Dundee United are well priced simply to avoid defeat in their derby clash with Dundee given that they have lost only 4 of their previous 19 Premiership matches this season.

Jim Goodwin’s side are one of the form teams in the league, at least when it comes to being hard to beat. The Terrors have suffered only 1 loss in their last 9 domestic matches and have negotiated fixtures against Rangers and Celtic during this run without losing. This proves they can do it when the pressure is on.

United are coming off the back of a dramatic win over third-placed Aberdeen, which should further fuel their confidence.

Dundee have yet to win back-to-back league matches this season while their latest Dens Park outing was a disastrous 3-0 loss against Ross County on Boxing Day.

The Dark Blues’ home record is relatively modest, with just 4 wins from 9 games.

This is a major derby in which passions are likely to be running high, and that energy from the crown is likely to translate itself into some fierce challenges on the park.

United lie third when it comes to cards received in the Premiership this season, sitting on 2.58 per 90 minutes. Meanwhile, Dundee average 2.1 per game. Even in average circumstances, 4 cards would be expected in this encounter.

Referee for this encounter is Steve McLean, who tends to be moderate when giving out cards. However, he has delivered at least 4 yellows in 5 of his 7 Premiership fixtures this season (0 reds), including both Dundee United fixtures that he has overseen.

While there were only 2 cards shown in the previous match between these teams – both to Dundee United players – it was overseen by David Dickinson, who is the third-most lenient official in the Premiership when it comes to giving out cards with 3.33 per game.

Midfielder Lyall Cameron might not be recognised as Dundee’s biggest goal threat in this game, despite having 4 league goals to his credit this season, but there is every chance he could be their most frequent menace. The 22-year-old leads the Dens Park side with 30 shots in the Premiership this season.

Averages 1.67 shots per 90 and has been frequently getting himself into positions from which to try his luck. Has had at least 2 shots in 7 of his last 9 matches.

In the opening fixture between these two sides back in August, he had 2 efforts at goal although neither hit the target.

Almost invariably plays 90 minutes, maximising his chances of getting shots away. He has only been taken off early 5 times this season while he has played the duration of each of the last 8 matches.

Even given a slightly deeper role against St Mirren on Sunday, he had 2 shots, 1 of which hit the target.

With 9 goals to his credit, on loan Wrexham striker Sam Dalby is the Scottish Premierships’ leading scorer this season.

Unsurprisingly, the Englishman posts the greatest number of shots on target among Dundee United players, with 15 overall. His tally of 1.1 per 90 minutes ranks third at the club behind injury colleague Louis Moult (1.40) and attacking midfielder Kristijan Trapanovski (1.39).

Has at least 1 shot on target in 9 of his last 10 league matches, which is when he seemed to start to settle at Tannadice. With that in mind, his price in this market looks a superb one.

Dalby is liable to be Dundee United’s penalty kick taker if they are awarded on in this game. He has 2 from 2 in these situations in the Premiership.

Has never been taken off before the 70th minute when starting for Dundee United, and Moult’s injury means he is liable to shoulder more of the attacking burden.

Every Dundee home game in the Premiership this season has produced at least 3 goals, with both teams scoring in every fixture until the Dark Blues were surprisingly beaten 3-0 by Ross County on Boxing Day.

Tony Docherty’s home side are prolific when playing in front of their home supporters, which is liable to see them find the net at least once even against a pragmatic United team. Dundee have scored at least 2 in 6 of their 9 home league games.

Dundee United’s last 2 away matches have both been thrillers. After losing 4-3 to Motherwell in mid-December, they came from behind to beat St Johnstone 2-1 in Perth.

Each of the last couple of encounters between these sides have finished 2-2. While one of these was back in April 2022, the other was on the opening day of the season at Tannadice and was a richly entertaining match.

Sevelj leads Dundee United with 37 fouls in the Premiership this season, 15 more than any other player on Jim Goodwin’s squad.

He stands joint second in the league as a whole, behind only St Johnstone’s Benjamin Kimpioka in terms of fouls committed, with the leader just 2 ahead of him.

Sevelj has committed at least 3 fouls in 4 of his last 5 matches for the Tangerines, while he has hit this figure in 7 of his last 11 appearances. Has become notably more aggressive since the start of the season, when he picked up just 1 foul against Dundee.

Goes head-to-head with Mohamad Sylla, who is second among Dundee players with 23 fouls drawn this season at a rate of 1.46 per 90. With Sylla also committing 27 fouls himself, this promises to be a bruising battle between the midfielders.

Dalby is an excellent price to score anytime in this encounter given that he is the Premiership’s leading scorer with 9 goals this season – and that’s been achieved despite not hooking up with Dundee United until the end of the August transfer window.

Has scored in his last 4 away games, including a goal against Rangers at Ibrox, so very proficient on the road.

The Wrexham striker has netted his 9 goals across 12 games, scoring in 8 individual matches. Having struck in 66.67% of his league games since the October international break, the bookmakers giving him a 40% chance of netting here looks generous.

Dundee have an extremely leaky defence that he will seek to profit from. They have conceded 34 times in 19 matches, the fourth-poorest record in the league. The Dark Blues have kept only 1 clean sheet all season while they have conceded at least 2 at home in 6 of their last 8 league matches.

Middleton is a player coming into form when it comes to getting shots away at goal, particularly when it’s considered that he managed only 1 on target in his first 9 league appearances of the season.

He has had at least one shot on target in his last 3 league matches and was particularly active against Aberdeen in the previous game. He had 5 shots in that encounter, including 2 on target. This came after he scored against St Johnstone, which appears to have been a major confidence boost.

Manager Jim Goodwin has gone public in urging the attacker midfielder to score more goals, and that is likely to lead to the 25-year-old having more shots. He had only 7 in his first 9 league appearances this season and has matched this figure in the last 3 matches. It appears there has been a clear mentality shift.

Has played at least 72 minutes in 9 of his 10 starts this season, including each of the last 7, pointing to the former Rangers man getting plenty of time in this match.