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LOYALTY PERIOD EXTENDED
29th April 2024
In this afternoon's tense and crucial encounter at Tannadice, Gordon Chisholm's Dundee United side fell to a late goal by Gary Mason, which means that the uncertainty over SPL status moves onto next weekend's match at Inverness, while Dunfermline celebrated securing their own safety.
Both caretaker managers named unchanged line-ups for the match, although Chisholm had a boost in being able to name Trinidad & Tobago international Jason Scotland among his substitutes.
United started in a now familiar 3-5-2 formation, with Dunfermline playing their normal 4-4-2 and former United loan player Andy Tod fit enough to start alongside Derek Young, hat-trick hero in the 5-0 thrashing of Dundee at East End Park last weekend.
Subsidised bus travel attracted a healthy Pars following, and with Arabs in good voice in the other three stands, there was a great atmosphere at kick-off for a vitally important game, being played in the warm afternoon sunshine at Tannadice.
Indeed the importance of the match was not lost on neither side, and the opening minutes were frantic and similar to the pace of a derby match, with neither side having time to settle.
Dunfermline had the first chance, with a free-kick on the edge of the area after Robson had been harshly penalised, but Bullock saved comfortably from Campbell's effort.
The game was stopped for a couple of minutes in the 10th minute, after a collision of heads between Ritchie and Kerr. Both recovered, although Kerr needed to leave the field for stitches. Within seconds of coming back though, the midfielder showed his worth to United with a saving block from the foot of Derek Young, meeting Campbell's cross 8 yards out.
After a fairly tepid opening half-hour in terms of goalmouth action, there was some spark just after the half hour. Kerr again intervened defensively to head Craig Wilson's cross over his own goal with Tod lurking behind him. Moments after clearing the corner, United broke forward, and Kenneth found the intelligent run of Duff, who earned a corner for the home side. However, the Pars skipper Scott Thomson easily cleared Robson's corner.
First half summary: United were forced onto the back foot for the majority of the first half, with Dunfermline enjoying the best of the possession and territorial advantage. Having said that, Tony Bullock was not stretched at any point, and but for two important pieces of defending by Kerr, Dunfermline had not created any clear chances. Likewise, United had enjoyed more corner kicks in the opening period but failed to carve out any clear effort on goal.
Half Time: Dundee United 0-0 Dunfermline Athletic
The second half again started at a frantic pace, and United seemed to have some momentum. On the 50 minute mark, Mark Wilson's chip into the area was squared by the head of McIntyre, and Crawford stretched to send a shot into the side netting.
The Pars thought they had broken the deadlock in the 51st minute as Craig Wilson broke down the right, and although his low cross was met at the 18-yard line by Ritchie, the ball broke to Derek Young, who shot into the net. However, Young had in fact tugged on the defender's shirt, which was spotted by Stuart Dougal, and the goal was disallowed.
United continued to look better than their first half showing, and after a 53rd minute corner, Archibald's shot was eventually blocked by Thomson a couple of yards out.
The pressure continued, and Robson's cross from the left 2 minutes later was again half-cleared, but broke loose in the box, but Crawford sent his shot against the right hand post.
After Crawford's cross from the left evaded everyone in the 62nd minute, Duff laid the ball back to Wilson on the right whose cross was met 8 yards out by the head of Barry Robson, who was denied by a brilliant low stop by Stillie in the Pars goal. Scott Wilson then blocked McIntyre's effort on the rebound for another corner.
McIntyre was fouled attempting to turn in the 72nd minute by Scott Wilson, and from the resultant free-kick 26 yards out, Barry Robson's goal-bound effort was punched into the air by Stillie, who recovered to catch at the second attempt. Scott Wilson then made a fantastic last stop as Crawford was pulling the trigger after breaking free.
There was disappointment for United in the 85th minute, when Ritchie signalled to the bench that he had a problem with his left groin. The defender was unable to continue, and McCracken came on to replace him.
Immediately after the substitution, United broke forward, and McIntyre's knock down found McInnes at the edge of the area, who unleashed a dipping volley which clipped the top of the crossbar.
