Fyvie on Tangerines put out a statement with superb victory at in-form Pars

PLAYERRATINGS

DUNDEE United sent out a message to the rest of the Championship as they knocked Dunfermline off top spot with a superb attacking display.

Going into the contest, the Pars had been sweeping past almost all before them, smashing in 21 goals in seven matches.

At East End Park, too, this season they had a 100% record with a goal difference of +21 from their six home fixtures.

That should have meant the Tangerines went into the match with some trepidation but any worries from the visitors certainly weren’t on show.

Even going into the game there had been a sickness bug that spread through the squad.

Stewart Murdoch was ill before the game and had to miss out, while fellow-defenders Jamie Robson and Mark Durnan both played despite being under the weather.

The biggest compliment you can give to those two is that you just couldn’t have guessed that judging by their performances.

Robson, in particular, had one of his best games yet in a United shirt.

Much of Dunfermline’s success this season has come down their right flank with the pair of Kallum Higginbotham and Ryan Williamson at full-back causing havoc.

Neither had much impact on the game thanks to the defensive strength shown by United’s young left-back.

His quality on the ball sometimes lets him down but it was his fine run that got the Tangerines up and running.

From the start of the match, the visitors took control of the game, albeit without creating much.

By the time the first goal came after 35 minutes they had allowed the Pars back into the game.

After the goal, though, it was all about United.

Robson gave them the extra man on the left and, after being fed by Paul McMullan, smashed in a cross which was pushed out by the keeper.

The ball dropped kindly into the path of Fraser Fyvie, who found the back of the net from the edge of the area.

Fyvie had given his best performance in tangerine the week previous against Morton but this show was a level above that.

The former Hibs man was superb and, after his goal, grew into the game.

Just before the break, Scott McDonald grabbed his second in two weeks to put his side in firm control.

Once again it was a close-range finish from the Australian but it was invaluable for the Tangerines.

They might have gone in at the break 3-0 up had Billy King’s sliced volley been a little lower.

The game had been fairly even up until the opening goal but United’s clinical finishing was the difference.

And when you talk finishing, Fyvie’s second was a thing of beauty. After a James Keatings free-kick was cleared, the Tangerines kept up the pressure before the ball fell to Fyvie 25 yards out.

One touch and then bang — the ball arrowed into the top corner and United were cruising.

United did concede late on but, overall, they managed the game well and, in the process, put out a statement to the rest of the division that they really mean business this season.