Slick United march on to face Bairns

SUDDENLY, for Dundee United, finishing third in the Championship doesn’t seem that bad. Not bad at all, in fact.

From being worried what the two extra games play-offs games ending up there would mean in terms of wear and tear, it now seems entering the post-season programme at the quarter-final stage has proved ideal for building momentum.

For after beating a useful Morton side 5-1 over two legs last week, the Tangerines now look the team to beat in the race to claim the final Premiership place for next season.

Having chalked up a fine 2-1 first-leg win at Cappielow last Tuesday, Ray McKinnon’s men rounded off victory in some style, winning 3-0 at Tannadice on Friday night.

There were a few nervy moments in a frantic first half that saw both teams realise the i mportance of the second-leg’s first goal and go all out to get it.

Had it gone to Morton the aggregate scores would have been level and they would have been right back in the tie.

Seven minutes into the second half, though, it went to United thanks to Simon Murray’s 16th goal of the campaign.

From the second his fierce shot bulged the back of the net it was clear for the visitors to come back was going to be too big an ask.

It allowed United to relax just a touch and it was no great surprise that by the end of the 90 minutes they had added to their lead via a spectacular 30-yarder from recent signing Wato Kuate and a late effort from Blair Spittal as he joined Murray in scoring in both legs.

As the visitors flagged, it could even have been more but t he significance of a 3-0 win should not be lost on United fans.

In the six previous clashes of the pair over the course of this season, never had there been more than a goal between the teams.

That Friday saw the home side hit three without reply was confirmation that while at the end of a long hard campaign others are flagging, the Wato Kuate celebrates his stunning strike with the fans at Tannadice.