It is indicative of the different expectations on opposite sides of Tannadice Street that there is more pressure on Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin than his Dundee counterpart as the city derby closes the weekend fixtures – despite his side being above Sunday’s hosts in the Premiership table.
A narrow win over St Mirren in their last league game had kept alive United’s outside hopes of a top-six finish.
But, given in-form Falkirk’s 10-point lead with four games remaining before the Premiership splits into two for the final five fixtures, it appears like a forlorn task.
With United subsequently losing their Scottish Cup quarter-final to the very same Falkirk, it leaves Goodwin’s side with little to play for the rest of this season other than finishing the best of the top six.
City rivals Dundee have emerged as their biggest challengers and Stephen Pressley’s improving Dark Blues can overtake the visitors should they win the latest edition of the city derby.
It was not long ago that Dundee appeared destined for a battle with Kilmarnock and Livingston to avoid relegation, but they are now seven points clear of the Ayrshire side in the play-off spot and just two behind United.
Pressley’s side have won just two of their latest eight outings, but both of those have come in their latest three and they head into the derby unbeaten in four.
United showed battling qualities before just falling short as they came from two goals down and threaten to take their tie in Falkirk to extra time.
However, they have won just once in five outings – and once in five on the road, losing the latest two.
It is the nature of derbies that form, even home advantage, can often go out the window and the away side of have won the latest three in Dundee.
Indeed, after their 1-0 win in January, Sunday’s hosts could enjoy back-to-back top-flight victories over United for first time since 2004.
United won 2-0 on their last visit to Dens Park in August, but that came during a difficult start to Pressley’s tenure and only leaders Hearts have won there in six games since Christmas.
In these usually tight affairs, much could depend on set-pieces. Half of United’s Premiership goals this season have come from non-penalty set plays – the highest ratio of any side – while Dundee have only conceded 19.6% of their league goals from them, the least in the division.
