Utd show Tangerines lift trophy after challenging final against the Buddies

PLAYERRATINGS

DUNDEE United showed character in beating St Mirren to lift the Challenge Cup at Fir Park.

The question now is can they use the lift kissing silver again should give them to get their promotion challenge back on track?

As nice as it always is to win a trophy, in terms of achievement the cup United brought back to Tannadice after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over St Mirren will never sit alongside their two Scottish and League cups from bygone days.

The post-match celebrations were restricted to a lap of honour on the pitch and yesterday it was back to training for the squad as they prepare for an important Championship clash with Ayr United tomorrow.

But after a sticky period in the league, Ray McKinnon’s men can go into that one with confidence boosted by a decent performance.

And perhaps most encouraging was the fact not everything went their way in the final.

They took the lead via a stunning Tony Andreu strike eight minutes before half-time.

Within 60 seconds, though, they conceded a sloppy equaliser to Rory Loy and, by the break, there was no question the Buddies had been the better team in an entertaining game.

As well as the two goals, the first 45 minutes had seen the Paisley outfit go close when Lewis Morgan burst clear before shooting narrowly wide.

And minutes before Andreu’s longrange volley, Kyle Magennis was only denied by a very good Cammy Bell save.

Right on the stroke of the interval, Gary MacKenzie sent a header from a Stevie Mallan corner inches past, so there was no question the Tangerines were a touch fortunate to be level heading into the second period.

Given United’s recent form and St Mirren’s first-half superiority, it had to be suspected the Paisley men would go on and win, but United rallied and in the end were deserving of their piece of silverware.

Not just because they scored when sub Thomas Mikkelsen bulleted home a header from an inch-perfect Simon Murray cross but because via a few tactical adjustments by the manager, they gave the Saints defence much more to think about during the second 45 minutes.

Murray was moved out wide and gave former Dundee full-back Gary Irvine problems, while goal hero Mikkelsen came on and was a test for the opposition central defence.

And as a unit, United moved up a gear meaning they gave a livelier performance all over the park.

Perhaps most encouraging was the way they played out time after Mikkelsen struck with 15 minutes of the 90 to go.

As is to be expected in any final, St Mirren threw the kitchen sink at them in the closing stages but the defending was resolute and on the break, United looked dangerous.

Indeed, by the end, the winning margin could have been bigger.

Young Ali Coote almost made it a dream first start for the club when he saw a low shot blocked by Billy O’Brien and substitute Alex Nicholl also went close when he fired over from the edge of the area.

That, plus the victory, provided some long overdue encouragement.

Now it’s a matter of turning that into results in the closing month or so of the league season.