Preview Dundee United

Ladbrokes Championship: (away) v Dundee United, Saturday 12th January 2019, 3.00pm kick off at Tannadice

In May Dundee United’s 2-1 win caused Dunfermline Athletic’s exit from Premiership Play offs but the Fifers started this league season with a magnificent 3-2 victory at Tannadice, and on day one of the league the Pars looked serious title contenders. A lot of water has flowed under the bridge for both teams since then and United have changed their manager and their owner since.

The so-called momentum from the change of manager has only partly happened and indeed United have just one win in their last six games. The big question is how much funding is new owner/ chairman Mark Ogren prepared to put into the club and how much of that will change the United squad during the January transfer window.

Over the last two seasons these sides have met twelve times. Two seasons back it was in Betfred and Irn Bru Cups and in four league matches - resulting in five United wins and one draw. Last season it was four league matches and two play off games - United won four and two were drawn. This season after two meetings the honours are even after away wins in both fixtures. The Pars win in Dundee in August was their first over United there since August 2011

In the 139 league meetings Dunfermline have 49 wins and United 52 with 38 match drawn.

Milestones Dundee United (away)
Last League Victory:
04/08/18: 3-2: Championship
Last Defeat:
04/05/18: 1-2: Premiership Play off
Best League Victories:
29/01/66: 4-0: Div 1*
22/08/62: 4-0: Div 1*
28/02/48: 4-0: Div B*
Worst League Defeat
29/04/61: 0-5: Div 1*
*Pre league reconstruction

The last dozen league games between the two sides have seen United win seven, Pars one with four games ending up all square.

Last Twelve Matches v Dundee United

Date | H/A | F-A | WDL | Competition
27/10/18 | H | 0-2 | L | Championship
04/08/18 | A | 3-2 | W | Championship
05/05/18 | A | 1-2 | L | Premiership Play off
01/05/18 | H | 0-0 | D | Premiership Play off
24/03/18 | A | 1-1 | D | Championship
13/01/18 | H | 0-0 | D | Championship
02/12/17 | A | 1-2 | L | Championship
30/09/17 | H | 1-3 | L | Championship
11/04/17 | A | 0-1 | L | Championship
28/01/17 | H | 1-1 | D | Championship
12/11/16 | H | 0-1 | L | Irn Bru Cup
08/11/16 | A | 0-1 | L | Championship

Last time at Tannadice
Saturday 4th August 2018, Ladbrokes Championship
Dundee United 2 Dunfermline 3

After a fantastic second half comeback Dunfermline Athletic registered their first win over Dundee United in all competitions at this their sixteenth attempt.

United were to go ahead after a scramble in front of the Pars goal. The ball was headed around and broke towards the Pars several players got a touch and the unfortunate James Craigen could not stop the ball crossing the line. Nicky CLARK peeled away to the left celebrating poking home the 44th minute goal. 1-0

Fourteen minutes into the second half Dunfermline got a well deserved equaliser. Faissal El Bakhtaoui controlled the ball on the right side of the box and he fed the ball back for THOMSON on the edge of the box and possibly with the aid of a deflection, his low drive beat the keeper low to his left. 1-1

A second Dunfermline goal came midway through the half and it was a second goal in Dundee for Jackson LONGRIDGE. The full back’s diving header was the finish required after Craigen’s thrown in reached Thomson and his snapshot was stopped but sat up nicely for the goalscorer. 1-2

Six minutes from time a Craigen throw in on the left was accepted by Louis LONGRIDGE. He beat a couple of men as he travelled left and from the edge of the box sent a good left footed finish into the bottom right. 1-3

There was to be late drama after AIRD netted from a 89th minute free kick 28 yards out. 2-3

The Pars saw the game out however to register their first win at Tannadice since 2011, celebrated famously by the 1347 very happy travelling support.

