Dundee United 2 Dunfermline 0
Sunday, 31st Jul 2016Betfred Cup: Ryan Williamson and Andy Geggan out, Lewis Martin and Nat Wedderburn start Murray (48) 1-0. Scott Fraser (83) 2-0
The final place in the next round of the Betfred Cup awaited one of teams that met at Tannadice on Sunday. Following all the other games being played the previous day it was clear that if Dunfermline were to win they would qualify as one of four best runners up. However a draw would be good enough for Dundee United and even if they won and topped the section, they still would not have secured a seeded place in the last sixteen because four other section winners had more points.
Smarting from the heavy home defeat to Inverness Caley Thistle in midweek, Dunfermline made an enforced change due to the suspension of captain Andy Geggan, Nat Wedderburn taking up his role in midfield and Lewis Martin started in place of Ryan Williamson.
The home side made three changes from the side that faced Caley Thistle last time out. Jamie Robson replaced Paul Nixon and Tope Obadeyi and Scott Fraser came in for Blair Spittal and Cammy Smith.
The teams changed ends before the home side kicked off through Simon Murray attacking the goal in front of the home support. United enjoyed the early possession with Robson and Toshney both getting crosses into the Pars box that were suitably defended.
There was a heart in mouth moment in fifth minute when Scott Fraser cut in from the left and planted a ball to the near post where Lee Ashcroft and then David Hutton got the vital touches to keep United out. Within two minutes a weak pass back from Rhys McCabe set up Murray but the Pars were let off when the United no.9 hit his shot at the advancing Hutton.
There was a breather for the Pars defence when the Pars forced the first corner of the match a tenth minute and when Higginbotham crossed that in from the right Richards-Everton`s header went over the crossbar.
Play continued in the United half and the Pars looked more threatening with Wedderburn fighting his way into the United box but with the ball sitting up around the edge of the United box no one could get the shot in. Indeed it was United who then got two shots at goal both from Fraser and Richards-Everton headed over and the next one he struck narrowly over the top.
Tope Obedeyi swung another inviting ball through the Fifers six yard box in 18th minute and fortunately there were no takers. Murray was next to create danger, wriggling to evade being dispossessed in the box by Richards-Everton and eventually Ashcroft without getting in a shot.
United skipper, Willo Flood then punched the ball into the Pars six yard box but again Dunfermline were fortunate that none of their opponents could get the fine touch required to beat Hutton. Spence took the heat off the defence sending the ball deep right where Mark Durnan under pressure from Moffat conceded a throw in. Martin took it to McCabe who returned it for the full back to loft into the box but again there were no finishers.
Van der Velden then flashed the ball narrowly wide left with a powerful low drive from 25 yards.Then a 31st minute Pars corner delivered by Higginbotham from the left gave Richards-Everton a chance to glance a header on target that keeper Cammy Bell was well positioned to hold.
Play ebbed up and down the field with promising positions being created without the goalkeepers being overworked. McCabe was forced to retire in 37th minute and Paul McMullan replaced him. Joe Cardle was then denied a penalty after it looked like Lewis Toshney clipped him on the left side of the penalty box.
Then there was another chance for United van der Velden drilling a shot low from 28 yards and Hutton was able to hold albeit at his second attempt. There was one final chance for Dunfermline Higginbotham directing the ball towards Richards-Everton at the far post. The ball came back across the six yard box and Wedderburn had a good chance but his header sneaked over the bar.
It was a frantic first half with the game being played at great pace. The Fifers did well to contain United in the first quarter of an hour. After that Dunfermline gradually got to grips with United and progressed as the clock ticked on. Television decided that Cardle`s claim for a penalty was not warranted but that will probably only up the desire in the second half.
Half time: Dundee United 0 Dunfermline 0
Dunfermline had the first chance of the second half after Moffat was fouled 22 yards out but Higginbotham`s lay off to Cardle was crashed into the defensive wall. The home side then showed the way to goal Robson`s exchange with van der Velden taking play down the left. Robson was able to cross and Obedeyi`s header took the ball to MURRAY six yards out to head past Hutton. 1-0
The Pars attempt to hit right back from a Higginbotham free kick was blown up by referee John McKendrick for offside as Ashcroft`s header was saved by Bell. Flood thumped a shot narrowly wide and then two corners in 56 minutes were defended and four minutes later Hutton was out sharpish to save at the feet of Murray.
