Dundee Utd 3
Dunfermline 1 (AET)
League Cup (3rd Round)

Match Report

Dundee United started their League Cup campaign by making two changes from the draw with Inverness. Charlie Telfer replaced Ryan Dow and Jamie Robson made his United debut at left back, coming in for the suspended Sean Dillon.

Dunfermline started the better of the two teams, and took a deserved lead after ten minutes. A Michael Paton shot from 25 yards should not have been a problem for Luis Zwick. However, he let the shot squirm through his hands and over the line. The goal did not galvanise United into action, and Dunfermline continued to make most of the running until United equalised, rather against the run of play. A corner from Scott Fraser, who was excellent throughout, was not cleared by the Dunfermline defence and Callum Morris headed in from 6 yards against his former club. Ryan Wallace hit the post before half time for the visitors, before shooting wide from a tight angle after rounding Zwick.

United began to create more chances after the break, with substitute Blair Spittal coming close to firing United ahead in the 71st minute as he raced on to Billy McKay's pass to shoot inches wide. Simon Murray then blazed over after great work by Spittal to pick him out before Dunfermline had a great chance at the other end. Faissal El Bakhtaoui then sent Michael Moffat clear on goal for Dunfermline but he took a heavy touch and the chance was gone. In the dying seconds, Ryan McGowan sent McKay clear on the right and his ball across goal narrowly fell behind the onrushing Adam Taggart and Simon Murray.

But with the visitors tiring as the game went into extra time, two goals in three minutes sealed United’s place in the quarter-finals, and their first win in seven games. Scott Fraser put United ahead after 96 minutes with a shot from the edge of the box which took a slight deflection on its way past Sean Murdoch into the net. Blair Spittal then sealed United’s passage into the quarter-finals two minutes later with an even better finish, after evading several challenges as he slalomed through the tiring away defence.

Manager’s comment:
“The important thing is we're in the next round. As you would expect we were nervous at the start but we grew into it. I thought Dunfermline started the game better than us. Once we settled down and moved the ball we caused them problems. Dunfermline tonight had a fantastic crowd up and they can be proud of their team”.

Fan’s comment:
“The first half display was atrocious, and in truth Dunfermline should have been a couple of goals ahead at half time. United came more into the game as it went on and as Dunfermline tired, two good goals won it in extra time. Pleased to get the win and be in the next round, but a vast improvement is needed”.

Formation: 4-1-4-1
Captain: Ryan McGowan
Arab Archive ‘Man of the Match’: John Rankin

Match Photos courtesy of Riki Grauer - More photos available at:
Dundee United Official Flickr Page