The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
United ease past Pars to reach last 16
Tangerines among best runners-up after goals from Murray and Fraser
Dundee United made it into the last 16 of the Betfred Cup with plenty to spare as they beat Dunfermline 2-0 at Tannadice.
The Tangerines only needed a draw to finish as one of the best runners-up behind Inverness Caley Thistle in Group C, with whom they finished level on 10 points. However, they went one better and got a decent win that sets them up nicely for Saturday’s Championship opener at home to Queen of the South.
Simon Murray’s header – his fourth goal of the season – came just four minutes into the second half, then Scott Fraser made it two with a sublime freekick on 83 minutes.
United made three changes to the side that started up at Inverness eight days earlier.
Jamie Robson replaced the injured Paul Dixon at left-back, while Fraser and Tope Obadeyi came in for Cammy Smith, who had a severe migraine, and Blair Spittal, who dropped to the bench.
The Pars were looking to recover from the 5-1 home defeat to ICT on Tuesday and were without Ryan Williamson and Andy Geggan, with Lewis Martin and Nate Wedderburn coming in.
On five minutes, the home side came close to opening the scoring. A nice piece of skill from Obadeyi on the left saw him play in Fraser, whose cutback was just nicked off the boot of Murray by Dunfermline keeper David Hutton.
Murray missed a golden chance two minutes later when he was sent clean through on goal by a stray Rhys McCabe back-pass but could only prod the ball at Hutton.
That should have been 1-0 to the Tangerines but the Pars then went on to have a good spell of possession, with their best attempt a header from Ben Richards-Everton that went well over.
On 14 minutes, play moved up to the other end again and Fraser had a volley from inside the box blocked, then the same player went on a mazy run before shooting over the bar.
Murray seemed to have the ball glued to his feet inside the box on 20 minutes but just couldn’t create space for a shot, while a cutback from captain Willo Flood whizzed across the face of goal.
United came their closest yet to a goal on 28 minutes when Nick van der Velden, standing just outside the box, took a touch before firing in a fine strike that flew just inches wide.
Dunfermline were on the attack just two minutes later. A corner by Kallum Higginbotham was met by Richards-Everton but his header was saved by goalie Cammy Bell.
The visitors lost McCabe to injury on 37 minutes and he was replaced by Paul McMullan, then they had a strong penalty claim turned down when Joe Cardle went down in the box after being challenged by Lewis Toshney.
Van der Velden tried his luck again from distance for United and Hutton could only hang on to the ball at the second attempt. The first half finished
DUNDEE UNITED 2 DUNFERMLINE 0
with Wedderburn nodding over for the Pars.
Just four minutes into the second half, United edged ahead thanks to a goal from Murray.
Good work from Robson saw the youngster swing the ball over from the left and it was flicked on by Obadeyi to the former Arbroath man, who headed past Hutton from six yards.
Bell did well to keep out a header from the Pars’ Lee Ashcroft but the offside flag was up anyway then, on 55 minutes, Flood sent a drive from outside the box a foot or so wide.
On 62 minutes, Obadeyi raced upfield and was unlucky to see his shot go by the far post by a few inches then Flood sent another shot over after a sweeping move started by Fraser.
Obadeyi was replaced by Spittal and Murray by Henri Anier as United continued to dominate, with Flood stinging the palms of Hutton with another shot on 77 minutes.
Dunfermline needed to win so had to go for it and they brought on James Thomas for Wedderburn with 11 minutes remaining.
Van der Velden fired wide again before United were home and dry on 83 minutes.
It was a great free-kick from Fraser, who casually clipped a left-foot shot beyond keeper Hutton from 20 yards after sub Anier had been fouled by Richards-Everton.
Attendance: 4,951.
Dundee United: Bell, Toshney, Robson, Donaldson, Durnan, Flood, Murdoch, Fraser, Van der Velden (85), Obadeyi (Spittal 68), Murray (Anier 78). Subs not used: Zwick, Souttar, Dillon, Johnson.
Dunfermline: Hutton, Talbot, Martin, Ashcroft, Richards-Everton, Spence, McCabe (McMullan 37), Wedderburn (Thomas 79, rep by Lochhead 90), Moffat, Higginbotham, Cardle. Subs not used: Gill, Smith, Paton, Fordyce.
Referee: John McKendrick.