Chances Tangerines lose ground on Hibs after being held to draw by Dunfermline

PLAYERRATINGS

THEY may have continued their poor recent form but Dundee United will be back to winning ways before long on the back of Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Dunfermline.

The Pars are now 11 games unbeaten in all competitions and it was never going to be an easy game for the Tangerines at East End Park.

However, United were the dominant team and should have been heading back home from Fife with their first three points since Christmas Eve.

It really was as entertaining a game as you’ll get in the Championship with chances at both ends but Ray McKinnon will be wondering how his side weren’t able to score a winner.

Thomas Mikkelsen, new kid on the block at Tannadice, got his second start for the club and put himself about well but left his shooting boots at home.

The Dane gave both the Dunfermline centre-backs — one a former Tangerine in Callum Morris — a torrid afternoon, battling for every ball and proving a strong runner in possession.

That got him his first sight of goal late in the first half. Played in down the channel, he cut inside his man but his shot was weak and straight at the keeper from the angle.

Then came the big moment — the ball bounced off a Dunfermline body and put Mikkelsen through on goal but once again he hit goalie Sean Murdoch with his effort.

The big man had another clear sight of goal in the second period after Scott Fraser’s excellent build-up play but couldn’t sort his feet out and the chance was gone.

He was replaced by Simon Murray after 67 minutes and Arabs will be hoping this is a performance to build on.

One man who doesn’t need help in finding the net is United top scorer Tony Andreu.

The French playmaker showed his ability with a fine opening goal as the on-loan man fired in a sweet low volley from 25 yards.

It was a quality finish and he’s shown plenty of that in his time at Tannadice.

Sadly for the Tangerines, his effort in the second half wasn’t the standard everyone’s got used to.

He found himself through on goal at an angle midway through the half with only Murdoch to beat.

His first effort was well-saved but landed back at Andreu’s feet and it seemed like there was only going to be one result.

With the goal gaping, though, the Frenchman’s usual supreme composure let him down and he blasted over the bar.

With the game coming to a close, United were hammering at the door but the home side were holding firm, in particular Man-of-the-Match goalkeeper Murdoch.

His best save of the day saw him claw a goal-bound Blair Spittal free-kick out of the top corner with just minutes to go.

At the other end of the pitch, though, United were nervy in defence.

Particularly from set-pieces and they were caught sleeping by a bit of imagination from Kallum Higginbotham for the equaliser. Instead of just lumping it in, he played a short one-two before crossing and finding John Herron’s head.

United can defend much better but, after conceding six the week before, this was an improvement.

Yes, the Tangerines are still in their worst run of the season and the gap to Hibs is now eight points but this was as good as you can play without winning.

Shooting boots needed next week, though.