FYVIE GRABS DESERVED POINT WITH LAST MINUTE STRIKE

Returning captain Fraser Fyvie rescues a point with a last-gasp goal for Dundee United.

By Gordon Aitchison

Dundee United returned to league action today at Tannadice, Greenock Morton the opponents. Csaba Laszlo made two changes to the side that drew at Indodrill two weeks ago. Jamie Robson dropped to the bench while Stewart Murdoch did not make the match day squad. Rachid Bouhenna, in for his debut, and Callum Booth were the two players to benefit with starting positions. Fraser Fyvie and Billy King both took their places on the bench in a welcome return for the home side. 

Under new manager, Jonatan Johansson, Morton lined up with the same eleven that lost out one nil to Partick Thistle in their last league game. 

The teams kicked off in fourth and fifth place, United only ahead in the table on goal difference, each team have won two, drawn one and lost one of the four league games to date. 

United were put under early pressure as Michael Tidser was allowed to waltz towards goal, however, his effort was wide of target.  Tidser did not have long to wait to open the scoring though, as in the tenth minute Bouhenna was adjudged to have wrestled Buchanan to the ground awaiting a Morton corner. Referee, Steven, had no hesitation in pointing straight to the spot and booking the United man for his troubles. Tidser made no mistake with the spot kick sending the ball wide to Rakovan's right as the keeper dived left. 

If the game got off to a fast start, the remainder of the half passed without little incident. Neither keeper had to make a save of any note as both teams struggled to break down each other. The only constant was the regular jeers from the home fans at some of the refereeing decisions made by Colin Steven, which judging by the fans' reaction, were at times bewildering.

 That was the case until the four minutes from the end of the half when MacLean received a yellow card. This sparked the game back into life and but for a great save from Scully, Safranko would have had United level. Curran then looked to be offside when he latched onto a Barton through ball but could only find the side netting with just the keeper to beat. Lee Kilday for Morton was booked for dissent for showing his frustration at the official’s decision to allow play to continue. 

Half Time: Dundee United 0:1 Morton 

Six minutes into the second half it looked like Safranko had sprung the Morton offside trap but as he got his shot away the assistant put up a late flag to halt play. Minutes later the Tangerine faithful were again on their feet, it was the referee who was causing friction with the home fans when United at the time had a real opportunity with Loemba in acres of space. 

Barton was booked for a challenge on the hard working Tidser. Rakovan then made a good save, after Aird’s wayward pass had allowed Morton to break and Tumilty fired in a low cross. 

Dundee FC Loanee Waddell replaced MacLean on sixty-five minutes. Rabitsch then fell foul of referee Steven after disagreeing with yet another strange decision.

Club captain, Fraser Fyvie was introduced back into first team action after a nine-month absence on seventy-four minutes. 

United fans were off their feet, for the right reason as the game approached eighty minutes, Safranko with a great knockdown into the path of Loemba, however the United winger’s effort, whilst on target, did not have the power to cause any issue for Scully. Bouhenna joined the attack to play a ball into the path of Aird and his cross was inches away from being met by Safranko as United pushed for an equaliser. 

In a final roll of the dice King and McMullan were introduced for Craig Curran and Fraser Aird with eight minutes remaining. Fyvie drove a powerful shot over from eighteen yards out, but Scully was not troubled. Loemba was next to try his luck from distance, but his shot was always heading wide of the post. 

In the dying seconds, just as it appeared that time had run out for United, Fraser Fyvie latched onto a loose ball after a Freddy Frans long throw in to lash the ball past a helpless Scully in the Morton goal 

Full Time: United 1-1 Morton 

Summary: A game neither side will take much credit from. It never really got going after the early goal for Morton. United huffed and puffed without too much to show for it and but for a last-minute equaliser from Fyvie, would have lost for the first time in four matches. 

Man of the match: Fraser Fyvie, for the equaliser and the obvious lift that he gave the fans and his teammates at Tannadice. He has been out since December and showed his worth in a matter of minutes after returning to action. 

Teams:

Dundee United: Rakovan, Booth, Frans ©, Barton (Fyvie 74), Curran (King 82), Safranko, Bouhenna, Rabitsch, Aird (McMullan 82), Watson, Loemba

Unused Subs: Siegrist, Smith, Robson, Edjenguele

Greenock Morton: Scully, Kilday, Buchanan, Millar (Telfer 78), McAlister, Johnstone (Tiffoney 90), McHugh, Tidser, Tumilty, MacLean, (Waddell 65), McKeown

Unused Subs: Gaston, Iredale, Langan, Armour

Referee: Colin Steven