Vital win Tangerines back up among play-off places after Sons success

PLAYERRATINGS

THEY squandered too many chances at one end, gave up a few more than they should have at the other.

All that really mattered for Dundee United last night, though, was they won — at last.

The 2-0 success over Dumbarton was the Tangerines’ first at Tannadice in three months, since they beat Brechin in their first outing of the New Year in fact.

Given they’ll need a few more on their own patch if t hey are to successfully negotiate the end-ofseason play-offs, that made this an important victory.

Talking of play-offs, there’s still work to be done to secure a place in them and these three points moved Csaba Laszlo’s men back up into the qualifying positions in the Championship. That was another reason why this was significant.

The win also means Dumbarton will, barring a miracle, be involved in the post-season games at the other end of the table. Their battle for survival might just be a distraction when the teams meet again on Saturday.

Given their recent troubles down on the Clyde, United will not be taking that for granted.

They will also make the journey with confidence boosted by this result and knowing, if they can polish up on those couple of aspects of their play, another three important points can be theirs.

That will be the case if a better finishing touch is put to their attacking play. Had that been achieved last night, this would have been a handsome victory.

Scott Gallacher in the visitors goal had an inspired night and one save to prevent a howitzer from Scott McDonald bursting the net was top drawer.

Even so, with several of the saves the goalie should have been given no chance. There were other occasions when shots that should have ended up in the net were blasted high or wide.

Given the importance of winning what was widely regarded a home banker, those misses can probably be put down to the attackers feeling the pressure of the situation.

Hopefully, they’ll be more relaxed in front of goal come Saturday and beyond and, so long as the chances continue to come, there can be optimism the conversion rate will improve.

Of the two that were taken, the lively Paul McMullan’s opener was both well worked and executed.

If later in the game McMullan would become one of the sinners in front of goal, there was nothing wrong with his shot from McDonald’s excellent pass.

And following on from a good display in Saturday’s draw at Morton, McMullan’s general play was bright.

The clinching goal, Bilel Mohsni’s second in two games, was more scrappy and the big defender needed a couple of stabs at the ball before finally prodding it home. Coming as it did right on the stroke of half-time, it did seem to knock the stuffing out of the Sons.

Where United will want to improve as a matter of urgency is with the number of times their defence came close to being breached. There was a slackness about their work near their own goal that, against better opposition, would have proved more costly.

Ultimately, though, this was a deserved victory and after another dark period in this worrying season that had to be reason for cheer.