Sunday Mail (UK)

Signings will Mac Ray’s day

- Euan McArthur

Ray McKinnon was thrilled with his side after thrashing Brechin in the Forfarshir­e Cup – but admits he still wants to bring in fresh faces.

United put on a five-star show as their preparatio­n for the new campaign continued thanks to goals from Justin Johnson, Scott Fraser, Blair Spittal and a Simon Murray double.

And Arabs boss McKinnon was a happy man but believes his side could have scored more.

He said: “I am happy with that performanc­e and happy with the applicatio­n of my players.

“We scored five and it could have been more but credit to Brechin in the second half as they tried to close up shop.

“The players are listening and that will stand them in good stead. We played a lot of good football and we must try to keep our tempo up.

“I am still looking at players and if we can get a few more bodies in we will.”

United made a quick start and took the lead after only seven minutes after Fraser played in full-back Johnson who found the bottom corner.

Chance after chance fell to McKinnon’s men but they were denied by an inspired Graeme Smith in the Brechin goal.

However, the inevitable second goal finally came in 33 minutes when Fraser curled in the goal of the game with a beautiful strike from 25 yards.

Five minutes before half-time it was 3- 0 as Telfer went on a solo run but was denied by a Smith save before Spittal followed in.

In 43 minutes, Murray took advantage of a defensive mistake and slotted home number four.

The Championsh­ip side scored their fifth in 79 minutes.

Spittal sent in a superb cross and Murray controlled the ball and fired high into the net from 20 yards.

Brechin boss Darren Dods said: “We changed our system to four at the back because of injuries and we were wide open.

“We were more competitiv­e in the second half but they set a high tempo from the start and we took a while to adjust.”

 ??  ?? MURRAY bagged a brace
MURRAY bagged a brace

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