There was barely enough time after James McPake's equaliser to make sense of the derby match at Tannadice.
The Dundee manager Paul Hartley had been sent to the stand for being so overcome in his celebrations that he galloped off down the touchline punching the air, but he didn't even make it to halfway towards the tunnel before the final whistle sounded on the 2-2 draw.
What to make of this game? In some respects, it was a typical meeting between two neighbouring rivals, full of intensity, effort and determination. There was barely a pause to allow the frantic nature of the play to subside, and composure tended to be left in the slipstream of the game's high tempo.
The encounter was an indication of how far Dundee have progressed in the 18 months since Hartley took over as manager, but also of where a series of departures has left the United squad and the extent of the work Jackie McNamara has to do to maintain the team's standing.
Dundee's attacking trio
It was clear from the outset that Hartley intended to be assertive at Tannadice. He played all three of his strikers, although Rory Loy was not as sharp or vibrant as normal and may still have been feeling the effects of a recent injury. Even so, in the first-half there was a sense of purpose to Dundee's attacks.
They could go long and try to play the pacy Kane Hemmings in over the top of the United defence, or they could try to build the play through midfield, where Gary Harkins was always reliable on the ball.
Mostly, though, they still looked at their most threatening whenever Greg Stewart was in possession.
He was a player of the year candidate last season and the summer has not blunted his instincts or ability. Stewart was able to carry the ball past defenders and was adept at cutting onto his dangerous left foot.
The United defenders would have known what was coming when he received the ball on he right of the penalty area in the second half, but they were powerless to stop him skelping the ball into the the far top corner.
With Hemmings' speed, Loy's movement and predatory instincts and Stewart's burgeoning talent, Dundee will be well served in attack. Paul McGowan was bright and lively when he came off the bench, but otherwise it was notable that Dundee had few attacking options in reserve.
At times Hartley can switch around different duos as partners, but the favoured 4-3-3 formation means that keeping all three of them fit will also be key.
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