It’s Gayfield of dreams for us
Neilson: Titles won at this kind of venue
first goal for the club after a team move 16 minutes in then rattled into the roof of the net before the break.
Robbie Buchanan struck in second-half stoppage time before reds for Dougie Hill and Kris Renton made it 10 v 10. Cowden boss Gary Bollan said: “Basic errors cost us the match.”
Cove Rangers.....2 Stenhousemuir.....1
and it was a terrific finish.
“We’ve had a lot of injuries so I’m delighted to get the three points.”
Stenny’s David Hopkirk was sent off after a second booking with 10 minutes left and his assistant boss Kevin McGoldrick said: “It’s a big disappointment to lose a late goal.” Sam Stanton fired Dundee United 13 points clear at the top as boss Robbie Neilson claimed Gayfield is the kind of venue where titles are won.
Stanton’s def lected effort after just six minutes was enough to secure a victory that would have been more comfortable had Nicky Clark not missed from the spot.
It’s eight successive wins now for the Tannadice side and Neilson is convinced they are grinding out the victories they need for a top-flight return.
The United gaf fer said: “These are the sort of games and venues you win titles at.
“It ’s not the matches against Dundee, Inverness or Ayr. It’s coming to somewhere like Arbroath on a windy day and grinding out the result.
“We must keep momentum going. I’ve said to the lads that they should forget about nights out over Christmas and stay focused. “It doesn’t matter if we are 10 points behind or 10 ahead, at a club like ours you simply have to win every week.” Arbroath have been one of Scottish football ’s surprise packages this term, hovering around the play- of f zone instead of languishing at the bottom as many predicted. They had lost just once at home before this game and look more and more likely to stay up. But this was always going
Arbroath.............. 0 Dundee Utd ......... 1
Ewan Smith
to be a massive test for Dick Campbell’s men.
United got off to the perfect start as Stanton’s low drive deflected off Colin Hamilton’s head to deceive keeper Derek Gaston for the opener.
At that point you’d have expected United to race into a bigger lead.
But instead it was Arbroath who drove forward and put Neilson’s side under pressure.
They were unfortunate not to draw level in 11 minutes as Bobby Linn’s free- kick was turned over by United keeper Benjamin Siegrist.
Stanton was then the hero for Neilson’s side again as he threw his body in the way of a net-bound Scott Stewart drive.
Arbroath passed up a big chance to level as Linn’s low free- kick squirmed out of Siegrist’s hands and landed perfectly for Hamilton.
He only needed to connect with the rebound but he took a fresh-air swipe.
Ricky Little and Linn also came close before Gaston did well to smother a Louis Appere effort at the other end.
United had a golden chance to make it 2- 0 after the break when Gaston hauled down Clark for a penalty.
The striker stepped up to take the spot-kick but saw his effort saved.
Gaston then had an escape as Paul McMullan’s cross cannoned off him and onto the post. It was opposite number Siegrist who had the final say, tipping over Hamilton’s header to seal the victory.