DUNDEE UNITED 3 ALLOA ATHLETIC 1

Second half goals by Patrick N'Koyi, Paul McMullan and Willo Flood saw United into the draw for the third round of the IRN-BRU Cup at a sunny Tannadice today.

United overcame a stuffy Alloa side who would have felt they had done enough to force the game into extra-time after Crawley had equalised for the Wasps in the 77th minute.

McMullan's and Flood's late strikes - both pearlers - secured the victory after N'Koyi had given United the lead with an early second half penalty.

By Alasdair Marnoch

First Half:

The game started quietly with the ball rarely being played into either box. The first chance of the game fell to youngster Logan Chalmers in the seventh minute with a chip that evaded Alloa’s defence going just over the bar. Minutes later Chalmers had another chance once again from the edge of the box but it was fired low and straight into the keeper’s hands. 

United struggled to make their way into the opposition's box with Alloa’s defence smothering any build-up of play that United attempted before being able to even have a shot on goal. The visitors had a couple of chances in the latter stages of the half with a shot from inside of the box going just wide and clattering into the adverting boards with a bang. 

As the half neared the end, new signing Joe Piggott was continuing to show endeavour and potential as United tried to make an impact on the game. 

Second Half:

Once again the half started slowly with the only notable mention in the first twenty minutes being a free kick that N’Koyi didn’t quite manage to make enough contact with his head on to put it in the back of the net. As the game progressed United managed to keep the majority of the possession but struggled to create any chances in the final third. 

The first goal of the game came in the 70th minute after N’Koyi was taken down in the box by Alloa’s captain Andrew Graham. The penalty was slotted home calmly by N’Koyi to open up the score line and give United the lead. Just eight minutes later though Alloa were back in the game after a nice build of play that gave Kevin Cawley the chance to equalise with his right foot. 

United took the lead once again in stoppage time after N’Koyi turned to set up McMullan who charged into the box, lashing the ball into the back of the net. This must have given United some confidence that had not been seen in the previous 90 minutes as, in the dying seconds of the game, Willo Flood fired the ball in the back of the net from the corner of the penalty box cementing United’s place in the third round of the IRN BRU Cup.

Summary:

Nobody can argue with the fact that the first seventy minutes were uneventful with neither team managing to capitalise on opportunities given to them in the final third. But United finished on top after goals from N’Koyi, McMullan and Flood helped them progress to the next round.   

Man of the Match: N’Koyi

He created a penalty which he managed to turn into United’s first goal and set up McMullan to give United the lead for the second time in the match.

Dundee United: 

Deniz, Toshney, McMullan, N’Koyi, Edjenguele, Flood (C), Allardice, Dailly, Chalmers (Stanton), Thomas (Murdoch), Piggott (King) 

Subs not used: Donaldson, Durnan, McDonald, Davidson 

Alloa:

Parry, Taggart, Meggatt, McKeown, Graham (Martin), Robertson, Cawley, Hetherington, Renton, Flannigan, Cook 

Subs not used: Wilson, Fleming, Crane, Monaghen, Greene 

Referee: William Collum 

Attendance: 1763