simon Murray is all about
30:13in and around the box.
30:15His effort initially saved by Walton,
30:17but Palmer-Holden was there.
30:22The United have had the better of it.
30:24They had what was a deserved lead,
30:26but they've been pegged back here.
30:32This is a brilliant moment for Tony Doherty.
30:34He'd be delighted with the reaction from his players.
30:38Palmer-Holden's up to four as well.
30:45And Simon's well blocked by referee Dickinson.
30:57Strabinowski.
31:02Stepping up a little bit for Ferry there.
31:05It's a fabulous ball across!
31:10And United up their lead back, Miller-Thompson!
31:15What a moment for the youngster.
31:18A first-under United goal comes in the derby
31:21at the shed end at Tannedyce.
31:24What a brilliant ball by Seve Elch.
31:28To find Thompson at the back post,
31:30and he had the wherewithal to be in the right place.
31:34Ferry did well to open it all up.
31:36That was the key.
31:39Three goals.
31:40Three goals in the space of nine minutes.
31:44And United are back in front.
31:47A special moment for Miller-Thompson,
31:49the academy graduate here.
32:01Now they're away by Ingram.
32:05And Strabinowski.
32:06It was Ferry's fault.
32:08Strabinowski, it was Ferry.
32:10United in the mood for another here.
32:13Fantastic from Ferry.
32:16Babunski!
32:20Well, that's a chance.
32:23To open up daylight.
32:26Brilliant from Will Ferry.
32:28The new signings look good for United.
32:31Babunski was on his way to ground
32:33just right about the time he was hitting it.
32:38He'll be pleased.
32:43Refika Konsellas, a United play on.
32:47McCracken forced into action.
32:53Once again, Miller-Thompson in aggression.
32:55Talking about the new signings doing well.
33:00Youngster Thompson is enjoying himself out there.
33:07Babunski!
33:13Here's Thompson.
33:15He's managed to squeeze it through for Babunski.
33:17Oh, it's a wonderful effort.
33:22He's unfortunate.
33:24Unless there had been some vote.
33:27I see the culture that Babunski has.
33:33They haven't really got going yet, Dundee.
33:36United the better side in this first half.
33:39Shapanovski on the turn!
33:49Dundee.
33:51Come from behind once in this game.
33:55To do so again.
33:56It's McCowan's ball.
33:59That one's there, it's McGee.
34:02There's plenty of dark blue in the box.
34:04United get it clear.
34:05And look at this now.
34:07Shapanovski all alone.
34:09Lyle Cameron desperately trying to get back at him.
34:12Down he goes!
34:13And Cameron's there.
34:16Brilliant defending.
34:20He's asking where everyone was.
34:23So disorganised, but...
34:27Shapanovski really should have put United clear.
34:35Having a little check to see if it was a penalty.
34:38It looks outside the box there.
34:43Cameron.
34:45That could be so crucial.
34:48He'll be annoyed that he hasn't scored.
34:52Dundee survive.
34:56And yet it's just outside.
35:05Cameron.
35:07Fired in by Gawinski.
35:08It's a header.
35:09Which he's held on to.
35:13He's preferred to Lee Moult in the side today.
35:27And Cameron.
35:29United ambitious, a little bit desperate.
35:32That's been better in the second half.
35:34Luke McKown, he was magnificent last season.
35:37The big reason why Dundee finished in the top six.
35:51Tiffany.
35:54Brilliant from Tiffany.
35:57That's more like it.
35:59For the dark blues.
36:02The second best in the first half.
36:04They've looked better in the second.
36:08This is why Tony Dogherty has brought Scott Tiffany off the bench.
36:12Directness.
36:15Here's Thompson.
36:17Three and Tangerine in the middle.
36:20First effort's blocked.
36:21Not convincing.
36:22It was Shapanovski initially.
36:26Dundee get away with it.
36:28Dundee get away with it.
36:32The charred life at times at the back this afternoon.
36:38John McCracken.
36:40Officially a third spell at the club.
36:42He was on loan early last season.
36:43Had to go back to Norwich when he sold Tim Krul.
36:48Murray's got in behind Ross Graham here.
36:50And that's Ras from the big defender.
36:53He's been spared by an offside flag.
36:58Well, it looks a penalty.
