Dundee beat United in Dundee derby
GLASGOW, Scotland -- Dundee striker Steve Lovell capped his recent return from injury with the winner in a 2-1 win over Dundee United on Sunday.
Lovell's clinical finish in the 70th minute proved enough to claim all three points from the Tayside derby and helped move cash-strapped Dundee up two places to seventh in Scotland.
United led through Billy Dodds, with Nacho Novo equalizing for the home side.
Dundee boss Jim Duffy made a number of changes to the side that was eliminated from the Scottish Cup by Aberdeen in midweek, handing a debut to on-loan Portsmouth player Neil Barrett and recalling fellow midfielder Mark Fotheringham following his one-game ban.
Dundee made the early running but it was United who opened their account through Dodds a minute before the interval, the former Rangers striker tucking away a penalty awarded after Brent Sancho was suckered into pulling down Charlie Miller in the box.
Sancho however made up for his rash challenge two minutes into the second half by setting up Dundee's equalizer.
Fotheringham's free kick deflected into Sancho's path at the back post and the Trinidad and Tobago defender turned the ball across the face of goal for Novo to force it over the line.
Lovell also made an impact after replacing Barrett by giving Dundee the lead in the 70th minute.
Spanish forward Novo played Lovell in behind United's defence and, although his first touch was poor, he turned inside David McCracken before side-footing the ball into the far corner of the net from 14 yards.
United saw their last chance of an equalizer fade when Julian Speroni parried a vicious 25-yard drive from defender Alan Archibald in the dying minutes.