DUNDEE UNITED: Matej Rakovan: Frederic Frans, Jamie Robson (Paul McMullan 84), Sam Wardrop, William Edjenguele, Adam Barton, Sam Stanton (c), Christoph Rabitsch (Fraser Aird HT), Yannick Loemba, Craig Curran (Matthew Smith 72), Nicky Clark
SUBS NOT USED: Declan Glass, Paul Watson, Benjamin Siegrist (GK)
SCORERS: Clark (44), Aird (89)

DUNFERMLINE: Lee Robinson: Lee Ashcroft (c), Mark Durnan, Danny Devine (Andy Ryan 90): James Craigen, Joe Thomson, James Vincent, Louis Longridge, Jackson Longridge: Faissal El Bakhtaoui, Myles Hippolyte.
SUBS NOT USED: Aidan Connolly, Matthew Todd, Paul Allan, Callum Smith, Brandon Luke, Cammy Gill (GK)
SCORERS: Thomson (59), J Longridge (67), L Longridge (84)

Form Last Six Matches

DUNFERMLINE
Alloa Athletic (H) D 2-2
Falkirk (A) W 4-2
Ayr United (H) D 0-0
Queen of the South (A) D 0-0
Partick Thistle (A) L 0-2
Morton (H) W 3-0

DUNDEE UNITED
Partick Thistle (H) D 1-1
Alloa Athletic (A) 1-2
Falkirk (H) W 2-1
Inverness Caley Thistle (A) D 1-1
Morton (A) D 2-2
Ayr United (H) L 0-5

League Form
In their last six league matches the Pars have drawn three, won two and lost one. This season away wins in the league have only come at Falkirk, Alloa and Tannadice.

Dundee United have taken six points from the last possible eighteen. Three draws against Morton, Inverness and Partick and one win over Falkirk. They were beaten by Alloa two weeks ago and are possibly still suffering flashbacks to their heaviest home league defeat in over 17 years when Ayr United humiliated them in the televised Friday night match on St Andrews Night.

DUNFERMLINE
League Position: 7th
League Points: 24
Goal Difference: -5
Away League Record: P10 W4 D3 L3 GF15 GA15
Last Six League Match Form: WLDDWD

DUNDEE UNITED
League Position: 3rd
League Points: 33
Goal Difference: +1
Home League Record: P10 W4 D3 L3 GF17 GA20
Last Six League Match Form: LDDWLD

Last time out

DUNFERMLINE (v Alloa Athletic): Lee Robinson: James Craigen (Ryan Williamson 57), Lee Ashcroft (c), Danny Devine, Jackson Longridge: Tom Beadling, Joe Thomson, James Vincent: Myles Hippolyte, Aidan Keena, Kallum Higginbotham.
SUBS NOT USED: Faissal El Bakhtaoui, Callum Smith, Robbie Muirhead, Lewis McCann, Mark Durnan, Cammy Gill (GK)
SCORERS: Keena (18), Flannigan (28 og).

DUNDEE UNITED (v Partick Thistle): Benjamin Siegrist: Callum Booth, Frederic Frans, Rachid Bouhenna, Stewart Murdoch, Paul McMullan, Fraser Fyvie, Sam Stanton, Fraser Aird (Aidan Nesbitt 45), Pavol Safranko, Matt Smith (Billy King 78),
SUBS NOT USED: Jamie Robson, Paul Watson, Christoph Rabitsch, Craig Curran, Matej Rakovan (GK).

Referee will be Alan Muir.

Match Information

The away support will be housed in the West Stand (“Shed”) and lower tier prices £20 for adults and £10 concessions (65+, Under 18s and FTS with valid matric) apply.

Other Ladbrokes Championship Fixtures
Alloa Athletic v Morton
Inverness Caley Thistle v Ayr United
Partick Thistle v Falkirk
Queen of the South v Ross County

Related Stories

• Dunfermline 2 Alloa Athletic 2
• Falkirk 2 Dunfermline 4
• Dunfermline 0 Ayr United 0
• 04/08/18: Dundee United 2 Dunfermline 3