37:01If he's onside.
37:04And that's what Simon Murray gives you.
37:09Hasn't been able to do this often enough this afternoon.
37:13I think David Dickinson is going to come and have a look at this.
37:19Clumsy challenge from Ross Graham.
37:21And yet the referee has been advised by Stephen McLean
37:26to come and have a look at it.
37:30He decided he's onside.
37:32So it's whether he thinks this is a foul or not.
37:37He's made his mind up.
37:39And the penalty's given.
37:42Dundee have a lifeline.
37:47Ross Graham shakes his head.
37:48He's going to be booked as well.
37:51And Dundee have been better since the break.
37:55Graham booked.
37:58And Luke McCowan has just taken the ball off Simon Murray.
38:03It's so tight.
38:05It will be McCowan to take.
38:09Right in front of the United fans.
38:15Dundee level again.
38:17McCowan husses the United fans.
38:22And the dark blue half of the City of Discovery celebrates again.
38:27A second equaliser.
38:33Twice United have had a lead wiped out by their neighbours.
38:39And Luke McCowan...
38:40...once again proving his value to the side.
38:44Right down the middle with this one.
38:48And it is two apiece at Tannenhuis.
38:54He did a fine job last season, Tony Doherty.
38:56And there have been times today he'll have settled for a point.
38:59Now he'll want all three.
39:00And there's a header.
39:01And it was over the bar from McGee.
39:05And it's a goal.
39:06He'll want all three.
39:07And there's a header.
39:08And it was over the bar from McGee.
39:11What a thrilling afternoon it's been on Tayside.
39:16Both these teams slugging it out.
39:18Looking for those extra two points.
39:23McCowan goes for goal.
39:25And it's a relatively comfortable take for Walton.
39:30More than capable.
39:31Just taking a little nick off the wall too.
39:37United coming down the hill here.
39:41Kraken gets on to it.
39:44Well, van der Sande wants a penalty.
39:49He's not going to get one.
39:51The header by Moult.
39:54He couldn't find his team-mate.
39:58It's Pertallis with the challenge.
40:00There's Murray's burst of life in the second half.
40:03Two in the middle.
40:04Maine's one of them.
40:08That was the chance right there to win the derby.
40:12Curtis Maine.
40:15And Simon Murray's still wondering why he hasn't put it in the net.
40:19Well, that would have been sensational for Dundee.
40:23Great ball to the outside of the boot by Murray.
40:26And it's Moult.
40:28Gets it in.
40:30And over the bar.
40:32Ndada.
40:34The big midfielder who's been thrown on in the tail end of the game.
40:39And that's it.
40:41It's all over.
40:43What a slugfest it was.
40:45A point apiece.
40:48Dundee.
40:50And it's Moult.
40:51A point apiece.
40:54Dundee perhaps the happier team, given they were twice behind.
40:58Miller-Thompson.
41:00And a dream goal for him.
41:02As Tony Docherty and Jim Goodwin applaud the supporters.
41:05A brilliant attendance.
41:08I think from a neutral perspective, it would have been a very enjoyable game to watch.
41:14I was delighted with the opening 45 minutes from ourselves.
41:17I thought the shape of the team and the structure of the team was very good.
41:20I thought we deservedly got ourselves in front.
41:25The goals that we conceded were disappointing.
41:28We caused our own problems for the first one and then of course the second one lays on the penalty.
41:33I'm not arguing with the decision.
41:35I think it was the correct call in terms of the penalty.
41:37But I thought the initial defending of that situation.
41:40I can't be too hard on the back three.
41:42I thought they defended brilliantly all day.
41:44But we highlighted that particular point during the week.
41:47I thought our fitness levels were fantastic.
41:49And the changes we made really affected the game.
41:52We got a fantastic chance here.
41:54We cut us main just a couple of yards out of the goal.
41:56Simon Murray gets one save with the goalkeeper.
41:59I think credit the first half.
42:02I thought Dundee United were better.
42:04I thought they'd set up in a way to stop us.
42:06We were even getting real joy.
42:08They'd obviously tried to negate that.
42:10And they did well with it.
42:12I was a little bit disappointed that the players on the pitch didn't find a way to get into the areas that we wanted to do that.
42:16The poor old managers.
