Jordan McGhee 'can't forget' Dundee's derby horror show as he opens up on Tannadice mauling five years ago

Jordan McGhee admits he’s still haunted by the memory of Dundee’s 6-2 derby thrashing by city rivals United.

The Dark Blues defender played that game almost five years ago with a head cut and concussion – but the greatest pain was the manner of their capitulation at Tannadice. Now McGhee hopes to use the memory of that grim day in a positive way when the Dens side return to Tannadice for today’s big Premiership kick-off. McGhee, 28, said: “The 6-2 game was a sore one to take. “I cut my head open in the first five minutes and needed a stitches.

“I also had a bit of concussion. But I remember saying to the manager at the time, James McPake, that I couldn’t come off after a couple of minutes in my first derby. It was a big occasion and I didn’t want to come off. Health wise I was all right but the result wasn’t great. The 6-2 is still painful but it is one that stays in the back of my mind and you can use that to spur you on.”

McGhee is also driven on by a desire to end Dundee’s 20-year wait for a win at Tannadice – the last victory came in 2004 thanks to goals by Steve Lovell and John Sutton. He admitted: “We spoke about that at the start of the season once the fixtures came out.

“Everyone was happy to have a derby for the first game but, once the dust settled, the question went around the dressing-room: ‘Have you won there?’ I couldn’t remember the last time but then I found out it was 20 years so it is too long a time. Hopefully we can put that right this time.”

A unique factor of the Dundee derby is the traditional walk by the away team to their near neighbours on the day of the game. McGhee is already looking forward to the “friendly banter” he will receive as the Dark Blues make their way to Tannadice.

He said: