UNITED 2 QOTS 1

United show great resilience to play for 60 minutes with ten men and still secure a 2-1 victory over a strong Queen of the South side.

Summary by Alasdair Marnoch

First Half

The game started slowly, with the first fifteen minutes being fairly even and both teams struggling to make any shots on target. Things soon began to heat up after a curling effort from Jamie Robson ricocheted off the post bringing the Eddie Thompson stand to its feet. Soon after, Scott McDonald bagged his first goal for United placing the ball in the bottom left corner from close range assisted by a cross from McMullan who had made his way quickly down the wing.

United’s lead only lasted for ten minutes with Callum Fordyce taking advantage from a poorly dealt with free kick from the United defence, leaving him the chance to rifle the ball into the back of the net from close range. Things didn’t get any better for United as in the 35th minute Paul McMullan received a red card for allegedly lashing out after being tackled rashly from behind by defender Shaun Rooney. Rooney was shown a yellow card for his tackle.

Second Half

Ex Terror John Rankin got the first chance of the second half from the edge of the box, but keeper Lewis dealt with the shot comfortably. Queens continued to pile on the pressure with Lewis called into action twice in the space of two minutes but keeping ten man United in the game.

United made their first substitution of the game bringing on Scott Fraser for Keatings in the 63rdminute. This proved to be an excellent move as, after only being on the pitch for four minutes, Fraser turned in the box with the ball supplied to him by goal scorer Scott McDonald and struck the ball into the bottom left corner giving United the lead once again.

Queens continued to play balls into the box and missed an excellent opportunity when Christopher Kane attempted to slot the ball through Lewis’s legs but once again he came to the rescue and miraculously smothered it with both his hands.   

Summary

Following a slow start, it turned out to be an exciting match with goals from both teams and controversial decisions made by the referee. United played well for a team with only ten men but continued to make the occasional silly mistake at the back that could have left us with a very different score line. 

Man of the Match

For the second match in a row Sam Stanton picks up the award after a series of clever passes that helped United come out on top and take all three points.

Teams

Dundee United: Lewis, Murdoch, Robson, Durnan (c), McMullan, McDonald (Flood), King, Stanton, Edjenguélé, Fyvie (Briels), Keatings (Fraser)

Subs not used: Mehmet, Quinn, Allardice, N’Koyi

Queen of the South: Martin, Rooney, Marshall, Fordyce, Brownlie, Tapping (Carmicheal), Rankin(c), Lyle (Kane), Dobbie, Jacobs, Dykes (Stirling)

Subs not used: Leighfield, Kerr, Murray, Mercer

Referee 

Nick Walsh