2006–07 Dundee United F.C. Season

The 2006–07 season was the 97th year of football played by Dundee United, and covers the period from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007. United finished in ninth place for the third season in the row and meant they had only finished in the top six once in the seven seasons since the split was introduced.

United finished the season in 9th place with 42 points in the 2006–07 SPL season. In a poor end to the post-match split, United failed to win, scoring just one goal.

The League Cup campaign was ended by St Johnstone – aided by ex-United player Jason Scotland – who won 3–0 in the third round. United also exited the Scottish Cup left the manager's position in late-October, with former Hearts and Leicester City manager Craig Levein taking up the post.

Review and events

United signed Craig Conway, Noel Hunt and Steven Robb in pre-season, with Derek McInnes, Jim McIntyre and Grant Brebner departing on free transfers after being released by the club. United started pre-season with a 4–1 win at Raith Rovers before a week in Denmark with matches against Herfølge BK and FC Nordsjælland. Back in Scotland, United played Forfar at Station Park before the Evening Telegraph Challenge Cup resulted in a disappointing 1–0 defeat to rivals Dundee at Dens. The round of pre-season friendlies meant none were played at Tannadice.

United started the league campaign with a 2–1 loss to Falkirk at home on the opening day of the season and then drew at Rangers, despite being 2–0 ahead. Goals from new signings Noel Hunt and Christian Kalvenes had put United ahead but Rangers fought back to draw in Paul Le Guen's first home match as Rangers manager. David Proctor finally arrived from Inverness CT to end weeks of protracted negotiations. Successive 0–0 draws against Kilmarnock (where Lee Miller's only start was marred by an early sending-off) and Dunfermline were improved by an extra-time CIS Cup win over Airdrie United and a 3–1 win at newly promoted St Mirren, where captain Barry Robson's 100th United match was event-filled, with two goals and a sending-off. The transfer window brought no new faces but striker Lee Miller was surprisingly allowed to leave for Aberdeen on a free transfer, although it later transpired he had been disciplined days earlier for breaking club regulations. David Fernández and Paul Ritchie were also freed before the deadline, with Fernandez signing for Kilmarnock and Ritchie joining Cypriot side Omonia Nicosia.

United started September with a 3–0 defeat at home to Hibernian but their unbeaten away run continued in Inverness with a 0–0 draw against Caley Thistle. United crashed out of the CIS Cup with a 3–0 defeat away to St Johnstone, with ex-United player Jason Scotland scoring the first goal. Further woe followed with only a draw at home to bottom-placed Motherwell. Free agent Grant Smith was recruited in late September to provide goals from midfield.

October started with a 4–0 defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle and a 4–1 home defeat to Celtic, sending United to the bottom of the table. In-between these matches, former Dundee defender Lee Wilkie signed until the end of the season. a 3–1 defeat to Aberdeen at Pittodrie led Brewster to publicly admit his players were in danger of heading for the First Division
and the following 5–1 defeat to Falkirk did little to change this viewpoint. The low point of the season represented Brewster's final attempt to turn things around, illustrated by handing debut starts to no fewer than four players. United lost all four games in October, conceding 16 goals in the process.

On 29 October, Brewster and assistant Malky Thomson left by "mutual agreement", with widely tipped Craig Levein appointed less than 24 hours later. Levein's first match, a televised Sunday affair at home to Rangers, was watched from the stand as he completed a touchline ban from his time at Raith; it made little difference, as United came from behind to win 2–1 and record their first home league win of the season. The following weekend, Levein matched Brewster's record of two league wins, doing so in just two matches with a 1–0 win over Kilmarnock (Noel Hunt scoring). Mark de Vries – who played under Levein at Hearts and Leicester City – made public his desire to play for United. Levein's third match in charge brought a disappointing late 2–1 defeat at Dunfermline but November finished with three home wins in a row with a 1–0 win over St Mirren. Three wins from four was enough to hand Levein a ''Manager of the Month'' award in his first month (something also achieved by Gordon Chisholm in April 2006 during his caretaker spell).

December started with a battling 2–1 defeat at Hibs but a fourth consecutive home win followed with a 3–1 victory over Inverness. In-between these games, Cowdenbeath midfielder Morgaro Gomis agreed a deal to join in the transfer window for a nominal fee. On 15 December, defenders Ross Gardiner and Lee Wilkie agreed one-month loan deals with Arbroath and Ross County respectively. United won 3–2 at Motherwell, despite having defender Christian Kalvenes sent off in the first half. A narrow 1–0 defeat to Hearts ended Levein's impressive home form but plaudits were gained again following a 2–2 draw away to Celtic, although for the second time this season, United threw away a two-goal lead away to the Old Firm. 2006 ended on a high with a 3–1 win over 2nd-placed Aberdeen.

If 2006 ended on a high, then 2007 could not have begun any worse – a second 5–1 defeat to Falkirk, this time at Tannadice. New signing Morgaro Gomis made a late debut with Irishman Jon Daly becoming Levein's next signing, the big target man arriving from Hartlepool United on 5 January. The following day, Levein confirmed Grant Smith's contract would not be renewed but Sean Dillon's move from Shelbourne was eventually completed, with the Irish full back arriving on 11 January. Prior to this, a flu epidemic had seen the Scottish Cup