Dundee Utd 3
Airdrie 0
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

As we tried to make amends for the dismal showing against Hibs, the Tannadice rearguard was completely reshaped, but it is in attack where we have so often found Airdrie such a tough nut to crack. On this occasion and in front of Tannadice's lowest crowd of the season, however, our task was greatly helped by going in front after only a couple of minutes play. Christian Dailly started and finished the move. He made a penetrating run in from the left before cutting the ball back to Paddy Connolly. He sent a shot crashing off the underside of the bar and Christian Dailly knocked the ball home after it had run loose. Airdrie scorned a great chance to get back into the match when Jack hit the outside of the post from a penalty given for Gary Bollan's trip on Lawrence. They paid a heavy price for that miss when Gary Bollan rose and bulleted a header past Martin from a Scott Crabbe corner ten minutes later. Fashanu then clipped a shot over when it seemed easier to score and although the visitors did have the bulk of possession,they were never as dangerous in the second half.

United, by contrast, were far more menacing and forged further ahead when Christian Dailly caught Sandison in possession and laid the ball inside to Paddy Connolly who had bags of time and space to pick his spot as he beat Martin. Before the end Paddy Connolly stabbed the ball against a post and Martin tipped over a Brian Welsh header, but we had to be satisfied with a three goal winning margin - remarkably our biggest home win of the season. More importantly, with Hearts losing to Aberdeen, the Tangerines edged above the Tynecastle side into fourth.