Jim Lauchlan has protested his innocence over the red card which has landed Dundee United with a severe defensive personnel crisis ahead of Saturday's Tayside derby. Appearing in only his second league match for Alex Smith's side after completing a recent switch from Kilmarnock, Lauchlan was somewhat harshly dismissed for a tussle with Motherwell's Lee McCulloch within half an hour of Saturday's kick-off. But even as he expressed his regret at a turn of events which forced his team-mates to plough on in a numerically disadvantaged state, Lauchlan was insistent that he was guilty of no malice in the process of appearing to raise an arm to McCulloch. United now approach a city derby minus both Lauchlan and fellow suspension victim Jason de Vos at the centre of defence, at a time when neither Stephen Wright nor Jim Paterson are available.

The former Scotland Under 21 defender told Soccernet: 'I spoke with the manager and you cannot appeal against a red card like that so it's not the best of starts for me. 'No-one wants to go into a new club and leave his team-mates running about with ten men for nearly 60 minutes. 'It's disappointing for me given that I felt it went well both personally and for the team against Hibs before the disappointment against Rangers in the CIS Cup. 'You don't want to get a red card in only your second league game, especially when I didn't think it was particularly just or deserved. But the referee only sees it once quickly, and he calls it as he sees it. 'He thought I caught the player but I didn't think I did and even if I did, there was no malice involved.'

The last time Dundee's two sides entered combat, Ivano Bonetti's side trounced the Tangerines 3-0, prior to commencing a fierce war of words over the subsequent injury to Dens striker Fabian Caballero. The Argentine is expected to fly back to Scotland from his Italian treatment centre to take his place in the Tannadice stand, where he will be sitting just a few feet away from a frustrated Lauchlan. 'I'm pretty gutted about missing the Dundee game now, but it is one of those things,' said Lauchlan. 'Jason de Vos being out is going to make it difficult for us as well but it's an important opportunity for David McCracken to come in and do well alongside David Partridge. 'I spoke to David and told him to roll up his sleeves and be positive about the chance he is being presented with. If he does well, there's a first-team shirt at the end of it for him - that's all the incentive he needs to do well.

'We also know that Beto Naveda is a really good player, while Charlie Miller has the kind of composure and ability every team needs in its ranks. 'Charlie is just pure quality. No disrespect to myself or any of the other guys at the club, but he has that extra edge and can turn a game around on its head with a little bit of inspiration which, in turn, gives all of us inspiration.' ©Soccernet