Tangerine Dreaming: A Midweek Preview

By: Ian Rose | October 2nd, 2008

Here we see the Caley faithful on another trip to Dundee United’s Tannadice Park, on February 18, 2006. That day, we stomped the Tangerines to juicy pulp, 4-2. Let’s hope we have this much reason to celebrate this time around.

In fact, we have a lot of reasons to be hopeful about this match. There’s our away record, 2 wins and a loss. There’s United’s home record, with only one win from their first three. And we’ve often done well on trips to Tannadice, with Ian Black scoring the only goal to win in our single trip there last season. We’ve had a better start than the men in orange this season, sitting four places (but only two points) above them with seven played. But who’s the better side overall?

Keepers
Mikey Fraser (Caley) v. Lucasz Zaluska (United)
– Zaluska was certainly more tested this past week against Hearts than Fraser was against Killie, and had to make three times as many saves, but they both did what they needed to do and allowed one goal between them. Overall, 2 more goals have bulged Dundee’s net than Caley’s, and that’s the stat that matters. Advantage Caley.

Defenders
McGuire/Munro/Tokely/Hastings/Duff (Caley) v. Dillon/Wilkie/Dods/Dixon (United)
– Again, goals allowed tells the story, but it’s the defenders’ eyes for scoring goals that might decide this match. In the past two weeks, we’ve seen Caley goals for Phil McGuire and Richard Hastings. On the other side, Lee Wilkie is certainly able to knock in the occasional goal himself. Still, my completely biased view, again, is: Advantage Caley

Midfield
Cowie/Vigurs/Duncan/Black/McBain (Caley) v. Stevensen/Murray/Rankin/Nish/Conway (United)
– This is a tough one. Don Cowie is certainly one of the better attacking midfielders in Scotland over the past few years, and Ian Black has had a great early season. But Dundee has some very strong names, including ex-Caley man John Rankin and Colin Nish. I’m calling this one a Draw.

Strikers
Barrowman/Imrie/Rooney/McAllister (Caley) v. Sandaza/Daly (United)
– The one position that hasn’t been scoring goals for Caley is the one that’s paid to do just that. Not to say that the strikers at United have been lighting any fires, but the finishing for my beloved Jags has been pretty woeful. Advantage: United

Overall: I have to like our chances to take at least a point and hold onto our lead over United in the table. Their 3-0 win over Hearts last week was a fine win, but their other two home matches have produced a total of one home goal. That goal was, however, in a score draw with Celtic. I think the Tangerines will have enough to hold us, and I see a 1-1 draw. Enough to keep us in the top half, and to keep them in the bottom half.

But with my record of prediction, and with the unpredictability of this team, who knows what will happen. Mon the Caley.