Fans clamour for Dundee derby

Rival fans have rushed to snap up tickets for the pre-season friendly fixture which could become a reality next season should Dundee take the place of demoted Rangers in the Scottish Premier League.

Dundee host Europa League hopefuls United for the first time since being relegated back in 2005. And Dundee operations manger Jim Thompson said: “The turn-out will exceed everyone’s expectations. The phones have been ringing non-stop and to think that we’re getting a near-capacity crowd is marvellous for this stage of the season.”

John Rankin insists today’s derby will have no bearing ahead of when the city rivals are bracing themselves to meet for real next month.

Both sides will be desperate to earn the bragging rights from their pre-season friendly, but Dundee United playmaker Rankin reckons whoever triumphs on the day won’t be drawing first blood ahead of the potential rematch on 18 August should Dundee be handed the vacant ‘Club 12’ slot ahead of Dunfermline.

Rankin said: “Everybody’s talking about this one but we could be playing them in a few weeks for points.

“Obviously people are tipping Dundee to come up but we won’t be thinking about that. We’re just concentrating on getting our preparation right for the big kick-off.

“I don’t think there would be a psychological advantage for whichever team wins this one. This is my 14th or 15th pre-season and I know that form at this time of the year doesn’t mean anything.

“You can win every game and then lose the first league game, while I’ve experienced the other side of it and not won a pre-season match and then got off to a flying start. Both teams will be desperate to win and will want the bragging rights but it will have no bearing on the next derby.”

Rankin is an experienced campaigner from his time in the thick of things in the Edinburgh derby but admits he’s steeling himself for an altogether different atmosphere in his first Dundee derby.

He said: “You can’t predict how this one will compare to the Edinburgh one until you play in it. I made my debut in the Edinburgh derby and didn’t know what to expect. What I’ve found is the away support is usually heard more and I’m sure that will be the case at the weekend. As for what goes on on the pitch - nobody knows how it will pan out. If you get caught up in the fact it’s different to other games that will make it more difficult.”

Rankin has been caught up by the buzz taking over the City of Discovery and reckons it’s the ideal run-out for Peter Houston’s men ahead of their forthcoming Europa League bid in early August.

He added: “Everybody’s talking about the derby. It’s an exciting game to look forward to, especially since it’s the first one in a few years. The boys are really looking forward to it.

“There’s a lot of hype and you can see what it means to the supporters by the number of tickets which have been sold. It should be a great atmosphere and hopefully a good game.

“I’m sure there will be an edge to it. Although it’s a friendly and there’s no points at stake both teams will want to win. The players will probably tire early because of the stage of pre-season we’re at right now. But hopefully the quality will come through. It’s definitely good to get a game like this early on.”

Rankin will lock horns again with some ex-team-mates and is adamant friendship will take a back-seat for 90 minutes. He said: “I played with Kevin McBride at Hibs and Stephen O’Donnell at Ross County, and I was brought up in the same area as Gary Irvine so I know him as well.

“They’re big players for Dundee. I know Kevin very well. He’s a really good footballer who was unlucky at Hibs.

“I’m looking forward to seeing them before the match, but come kick-off it will be a different scenario altogether.”