Dundee United 1 Dunfermline 1

The honours were even at Tannadice for the second successive Saturday as United draw 1-1 with Dunfermline Athletic in a tense game.

By Ian Isbister

United made six changes to the side that lost 3-2 to Queen of the South on Tuesday night. Back into the frame come Lewis in goal replacing Deniz. Scott Fraser started his first game since returning from injury. Bilel Mohsni made his debut after getting international clearance to play and officially signing for United on Wednesday. Flood, Robson and Smith were all returning to the starting line-up.  

Dunfermline Athletic started with the same side that convincingly beat Brechin City 3-0 on Tuesday night, including number 10 Nicky Clark, fresh from his hat-trick in mid-week. The Fifers started the game just two points behind United with the Arabs having played three games less.

First Half: United were on the front foot as early as the first minute as Robson found acres of space coming into the box from the left. His side footed shot towards the right hand post was pushed away by Robinson in the Pars goal. After dropping five points out of six in the last two games, United were set up with attack clearly in mind. The 3-4-2-1 formation giving United plenty of possession in the Dunfermline half. The home side found the Dunfermline defence hard to break down and but for half chances falling to Smith, were limited to passing around the 18 yard box. The first chance of the game for Dunfermline could not have been closer. Williamson’s cross was controlled by Craigan whose knock down was met by McManus on the edge of the box. His shot looked goal bound past the flying Lewis but came back off the post and was cleared by the grateful Murdoch.

New signing Bilel Mohsni looked comfortable at the heart of the United rearguard, and looked like he had lost none of the fighting spirit he showed during his time at Rangers. Calm and composed he dealt comfortably with the threat of Clark and McManus. Dunfermline were reduced to shots from long range from Craigan to find a way past the United defence.  

With ten minutes of the first half remaining it was the visitors who began to control the game. A deft cross from Williamson was hastily cleared by Murdoch from right under the United crossbar. This resulted in two dangerous corners which had the United defence scrambling to clear their lines. At the other end, McDonald’s persistence resulted in a free-kick to United on the edge of the box. A Scott Fraser special was spectacularly tipped over by Robinson in the Pars goal. The game was now evenly balanced with much of the play taking part in the middle third of the park. An entertaining first half ended 0-0. 

Second Half: United made one change for the second half as Scobbie was replaced by Durnan, who took his place on the left of the three man defence. As in the first half the game was end to end but with neither side able to create any clear cut chances. In the 52nd minute the deadlock was broken and it was the away side that made the breakthrough. neat passing from the Pars midfield led to the in-form Clark scoring from only five yards out. The despair of the United fans was short lived though as only three minutes later a mistake in the Dunfermline defence saw Craigan’s clearance quickly blocked by the oncoming McDonald and his deflected effort flew past Robinson to level the tie at 1-1. Similar to Mikkelsen’s goal against Inverness last Saturday, the goal owed as much to good fortune than skill but was greeted with as much cheer as a 30 yard screamer from the jubilant home fans. With their tails up United pressed for a winner and were unfortunate with both McDonald and Smith coming close soon after the equaliser. With only two points separating the sides at the start of the game the pressure on both sides was beginning to show. As both sets of fans cheered on their sides it was United who looked on top. Smith’s run down the right flank resulted in a fierce drive which Robinson could only parry beyond the oncoming McDonald. With the clock ticking down United won a free-kick in the 85th minute after good link up play between Ralston and Slater. The resulting set-piece saw Slater’s hanging cross met well by Durnan, but his header was just inches wide past Robinson’s left hand post. As referee Euan Anderson blew for full-time at 1-1 it was honours even. With United still having three games in hand over their Fife counterparts they will look to these extra games to cement their place in the play-offs. Abetter performance from United than in recent weeks, and with manager Csaba Lazlo ringing several changes in the last two games he will be looking to establish a starting 11 that can take United back to the Premiership.

Man of the Match - Bilel Mohsni. In a game which was defined more by defending than in attack it was the new signing Mohsni who stood head and shoulders above the rest. On this display it looks as though United’s gamble has paid off on a player who many will have written off prior to signing for United.

Dundee United: Lewis, Murdoch, Scobbie (Durnan, 45), McDonald, Fraser (Slater, 53), Stanton, Flood ©, Robson, Smith (McMullan, 74), Ralston, Mohsni 

Subs not used: Deniz, King, Gillespie, Mikkelsen

Dunfermline Athletic: Robinson, Williamson, Martin, Morris ©, Ashcroft, Higginbotham, McManus, Clark, Vincent, Craigen (Wedderburn 71), Beadling 

Subs not used: Gill, Mvoto, Armstrong, Talbot, Ryan, Aird