Dundee Utd 2
St Mirren 0
League (SPL)

Match Report

More than 11,000 United fans packed Tannadice to pay their respects to chairman Eddie Thompson, and late goals from Roy O’Donovan and Craig Conway ensured a fitting tribute to ‘Mr Dundee United’, with a 2-0 win.

A minutes’ silence before the game and some of Mr Thompson’s favourite songs before kick-off, including The Beatles and Rod Stewart, ensured an emotional atmosphere for the 11,378 fans inside the ground.

But the first-half offered little in the way of clear-cut chances, with the best chance of the opening forty-five falling to Hugh Murray for the visitors, forcing a superb save out of United’s Polish shot-stopper.

Darren Dods enjoyed success from several corners early on, but none of his four headed efforts troubled Mark Howard in the St Mirren goal.

Francisco Sandaza had a chance in the closing stages of the opening period, but his 20-yard drive was just high of the target.

St Mirren’s best chance of the game came just after the restart, when top scorer Billy Mehmet found himself through on goal. But Zaluska raced from his line to block the danger.

Darren Dods was sidelined after being cut open by a wayward elbow from Dennis Wyness on 74-minutes. Shortly before the incident, the towering defender again came close from a corner, heading just over the bar.

Scott Robertson then came close for the home side, slicing his shot wide from outside the box.

It seemed St Mirren hadn’t read the script with five minutes remaining, as they looked to be heading towards a point. And they could have snatched the lead through Murray, when he drove the ball goalwards from 18-yards. Fortunately for United, Morgaro Gomis was on the line to clear the shot.

But despite a stubborn effort from the visitors and some determined defending, United wouldn’t give up and broke the deadlock through substitute Roy O’Donovan on 85 minutes.

The on-loan Sunderland striker’s deflected effort found the back of the net, sparking wild celebration among the 11,000 Arabs inside Tannadice, and chants of “there’s only one Eddie Thompson” rang out from the home support.

Inspired by the emotional atmosphere inside the ground, Craig Conway then went on a sublime 50-yard run, and rounded out the victory, United’s fifth in a row, by lashing the ball home.