42:18Their blood pressure through the roof.
42:20But hugely enjoyable for all of us.
42:22Michael, how much did you enjoy that match?
42:24Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
42:26It's two years since we last had the Dundee derby.
42:29To have the opening day of the season, the first one in this campaign,
42:33it really didn't let us down at all.
42:35It was an entertaining game.
42:37Full of energy and passion and incident.
42:39And there was a lot of quality in it as well.
42:41It was a great game to see.
42:43And certainly, from the perspective of the individual teams and the managers,
42:49there's enough in there.
42:51They're coming away with a draw.
42:53There's enough in there for them to be positive about for the season coming up as well.
42:55Yeah, I think both managers feeling that they both could have won this match.
42:58And clearly, that is the case.
43:00It was a mad ten minutes, wasn't it, Mark?
43:02Which we thoroughly enjoyed when there were three goals exchanged.
43:05The game just had a bit of everything, didn't it?
43:07Well, I think at this point, I think United had started to settle into their rhythm.
43:10A wee bit better than Dundee.
43:12And you can see them.
43:14They were brave at pressing, winning the ball back higher up the pitch.
43:16And when you make new signings like Jim Goodwin has,
43:18you want them to make an impact.
43:20It's a great ball there.
43:22And a fantastic finish.
43:24It's not easy to finish that.
43:26But you look at the Dundee back line trying to play out.
43:28The problem is, if you try to play out the back,
43:30you sometimes leave defenders deeper.
43:32And I think it's Portales there that's caught back in,
43:34playing Trapanowski onside.
43:36But a fantastic little pass and great awareness from Van der Sande.
43:38But what a finish that is, because it just bobbles up.
43:40United really had a foothold in the game at that point.
43:43But Dundee would roar back, Michael, and make a real contest.
43:47The thing is, you notice with both these goals here,
43:49the energy and the number of bodies that both sides were getting forward.
43:52The Dundee United one was a quick turnover.
43:55This one, it's just a bit of poor defending there from Ross Graham.
43:59He steps out, leaving that space to be exploited.
44:02And then Simon Murray latches onto it.
44:05And at the back post, able to knock him to the back of the net.
44:07But those goals, I think, just typified what was going on in the game,
44:12where there was loads of energy.
44:14It was a very competitive game.
44:16This one here, you can see again,
44:18Silla in the middle of the park, running off the back of him.
44:20But for me, it's those two defenders there.
44:22They've got to communicate.
44:24I think it's McGee and Portales.
44:26Just need to slide across.
44:28And then this is where the big problem comes in.
44:30A wonderful ball from Chevlot to the back post.
44:32And then you've got Miller-Thompson coming in,
44:35and he puts it in the back of the net.
44:37And the defenders, in the first instance,
44:39at the edge of the box, slide across.
44:41That gap there for Miller-Thompson doesn't exist.
44:45And perhaps Portales would have been able to get a block on it.
44:48But it was a great goal from Dungeney's perspective there,
44:50because it was quick, it was incisive.
44:52One touch, and obviously got them into a good position at that stage.
44:56Yeah, let's talk a bit more about Miller-Thompson.
44:58United with this great tradition of bringing through young players.
45:00They've obviously brought in a lot of foreign players this season.
45:02But Miller-Thompson, Michael, he was a real shining light today.
45:05The fresh-faced Miller-Thompson.
45:07The good old Speltman throws.
45:09Yeah, straight out of the Bass Street Kids.
45:11I saw a lot of him last season, and he was playing primarily
45:16a little bit deeper as a right-back, but an attacking right-back.
45:19But he looks comfortable.
45:21Through his youth stages, he has played a lot higher up the park.
45:24And you can see that.
45:26He's got quality when he gets into these areas.
45:28Making McCracken, the goalkeeper, work there.
45:30Constantly causing problems for Dundee
45:32when he picked the ball up in these high areas.
45:34Wants to go and commit, wants to get to the by-line.
45:35And get balls into the box.
45:37Which, whether it's Moult or van der Sarnde,
45:39that are going to be in there.
45:41You'd imagine that he's going to prove good foil for these guys.
45:44Again, look at that.
45:46That's quality.
45:48He's into the area.
45:50He's not panicking.
45:52He's not just thrashing at it.
