QUEEN OF THE SOUTH 0 UNITED 1

Thanks to Nicky Clark’s first half penalty, United survived a spirited second half showing by the ten-man Doonhamers to post a third win of the season over them and close the gap on leaders Ross County to three points.

By Peter Rundo

The United side showed no less than four changes from the one that defeated St Mirren. Both Mark Reynolds and Mark Connelly were ruled out, so the central defensive pairing of Rachid Bouhenna and Frederic Frans was reinstated. With Calum Butcher suspended, Morgaro Gomis came in and also skippered the side. Lastly Paul McMullan took over from Cammy Smith who dropped to the bench.

Due to the terms of his loan agreement, Tanandice staff-man Fraser Aird was missiing from the Doonhamers' squad. He was only a substitute against Aberdeen last week and Iain Wilson in for Callum Fordyce was the only change to their starting line-up.

Unlike in the previous two games, United didn’t dominate proceedings with Queens giving as good as they got in the opening quarter of an hour.

The hosts were temporarily down to ten men when Scott Mercer went off for treatment to facial injury and during his absence United twice went close but that immediately changed United with United twice going close to breaking the deadlock.

On 16 minutes Peter Pawlett latched on to a Pavol Šafranko lay-off and advanced into the box but prodded wide of the far post. And a minute later Queens’ keeper Alan Martin mothered a Šafranko volley following a Pawlett corner.

Even after Mercer’s return, United maintained the pressure but were finding it hard to find a way past a well-marshalled defence.

But on 29 minutes. Martin was at full stretch to turn a Fordyce header round the far post from another Pawlett corner. Two minutes later, Šafranko fired in a shot from just inside the area which Martijn collected comfortably.

Six minutes from the break, United went ahead. Pawlett robbed Maguire in the box and the defender pulled him back as he bore in on goal. Referee Andrew Dallas instantly flashed Maguire a red card and Nicky Clark thumped home the penalty to give United a deserved interval lead.

The Tangerines started the second half on the front foot, McMullan forced a great save from Martin who finger-tipped his dipping curling first time 20-yarder just over.

Ten minutes into the second half, there was a moment of anxiety for the 500 plus Arabs when Gomis conceded a free-kick from around 30 yards with Dobbie firing inches wide which demonstrated that there was still work to be done.

Pawlett did get the ball in the net shortly afterwards but was rightly ruled offside.

Ten-man Queens certainly weren’t lying down and midway through the half, Ben Siegrist had to look lively to cluch a Callum Fordyce header from a Mercer cross.

Soon after, there was a let off for the visitors when Kyle Jacobs crashed a 20-yarder against the bar.

An indication of the threat Queens were posing came with defender Paul Watson replacing McMullan with just under quarter of an hour left.

As tempers became frayed, an altercation between Ian Harkes and Nicky Low meant both were cautioned.

United were living dangerously in the latter stages with Siegrist saving from both Dykes and Dobbie.

Full Time Summary:

This match followed the pattern of the previous two with Robbie Nielson’s men having the better of the first half but still having to grind out a result despite Queens playing more than half the game with ten men.

Man of the Match: Young Charlie Seaman takes the honours showing great maturity even when under pressure.

Queen of the South

01 Alan Martin
02 Scott Mercer
03 Jordan Marshall
06 Michael Doyle
07 Andrew Stirling 40
08 Kyle Jacobs 83
11 Stephen Dobbie(C)
14 Nicky Low Y 82
21 Iain Wilson
25 Lyndon Dykes
30 Barry Maguire Sent off 38

Subs
20 Jack Leighfield (GK)
04 Callum Fordyce 40
05 Darren Brownlie
12 Ian McGrath 83

United
17 Connor Murray
01 Benjamin Siegrist
49 Charlie Seaman
19 Rachid Bouhenna
04 Frédéric Frans
17 Jamie Robson
13 Morgaro Gomis (C)
47 Ian Harkes Y82
07 Paul McMullan 78
10 Nicky Clark
50 Peter Pawlett 85
14 Pavol Šafranko 67

Subs
34 Matej Rakovan (GK)
03 Callum Booth
09 Osman Sow 67
12 Sam Stanton 85
15 Aidan Nesbitt
25 Cameron Smith
44 Paul Watson 78

Attendance: 2128 (Arabs 524)

Referee: Andrew Dallas