Robson was yellow carded in 63 minutes for cutting down Cardle but Higginbotham`s free kick was defended. After a number of United foray`s the Pars got a shot on target from Talbot but that was blocked. At the other end Ashcroft blotted out a Fraser shot before Moffat won a corner after bursting into the United box on the left. United survived the corner and then from one for them on the right Flood was played in short and he launched a shot on target that Hutton held.
James Thomas was introduced in place of the injured Wedderburn and although Dunfermline were within shooting distance, Higginbotham hit one into the crowd and then Thomas could not get high enough to connect with a Cardle cross.
A United free kick in 83 minutes gave Hutton no chance FRASER clearing the wall and hitting the top corner from 25 yards. 2-0
After that McMullan had a shot on target but it had not enough on it to trouble Bell. Martin overhit a cross from the right touchline and Higginbotham sent a free kick from the same spot but Richards-Everton could not get in a shot when he gathered the ball at the far side.
In added time Thomas injured himself in a tackle meaning Scott Lochhead made his Dunfermline debut in 93rd minute. Cardle had one final chance but he failed get round keeper Bell and the Pars interest in this season`s Betfred Cup was over.
DUNDEE UNITED: Cammy Bell, Lewis Toshney, Mark Durnan, Jamie Robson, Coll Donaldson, Willo Flood (c), Temitope Obadeyi (Blair Spittal 69), Nick van der Velden (Charlie Telfer 85), Stewart Murdoch, Scott Fraser, Simon Murray (Henri Anier 78)
SUBS NOT USED: Justin Johnston, Sean Dillon, Harry Souttar, Luis Zwick (GK),
SCORERS: Murray (48), Fraser (83)
YELLOW CARD: van der Velden (45+1), Robson (63)
DUNFERMLINE: David Hutton: Lewis Martin, Lee Ashcroft, Ben Richards-Everton, Jason Talbot: Rhys McCabe (Paul McMullan 37), Nat Wedderburn (James Thomas 78 (Scott Lochhead 93)), Lewis Spence, Joe Cardle (c): Michael Moffat, Kallum Higginbotham.
SUBS NOT USED: Callum Smith, Michael Paton, Callum Fordyce, Cammy Gill (GK)
YELLOW CARD: Higginbotham (44), Richards-Everton (82)
REFEREE: John McKendrick
WEATHER: Bright 18C
ATTENDANCE 4951
NEXT MATCH: Ladbrokes Championship (home) v Dundee United Saturday 6th August, kick off 3.00pm at East End Park
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Preview Dundee United
Sunday, 31st Jul 2016Betfred Cup: 3.00pm kick off at Tannadice.
Admission prices:- Adults £15, Concessions £5
Dundee United could into Sunday`s final Group C match against the Pars seeking the win that would see them top the group despite not taking full points from two of the three games played so far. The new format being tried in this season`s League Cup sponsored by Betfred has brought about exciting finishes with penalty shoot out winners taking a bonus point in the event of the matches ending all square. On Saturday Inverness Caley are at home to Arbroath and a win give them ten points.
Group winners and four best runners-up progress to the last 16. So as the final fixture of the section stage Dundee United on seven points and Dunfermline on six points will know what is required of them if they wish to qualify for the knock out stages.
United will be a real test to gauge the Pars chances against their fellow Championship rivals who share aspirations of promotion this season. Ray McKinnon has returned to Tannadice after starting his playing career there from the age of 16 to 22.
The lifelong United fan returned for three further years from 1995 to 1998. His managerial career started with local juniors Lochee United and after moving on to Brechin City, he then went to Raith Rovers where his impressive achievement attracted the Tannadice club to appoint him successor to Mixu Paatelainen on 12th May 2016.
The four league matches against McKinnon`s team will be important for Dunfermline and this match will be an important confidence boost for the winners.
This Betfred League Cup tie will be broadcast live by BT Sport. There will be no alteration to the schedule, kick off 3.00pm.
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League Cup record v Dundee Utd . |
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Pld |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
|
13 |
4 |
1 |
8 |
16 |
24 |
In League Cup competition United have come out on top in 8 of the 13 meetings. . The Fifers last League Cup win was at East End Park . back in September 1991. Since then the two League Cup meetings ended in wins for United, 1-0 in October 2008 and 3-1 after extra time last season.
A brave Pars performance counted for nothing as Dundee United’s premiership
class eventually told after the Pars spurned chances to win this League Cup tie
in normal time. . The Pars took the lead in 10 minutes when Joe Cardle poked
the ball to Michael Paton 25 yards out and his shot seemed to go straight
through Luis Zwick`s hands. .
