Dundee United 1 Dunfermline 0

The Tangerines recorded a crucial win at Tannadice this afternoon after an 81st minute header from Nicky Clark proved to be the difference in a close and keenly fought encounter.

By Ally Stewart

The visitors started the brighter, with an ambitious Kallum Higginbotham volley which flew wide and then an Aidan Kenna shot from the edge of the box saved by Benjamin Siegrist. Cammy Smith won possession in midfield and forced the Tangerines' first corner from which Stewart Murdoch may have done better than heading straight at Lee Robinson from close range, after Pavol Safranko had nodded the ball back across the 6-yard box.

The game settled down into an evenly fought contest however there was little in the way of pattern to the play. Cammy Smith’s 30th minute shot from just inside the box had the sting taken out of it following a touch from a visiting defender, allowing Robinson to hold, before Paul McMullan slid a low shot wide of the post. Shortly afterwards Myles Hippolyte lost control of the ball after appearing to be in on goal just before Dunfermline missed the clearest opening of the first half. Hippolyte crossed low from the right and James Vincent should have done a lot better than miss the target from 6 yards. There were moments of pressure from both as half time approached however the break arrived with the match poised at 0-0.

Aidan Nesbitt was brought after the break in place of Matty Smith as Robbie Neilson looked to add a bit more impetus to United’s play. In the 48th minute Safranko won the ball in midfield and worked his way into the box before forcing a save from Robinson low to his right. Despite some early promise, much like the first half, the game again became scrappy with chances few and far between. A Murdoch mistake in the 69th minute looked to have gifted Vincent a clear run on goal however the Pars midfielder lost his balance when chasing down the ball allowing Siegrist to hook clear. Nicky Clark was then sent on in place of McMullan as United looked to apply some late pressure. Paul Watson, on in place of the injured Murdoch, caused confusion in the visiting box with a long throw with Clark then sliding the ball wide from a great position, however an offside flag had already been raised. The impact Neilson had hoped to make with his attacking substitutions finally paid off in the 81st minute when the two of them combined to break the deadlock. After his first attempted cross was blocked Nesbitt then swung in another near post to meet Clark’s run and the ex Dunfermline player made no mistake with the header beyond Robinson. Despite their efforts Dunfermline couldn’t force any late chances and the hosts were able to see out the remainder of the game plus the 7 minutes of added time with relative comfort, securing what could turn out to be a crucial victory.

Full Time Summary: The hosts were made to battle all the way in a match which saw Nicky Clark’s late goal prove to be the only difference between the sides. As they further look to add to the squad during January and both Ross County and Ayr United losing it’s a result which could be looked back on in May as being a key moment.

Man of the Match: In a game which was played out in midfield for the vast majority of the time Fraser Fyvie was prominent throughout with his link up and ability to break up play an encouraging sign as the club captain looks to return to top form.

United: Siegrist, Murdoch (Watson 74), Booth, Frans, McMullan (Clark 69), Fyvie, Stanton, Safranko, M Smith (Nesbitt 46), Bouhenna, C Smith. Subs not used: Rakovan, King, Robson, Thomas.

Dunfermline: Robinson, Longridge, Ashcroft, Higginbotham (Connolly 76), Beadling, Devine, Hippolyte, Thomson (Martin 76), Vincent, Craigen, Kenna (Smith 64). Subs not used: Gill, Durnan, El Bakhtaoui, Muirhead.

Attendance: 5913

Referee: Alan Muir