45:54He's picking out his team-mate with a really intelligent cut-back.
45:56He's had a good afternoon.
45:58It was fearless.
46:00You sometimes get that with young players
46:02when you pitch them into such a game like that.
46:03If you've got attributes like he's got,
46:05certainly pace and quality,
46:07then you get the performance like you saw today.
46:09He certainly deserved that standovation he got coming off.
46:11This is really going to put your Defenders' Union
46:13credentials at stake now, Mark,
46:15in terms of the penalty award.
46:17Let's have a look at it.
46:19There's no Defenders' Union.
46:21There's only Goalkeepers' Union.
46:23There's no union for the defenders.
46:25I actually agree with Jim Goodwin.
46:27This is a long, straight ball that Ross Graham
46:29really should be dealing with.
46:31But it gets too tight to Simon Murray.
46:33He's made a mistake by lunging.
46:35Simon Murray just shows him enough of the ball
46:37to entice him into that tackle.
46:39He doesn't need to make it,
46:41but it's a penalty kick, no doubt about it.
46:43Michael, VAR and the referees would get this all correct?
46:47Yes, they're right.
46:49Overall, at the weekend, do you sense a more relaxed tone
46:51from the refereeing fraternity and VAR
46:53in getting more common-sense decisions right?
46:55I don't think there's any question on that.
46:57Willie Colm spoke about that,
46:59that footballing decisions,
47:01what would be expected at times,
47:03I think there's going to be a couple of months
47:05of people readjusting to it,
47:08because there was an expectation for things
47:10that happened last season which were madness,
47:12and it had been going on for a while.
47:14As long as we get that consistency
47:16with what we've seen there in the opening weekend,
47:18then I think supporters and pundits
47:20and presenters alike will all be
47:22a little bit calmer about things,
47:24because the decisions there on the whole
47:26were better than what we've seen.
47:28It was a frenetic end to this match,
47:30and as I've mentioned,
47:31both managers were kind of disappointed
47:33that they never came away with three points,
47:35and there were some guilt-edged chances, weren't there?
47:37Well, this is the big one.
47:39Once again, Simon Murray isolating Graham there,
47:41but what a ball that is across the face.
47:43Holt doesn't know that Main's coming in the back.
47:46We've got to say,
47:48Curtis Main's got to put that in.
47:50I don't care what foot he goes with,
47:52if he goes with his left or right...
47:54Or his head.
47:56Just make minimal contact and direct that past the goalkeeper,
47:58and you're not going to get a better chance than that
47:59against Harvey.
48:01He'll be hugely disappointed this evening.
48:03Holt's fortunate,
48:05because Main gets the run across him,
48:07and as Mark's saying there,
48:09he is oblivious.
48:11He doesn't know that Curtis Main's coming there
48:13and obviously misses the chance.
48:15Straight up the other end,
48:17you've got this opportunity for Dungenite.
48:19Just needs to glance it.
48:21Just needs to glance it.
48:23The pace is on the ball.
48:25Direct it down.
48:27I suppose that one's a bit more difficult than Main's,
48:29but it's a fantastic game of football.
48:31Okay, I'm going to be a little bit cheeky here, I suppose.
48:33It was a fantastic match today,
48:35and obviously it ended all square.
48:37Which of the Dundee sides is going to finish highest
48:39in the Premiership this season, Mark?
48:41I've got a sneak feeling that Dundee United might just.
48:43Now that might surprise people.
48:45It's not because I've played them twice.
48:47But look, I think Jim Goodwin's signed well.
48:49I think he's had to revamp this side,
48:51and a couple of his signings on today's performances
48:53look good.
48:55You can only think where the weeks that pass
48:57might be better.
48:59Dundee United have a decent squad.
49:01But they look easy to play against,
49:03and there are a lot of chances created by Dundee United.
49:05So he needs to tighten up that defence.
49:07Mark's given you a bit of time to think about your answer, Michael.
49:09He didn't need to give me time.
49:11I'm dressed in dark blue, so I'll stick with Dundee.
49:13Very interesting.
49:15Okay, we shall see.
49:17Next up, Hibernian kicking off their William Hill Premiership campaign
49:19away to a St Mirren side still on a high
49:21after their victory in Europe on Thursday night.