Former Par Callum Morris scored a 34th minute equaliser heading in Fraser`s
corner. Both teams had chances to win it but the ttie went to extra time where
Fraser and Spittal struck to send the Pars out. .
SUBS NOT USED: .Ryan Dow, John Souttar, Aidan Connolly, Marc McCallum (GK).
DUNFERMLINE: .Sean Murdoch. Andy Geggan (c), Lewis Martin, Ben Richards-Everton, Jason Talbot (Rhys McCabe 81). Michael Paton, Shaun Byrne (David Hopkirk ET), Joe Cardle. Ryan Wallace (Michael Moffat 67), Faissal El Bakhtaoui.
SUBS NOT USED: Mickael Antoine-Curier, James Thomas, John Potter, David Hutton (GK).
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Milestones Dundee United (Away) |
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Last Victory |
20 /08/11 |
1-0 |
SPL |
|
Last Defeat |
22/09/15 |
1-3 |
League Cup |
|
Best Victory |
29/01/66 |
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Div 1* |
|
Worst Defeat |
24/08/83 |
1-6 |
League Cup |
|
*Pre league reconstruction |
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Over the last twelve matches between Dunfermline and United, the Pars have won four, lost five with three games ending all square. . United have won the last three.
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Last Twelve Matches v Dundee United |
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| Date |
H/A |
F-A | Scorers |
| 22/09/15 | A | 1-3 | [1-0] Paton, [1-1] Morris, [1-2] Fraser, [1-3] Spittal |
| 31/03/12 | A | 0-3 | [0-1] Daly, [0-2] Robertson, [0-3] Daly. |
| 29/10/11 | H | 1-4 | [0-1] Dixon, [0-2] Dalla Valle, [1-2] Kirk, [1-3] Russell, [1-4] MacKay-Steven |
| 20/08/11 | A | 1-0 | [1-0] Burns |
| 28/10/08 | A | 0-1 | [0-1] Robertson |
| 21/04/07 | H | 1-0 | [1-0] McManus |
| 27/01/07 | A | 0-0 | . |
| 18/11/06 | H | 2-1 | [0-1] Robson, [1-1] Shields, [2-1] Mason |
| 19/08/06 | A | 0-0 | . |
| 02/05/06 | A | 1-0 | [1-0] Daquin |
| 25/02/06 | H | 1-1 | [0-1] Kenneth, [1-1] Burchill |
| 20/12/05 | A | 1-2 | [1-0] Samuel, [1-1] Wilson, [1-2] Robson |
Recent Form
Dundee United comprehensively overpowered Cowdenbeath in the only home match they have played this season. Their other two Betfred section matches ended 1-1 and Ray McKinnon`s side picked up a bonus point from each tie for winning the penalty shoot out. On Saturday Keeper Cammy Bell earned United the bonus point with some crucial saves in the penalty shoot out at the Caledonian Stadium.
Dunfermline won their first two matches 3-0 then faced Richie Foran`s Inverness Caley Thistle as they stepped up the level of opponent. That proved to be a disappointment but at least the Pars played well for large periods of the match but they did lose heavily.
| . . Recent Form . | ||||||
| . Dundee United | .
. .. |
. Dunfermline | ||||
| . Inverness Caley (A) | D | 1-1 | . . Inverness Caley (H) | L | 1-5 | |
| . Cowdenbeath . (H) | W | 6-1 | . . Cowdenbeath (A) | .W |
.3-0 |
|
| . Arbroath (A) | D | 1-1 | . . Arbroath (H) | W | 3-0 | |
| . . | . | |||||
| . | . . | |||||
| . . | . . | |||||
Last Time Out
DUNFERMLINE (v Inverness Caley Thistle): David Hutton: Ryan Williamson, Lee Ashcroft, Ben Richards-Everton, Jason Talbot: Rhys McCabe, Lewis Spence, Andy Geggan (c), Joe Cardle (James Thomas 89): Michael Moffat (Callum Smith 78), Kallum Higginbotham (Paul McMullan 73).
SUBS NOT USED: Lewis Martin, Michael Paton, Cammy Gill (GK)
DUNDEE UNITED (v Inverness Caley Thistle): Cammy Bell, Lewis Toshney, Mark Durnan, Paul Dixon (Sean Dillon 45), Coll Donaldson, Willo Flood, Blair Spittal (Temitope Obadeyi 67), Nick van der Velden (Henri Anier 79), Stewart Murdoch, Cammy Smith, Simon Murray
SUBS NOT USED: Charles Telfer, Scott Fraser, Luis Zwick, Harry Souttar,
Referee will be john McKendrick.
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