Dunfermline 0 United 0

Honours were even at East End Park as United and ten man Dunfermline grind out a 0-0 draw to take back to Tannadice on Friday for the second leg of the Premiership Play-Off Quarter Finals.

By Ian Isbister

Manager Csaba Laszlo made two changes to the starting eleven that beat Livingston 2-0 on Saturday at Tannadice. Flood and Mikkelsen were recalled to the team, whilst Stanton and Slater dropped to the bench. Lyng and McMullan returned to the bench after both had been out due to injuries. The opening exchanges were tense as the swirling wind around East End Park played a big factor, with both sides happy to let the other make the first move. As expected, it was the midfield that dictated much of the play. Flood’s gritty style coupled with the composure of Fraser were evident in the first 10 minutes. The game was incredibly tight with United’s wingers cutting inside at every opportunity. Billy King was lively up front in the opening 20 minutes but McDonald and Mikkelsen couldn't find any success against the resolute Dunfermline defence. After 25 minutes both goalkeepers had yet to see a shot on goal, an indication of the tense nature of the game with neither side able to settle. The introduction of McManus after 25 minutes, due to an injury to Ryan, was proving to benefit the Pars as he looked lively after coming on, but Murdoch and Mohsni handled his pace well.  United finished the first half strongly with good link-up play between King and Fraser. The resulting shot from Fraser was judged by referee Bobby Madden to have come off a Pars defender for a corner to United, with the travelling Arabs shouting for a penalty. As the one minute of added time came to an end it was 0-0 as both sides headed down the tunnel. No doubt both managers will have been looking for more from their respective sides, particularly in the final third.

Dunfermline began the second half the livelier team with Nicky Clark rising in front of the United defence after 47 minutes. From 8 yards his header was scuffed though and Deniz will have been grateful to get an easy catch so early in the second half. United were now giving as good as they got and continued to probe with Flood and Fraser continuing to link up well. Deniz was called into action in 52 minutes when a rasping shot from Aird was tipped for a corner - the best chance of the match so far. The flashpoint of the game came in 54 mins when Dunfermline’s Ashcroft cynically fouled McDonald. Although a long way from goal, referee Bobby Madden saw this as a goal scoring opportunity with no other defenders between McDonald and the Pars goalkeeper, and sent off the Dunfermline player. The Pars would have to play the remaining 36 minutes with only 10 men. The one man advantage began to tell and Fraser was the first to benefit from the now expansive pitch. The No.10 was able to take two touches to position himself and was unlucky to see his shot skim over the  Dunfermline crossbar. Despite being down to 10 men the Pars still caused Deniz trouble with long-range efforts, but he was alert to everything the Fifers could throw at him. In what was now becoming a game of chess, both managers were using their tactical know how to try and out think each other. Dunfermline were clearly looking for damage limitation after Ashcroft’s dismissal whilst United were desperate to make the most of the extra man advantage. Csaba Laszlo made a positive change in 67 minutes, bringing on attacking midfielder Sam Stanton for the more defensive Grant Gillespie. Stanton was involved straight away, creating several attacks, resulting in three corners in succession. The game now ebbed and flowed and the extra man advantage was less obvious in the remaining quarter of the game. Chances were few and far between in the last 10 minutes and both sides looked content to settle for the draw. For United, it's a result that they can take back to Tannadice on Friday as they look to set up a Premiership Play-Off semi-final against Livingston.

Man of the Match - Scott Fraser. The midfielder looked back to his best since returning from injury, and was United’s most creative player. Fraser’s link-up play from defence to attack was a continual thorn in the Pars midfield.

Dunfermline Athletic - Robinson, Williamson (Wedderburn 86 mins), Morris, Ashcroft, Martin, Higginbotham (Talbot 61 mins), Vincent, Craigen, Aird, Ryan (McManus 25mins), Clark.
Subs not used -  Cardle, Armstrong, Duthie, Gill.

Dundee United - Deniz, Ralston, Murdoch, Mohsni, Robson, Fraser, Flood, Gillespie (Stanton 67 mins), King, McDonald, Mikkelsen (Lyng 75 mins)
Subs not used - Scobbie, McMullan, Edjenguele, Slater, Lewis

Referee - Bobby Madden
Assistants - Graeme Leslie and Mark McLean
Fourth Official - Steven McLean