Dundee Utd 3
St Mirren 0
League Cup (3rd Round)

Match Report

Another early start and another comfortable Skol Cup success. Saints intention was clear from the very start as they tried to frustrate, fielding five men in midfield. Consequently, United enjoyed almost complete possession, but it took us until five minutes from the interval to finally break down the massed ranks of the visitors. John O'Neil slung over a cross from the left and Duncan Ferguson rapped the ball home from just inside the six yard box. If there were any lingering doubts about a United success, these were dispelled within two minutes of the restart. Money failed to hold Jim McInally's sweetly struck 25 yarder and John O'Neil was first to react, albeit, he was somewhat fortunate to score with a shot which bounced down and over the prostrate body of the Saints' goalkeeper.

The value of that second strike was soon apparent when McDowell struck the bar and Alan Main brilliantly blocked the follow up effort from Broddle. Play was much more open as Saints at last threw caution to the wind, but with 13 minutes left, we deservedly grabbed a third goal. Allan Preston replaced the injured Miodrag Krivokapic who was playing his first match since the 1991 Scottish Cup Final and the substitute's perfectly flighted freekick enabled Duncan Ferguson to direct a powerful header past Money for his second goal which earned him the 'Man of the Match' award made by the sponsors. This thoroughly professional and polished performance extended our 100% League Cup record against Saints in what was our 7th clash in this particular competition.