Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Utdwinto
Tangerines bounce back to see off Wasps for sixth win on spin in race for the title
AT a glance the scoreline suggests Championship leaders Dundee United edged their way to victory over bottom side Alloa. Howeve r, a c lose -r u n thing it was anything but.
United dominated proceedings from start to finish at Tannadice on Saturday and should have won more comfortably than 2-1.
Yet win they did, for a sixth time in a row and a perfect eight from eight at home, to continue to lead the race for the title and promotion to the Premiership.
It was a different kind of match to their last competitive action three weeks ago – an exhilarating 3-0 victory against Queen of South – but the Tangerines showed yet more qualities needed if they are to wrap up the title in good style.
And the table suggests that is exactly what they are on course to do now. Robbie Neilson’s men sit seven points clear of closest challengers Inverness with a game in hand, and no other side are in a position anywhere close to catching them.
The truth of the matter is most don’t have the quality and depth in their ranks, nor resources, to match the Terrors. Those that do, namely city rivals Dundee, have continued to shoot themselves in the foot (see over) and can now only watch on as United streak clear.
And, despite their break from action, United came out of the traps flying at the weekend.
In the opening 10 minutes, they had the Wasps pinned back in their own box as they pressed for an early opener.
After terrific work down the right from full-back Liam Smith, Nicky Clark could only fire wide after just three minutes.
Paul McMullan saw an effort charged down and land in the arms of the excellent Jamie
MacDonald i n the away goal moments later.
Then the hosts began to test the on-loan Kilmarnock keeper more vigorously with Calum Butcher and Mark Reynolds both stinging his palms.
However, it was Alloa who took the lead against the run of play on 12 minutes as Reynolds this time angled a header into his own net after a good delivery from right-back Scott Taggart into the area. It was the first goal United and goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist had conceded in 475 minutes of action.
That seemed to rock the Terrors a little but they soon started their comeback in earnest.
In the lead up to the break they kept knocking on the door through Sam Stanton and a Liam Smith thunderbolt.
However, they had to wait until deep into stoppage time to level as Clark picked up on a perfectlyweighted Jamie Robson pass to slam a side-footed effort home.
After the restart Alloa threatened through John Robertson but Louis Appere won the game on 55 minutes as he slid onto the end of a Ian Harkes ball across the six-yard box to poke home his third goal of the season.
Appere, Robson, Clark and Smith could’ve made it more comfortable but United now roll on to Morton tomorrow night.