There was to be a heartbreaking twist after what had been a comfortable second half for the home side though. Substitute Donnelly broke down the right, and his pull back found the thigh of Gary Mason, with the United defender in close attendance, and looped over Bullock.
United broke upfield from the restart, and McIntyre had a header from a cross which was saved well from Stillie.
It was a tragic denouement for United, who looked to have grown in confidence as the game progressed, and certainly looked the more likely side to score throughout the second half.
Now, though, Chisholm will not have the chance to rest players ahead of the cup final, as he will need every one of his players in action at the Caledonian Stadium next weekend to look for the minimum of one point which will ensure safety.
Full Time: Dundee United 0-1 Dunfermline Athletic
Summary: As is the normal for Arabs, there is never a chance to relax, as something will always ensure that everything is done the hard way. Although Dunfermline had looked the better side in the first half, United grew in confidence during the second half, and had looked to have done enough to get the point which they needed to ensure SPL safety. However, after the heartbreaking late goal, Gordon Chisholm will have a big job on his hands to lift the spirits of his side ahead of next week's match in Inverness.
Man of the Match: Mark Kerr. Once again, Kerr showed the stamina and positional awareness which he has demonstrated in recent weeks, and it made a noticeable difference. Despite taking a cut to the head in the first half after a clash of heads, he was back and battling and made a couple of important defensive blocks in the first half to keep his side level.
Teams:
Dundee United:
Bullock, Kenneth, Ritchie (McCracken 86), Archibald, Wilson, Kerr, Duff (McInnes 75), Brebner, Robson, Crawford, McIntyre.
Subs Not Used:
Colgan (GK), Robertson, Samuel, Grady, Scotland.
Booked: Archibald (83)
Dunfermline Athletic
Stillie, Skerla, S. Wilson, Thomson, Campbell, C. Wilson (Mehmet 90), Darren Young, Mason, Makel, Tod, Derek Young (Donnelly 67).
Subs Not Used:
Langfield (GK), Labonte, Hunt, Dunn, Ross.
Booked: Mason (43), Campbell (53), Stillie (90)
Referee Stuart Dougal
Attendance 10,763
Read the full match report by Scott Simpson.
Both caretaker managers named unchanged line-ups for the match, although Chisholm had a boost in being able to name Trinidad & Tobago international Jason Scotland among his substitutes.
United started in a now familiar 3-5-2 formation, with Dunfermline playing their normal 4-4-2 and former United loan player Andy Tod fit enough to start alongside Derek Young, hat-trick hero in the 5-0 thrashing of Dundee at East End Park last weekend.
Subsidised bus travel attracted a healthy Pars following, and with Arabs in good voice in the other three stands, there was a great atmosphere at kick-off for a vitally important game, being played in the warm afternoon sunshine at Tannadice.
Indeed the importance of the match was not lost on neither side, and the opening minutes were frantic and similar to the pace of a derby match, with neither side having time to settle.
Dunfermline had the first chance, with a free-kick on the edge of the area after Robson had been harshly penalised, but Bullock saved comfortably from Campbell's effort.
The game was stopped for a couple of minutes in the 10th minute, after a collision of heads between Ritchie and Kerr. Both recovered, although Kerr needed to leave the field for stitches. Within seconds of coming back though, the midfielder showed his worth to United with a saving block from the foot of Derek Young, meeting Campbell's cross 8 yards out.
After a fairly tepid opening half-hour in terms of goalmouth action, there was some spark just after the half hour. Kerr again intervened defensively to head Craig Wilson's cross over his own goal with Tod lurking behind him. Moments after clearing the corner, United broke forward, and Kenneth found the intelligent run of Duff, who earned a corner for the home side. However, the Pars skipper Scott Thomson easily cleared Robson's corner.
First half summary: United were forced onto the back foot for the majority of the first half, with Dunfermline enjoying the best of the possession and territorial advantage. Having said that, Tony Bullock was not stretched at any point, and but for two important pieces of defending by Kerr, Dunfermline had not created any clear chances. Likewise, United had enjoyed more corner kicks in the opening period but failed to carve out any clear effort on goal.
