Scottish Premiership PREVIEW 22 Aug 2026: Dundee United host Dundee in first derby of 2026-27 season

Dundee United welcome city rivals Dundee to Tannadice Park on Saturday for the first Dundee derby of the 2026-27 Scottish Premiership season. United sit 11th with a single point from their opening two league games, a goal difference of -4, while Dundee are fifth on three points after a win and a defeat. Our model favours Dundee United at 36%.

Jim Goodwin's United have endured a rough start: a 1-1 draw at home to Rangers on the opening weekend was followed by a 4-0 defeat away to Hearts in the league and then a 4-0 loss at home to Celtic in the League Cup second round. Dundee have been little steadier under Steven Pressley, losing 1-0 to Celtic on matchday one before beating Aberdeen 2-0 at Dens Park, though they were then beaten 3-0 by Aberdeen in the League Cup second round.

There is history behind Saturday's meeting. Dundee United have won 87 of the 194 competitive derbies to Dundee's 58, with 49 draws, and the recent head-to-head has been tight: two victories apiece and a draw in the last five encounters. Dundee will take some encouragement from having won two of their last three visits to Tannadice Park.

Dundee United are set to be without Dario Naamo and Miller Thomson through injury, with Goodwin expected to make changes after back-to-back 4-0 defeats. Dundee, for their part, are without Callum Jones, Imari Samuels and Ashley Hay, and will also be missing captain Simon Murray, who suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Aberdeen and faces a lengthy spell out.