United 3 Livingston 0

First half goals from Paul McMullan and Scott McDonald sent United on their way to victory against Livingston at Tannadice this afternoon.

By Ally Stewart

Despite a host of chances shortly after the break, including a Billy King penalty which was saved by Maley, it took until the 89th minute to round off the afternoon when McMullan again struck to ensure the unbeaten run continues.

After a scrappy opening it took until the 17th minute for either side to create any chance of note, with the first opportunity falling to the Livingston’s Jackson Longridge who fired over the bar from a corner. It was United, however, with their first serious foray into the box, who opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. A Billy King corner was headed back across goal by Tam Scobbie with the visiting defence unable to clear their lines. Paul McMullan took possession and weaved his way into the heart of the box seeking to force an opening. As soon as there was a sniff at goal the winger struck a left foot shot which found its way through a ruck of bodies and into the back of the net, appearing to catch goalkeeper Gary Maley by surprise. McMullan then came close to a second after being teed up by Scott Fraser but the hosts didn’t have too long to wait to double their advantage. A fine move saw Fraser playing in Jamie Robson whose low cross found United’s top scorer Scott McDonald unmarked at the far post, leaving the simple task of tapping into the empty net. The Tangerines were dealt a major blow 3 minutes before half time when Fraser Fyvie went down hurt after preventing the visitors breaking into the box. After a lengthy delay for treatment the midfielder was unable to continue, limping off to be replaced by Matty Smith. In first half injury time Livi’s main threat Longridge had Livi’s clearest opportunity of the game so far but to the hosts' relief could only head wide from an unmarked position following a corner.
 
In contrast to the beginning of the match there was chance after chance for United inside the opening few minutes following the break. First there were penalty claims when Smith went down under a challenge in the 6-yard box before Fraser’s surging run from midfield forced Maley into conceding a corner. Following the set piece King’s shot was deflected over before excellent work from the winger on the left side of the box should’ve produced another goal for United. King’s low cross found McMullan 3 yards out and despite making solid contact Maley somehow managed to claw the ball away from goal when it seemed impossible. Maley found himself at the heart of the action again after 55 minutes when he upended McDonald in the box winning the hosts a penalty. King stepped up to take the kick and struck the ball well, but it was at a good height for Maley who read the direction and made a diving save to his right. Despite the blistering start to the half from United the away side did stem the tide to an extent without ever managing to offer any serious threat themselves. The Terrors were content to sit back and break quickly when given the chance and eventually they notched another goal with a minute left. Smith worked the ball out to King on the left side of the box and his low drive was parried out by Maley into the path of McMullan who doubled his tally for the afternoon side footing the ball home first time.  
 
United: Lewis, Scobbie, Durnan, Quinn, McMullan (Allardice 90), McDonald, Fraser (Calmers 91), King, Stanton, Robson, Fyvie (Smith 42). Subs Not Used – Deniz, Flood, Dailly, Appere.
 
Livingston: Maley, Longridge, Lithgow, Byrne, Mullin (Jacobs 63), (Robinson 54), Pittman, Todorov (de-Vita 74), Boyd, Penrice, Halkett, Gallagher. Subs Not Used – Knox, Cadden, Mackin, Carrick.
 
Attendance – 6,221
  
Referee – Andrew Dallas