Half Time: Dundee United 0-0 Dunfermline Athletic
The second half again started at a frantic pace, and United seemed to have some momentum. On the 50 minute mark, Mark Wilson's chip into the area was squared by the head of McIntyre, and Crawford stretched to send a shot into the side netting.
The Pars thought they had broken the deadlock in the 51st minute as Craig Wilson broke down the right, and although his low cross was met at the 18-yard line by Ritchie, the ball broke to Derek Young, who shot into the net. However, Young had in fact tugged on the defender's shirt, which was spotted by Stuart Dougal, and the goal was disallowed.
United continued to look better than their first half showing, and after a 53rd minute corner, Archibald's shot was eventually blocked by Thomson a couple of yards out.
The pressure continued, and Robson's cross from the left 2 minutes later was again half-cleared, but broke loose in the box, but Crawford sent his shot against the right hand post.
After Crawford's cross from the left evaded everyone in the 62nd minute, Duff laid the ball back to Wilson on the right whose cross was met 8 yards out by the head of Barry Robson, who was denied by a brilliant low stop by Stillie in the Pars goal. Scott Wilson then blocked McIntyre's effort on the rebound for another corner.
McIntyre was fouled attempting to turn in the 72nd minute by Scott Wilson, and from the resultant free-kick 26 yards out, Barry Robson's goal-bound effort was punched into the air by Stillie, who recovered to catch at the second attempt. Scott Wilson then made a fantastic last stop as Crawford was pulling the trigger after breaking free.
There was disappointment for United in the 85th minute, when Ritchie signalled to the bench that he had a problem with his left groin. The defender was unable to continue, and McCracken came on to replace him.
Immediately after the substitution, United broke forward, and McIntyre's knock down found McInnes at the edge of the area, who unleashed a dipping volley which clipped the top of the crossbar.
There was to be a heartbreaking twist after what had been a comfortable second half for the home side though. Substitute Donnelly broke down the right, and his pull back found the thigh of Gary Mason, with the United defender in close attendance, and looped over Bullock.
United broke upfield from the restart, and McIntyre had a header from a cross which was saved well from Stillie.
It was a tragic denouement for United, who looked to have grown in confidence as the game progressed, and certainly looked the more likely side to score throughout the second half.
Now, though, Chisholm will not have the chance to rest players ahead of the cup final, as he will need every one of his players in action at the Caledonian Stadium next weekend to look for the minimum of one point which will ensure safety.
Full Time: Dundee United 0-1 Dunfermline Athletic
Summary: As is the normal for Arabs, there is never a chance to relax, as something will always ensure that everything is done the hard way. Although Dunfermline had looked the better side in the first half, United grew in confidence during the second half, and had looked to have done enough to get the point which they needed to ensure SPL safety. However, after the heartbreaking late goal, Gordon Chisholm will have a big job on his hands to lift the spirits of his side ahead of next week's match in Inverness.
Man of the Match: Mark Kerr. Once again, Kerr showed the stamina and positional awareness which he has demonstrated in recent weeks, and it made a noticeable difference. Despite taking a cut to the head in the first half after a clash of heads, he was back and battling and made a couple of important defensive blocks in the first half to keep his side level.
Teams:
Dundee United:
Bullock, Kenneth, Ritchie (McCracken 86), Archibald, Wilson, Kerr, Duff (McInnes 75), Brebner, Robson, Crawford, McIntyre.
Subs Not Used:
Colgan (GK), Robertson, Samuel, Grady, Scotland.
Booked: Archibald (83)
Dunfermline Athletic
Stillie, Skerla, S. Wilson, Thomson, Campbell, C. Wilson (Mehmet 90), Darren Young, Mason, Makel, Tod, Derek Young (Donnelly 67).
Subs Not Used:
Langfield (GK), Labonte, Hunt, Dunn, Ross.
Booked: Mason (43), Campbell (53), Stillie (90)
Referee Stuart Dougal
Attendance 10,763
Read the full match report by Scott Simpson.
