Dundee Utd 1
Raith Rovers 2
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

Bottom dogs Raith Rovers upset the form book and got their first away points of the season on the board with a deserved victory against a lack-lustre lited side. Much was made of the fact that the visitors finished up with only nine men, but the first of two expulsions (Kirk) came as late as the 79th minute with Twaddle prematurely following him down the tunnel a mere three minutes from time.

It wasn't an afternoon to savour for United fans which came as a bitter blow after the six match run the team had enjoyed. None-the-less, Raith's opener when Kent Bergerson swerved the ball past a bemused Lance Key was their first shot on target. Their second five minutes later should have brought them another goal, but Duffield's shot from a good position was well saved by the United keeper.

Towards the interval, and for about the only spell of the game, the tangerines got their act together and but for Robbie Winters' shot coming back off the base of the post as the half-time whistle was set to blow, the half would have closed with the sides level.

If United needed any reminder that nothing can be taken for granted in the Premier Division, it came seven minutes into the second period when Raith did increase their lead. Steve Kirk's free-kick from 35 yards was bent round the wall and skidded off the turf to enter the bottom left-hand corner of Lance Key's goal.

Despite United being nowhere near their best, Raith still owed former United keeper Scott Thomson a huge debt of gratitude. He went full stretch to keep out a Winters effort after a flick from Kjell Olofsson sent him clear and then turned a powerful drive from Andy McLaren round the post. Best of all was save from Lars Zetterlund's shot on the turn in the dying minutes which Scott kept out with his legs. That save ensured Raith left with three points because substitute Neil Duffy had risen to head home an Andy McLaren cross to set up a near grandstand finish, but Neil Duffy's first goal for the club was about the only plus factor from an afternoon best forgotten!