UNITED IN PLAY-OFF FINALS

United strolled to a convincing victory at a rocking Tannadice to book their place in the Premiership play-off final.   

By Michael Blackley

Loudly backed by more than 8000 Arabs, United never looked like giving up their hard-fought 1-0 advantage they secured in Inverness three days ago.  

After taking the lead in first half injury time through a Nicky Clark penalty following a hard-fought 45 minutes, the home side never looked back and comfortably progressed with further goals by Osman Sow and Pav Safranko. 

It will be back to Tannadice next week for the first leg against St Mirren or Hamilton, as United look to continue their excellent form and book their rightful place back in the Premiership. 

United lined up with two changes from the side that won 1-0 in Inverness earlier in the week: Rachid Bouhenna came into the midfield in the place of the injured Calum Butcher, while Nicky Clark came into the side for Pav Safranko, who was taken off at half time due to an illness in the first leg. 

As these sides attempted to weigh each other up in their seventh meeting of the season, both looked most threatening on the right, with Paul McMullan’s direct running causing Caley problems, while United had to cope with the dangerous crossing from the right of Shaun Rooney and Tom Walsh. 

While United had the first half chance with a Peter Pawlett effort that was comfortably saved by Mark Ridgers, it was Inverness that fashioned the best early opportunity when a spinning effort by the dangerous Walsh had to be tipped round the post by Siegrist. Striker Jordan White was then twice nearly in, when he first couldn’t get a foot to a dangerous ball into the box, then Siegrist saved well at his feet when sent through by a wonderful Walsh pass.  

Caley’s threat was growing and they came close twice more just after the half hour, most notably when Aaron Doran was set through by a magnificent ball but Siegrist did extremely well to save twice at his feet. 

United, who had skipper Mark Reynolds booked for a foul on the halfway line, made Ridgers work when Harkes had a good low effort from the right which he did well to save.

Despite being up against it for much of the half, United managed to edge ahead in stoppage time when they were awarded a penalty. Nicky Clark - who had looked one of the home side’s most creative players for most of the half - teed up Pawlett and he did well to get a shot away in a packed penalty area which Brad McKay blocked with his hand. Clark stepped up and calmly sent the ball to the right to give Ridgers no chance and give United a two goal aggregate advantage at half time.   

United started positively in the second half and had the first shot on goal when Pawlett was fouled near the edge of the area by Rooney but Clark’s free kick attempt was saved. A minute later, though, United did go ahead following some great play on the right from McMullan, who latched onto a cross-field ball then played a fine ball in to Sow, who majestically turned and flicked the ball cutely beyond Ridgers to send the home support wild. 

It was nearly game set and match shortly later when McMullan burst through again and set up Clark but he didn’t quite get a hold of the shot and it went wildly over the bar. 

After all the nerves of the first half, United were now playing some fine football, summed up by a glorious flick and nice footwork by Ian Harkes. Pav Safranko, on for Pawlett, then played a wonderful cross into the box which Clark latched onto but his shot was diverted onto the post. He hit the woodwork again a minute later when a horrendous mixup in the Caley defence put him clean through on goal but he hit his effort off the post when he looked certain to score. 

Caley showed they were still a threat when substitute Nathan Austin got his head to a corner but Siegrist saved well. 

With 10 minutes to go, United put more gloss on a fantastic second half display when Sam Stanton - just on the park for Nicky Clark - played a perfect through ball which Safranko got on the end of to score. 

FULL TIME: Dundee United 3 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0

It was a match where United had to show both sides of their game. In the first half, it was all about the new-found resilience seen regularly since January, as they faced an aerial bombardment from a physical side. Second half, United looked like they had an embarrassment of riches in attack and really should have scored several more. As it was, the impressive home support was sent home - or rather straight to the ticket office for their playoff final briefs - happy with a 4-0 aggregate win.  

Man of the match: Rachid Bouhenna. Any of United’s attacking players could justifiably claim they should be man of the match. But it was defender Rachid Bouhenna, brought into the midfield in place of the injured Calum Butcher, who provided the muscle to win the battle in the centre of the park. Always composed on the ball, his distribution was good and he showed some nice flicks and tricks when United were well on top. 

UNITED: Siegrist; Watson, Robson, Reynolds, Connolly; Bouhenna, Harkes; Pawlett (Safranko, 63), Clark (Stanton, 78), McMullan; Sow (Booth, 73) SUBS: Currid, Frans, C Smith, Chalmers

ICT: Rodger, Rooney, Chalmers, Donaldson, McCart, Doran (McDonald, 74), Walsh, White, McKay, Trafford, McHattie. SUBS: Mackay, McCauley Austin, MacGregor, Gunn, Harper.