Birthday boy Smith relishes fixture pile-up

Matty Smith is one Dundee United player who is looking on the bright side when it comes to their fixture pile-up.

Smith, who gets the key to the door by turning 21 today, hopes to celebrate his landmark birthday by helping the Tangerines beat Queen of the South at Palmerston tonight.

If, as is hoped and expected, the match gets the go-ahead it will be the start of a sequence of 13 fixtures between now and the end of the regular season on April 28.

It is a programme that will stretch the Tangerines squad to the limit.

However, Smith looks at the number of outstanding clashes as providing plenty of chances for him to add to his appearance total, which currently stands at 13.

It will also, hopefully, give him an opportunity to get on the scoresheet again, after grabbing his first league goal for the Tannadice men in their 2-1 loss to Livingston in what was their last outing on February 23.

“It is a chance for me and the rest of the lads to get games,” he said.

“So it isn’t a problem for me. Obviously, after scoring my first league goal at Livingston I was looking to kick on but we haven’t played since that night.

“It has been frustrating.

“I haven’t played too many matches yet so I’m looking forward to getting some more game time. We are trying to get our heads down and take it game by game.

“You can’t worry about what lies ahead when you have a match right in front of you.

“If, as we expect, we make it into the play-offs then we will have even more fixtures so it will be tough. Personally speaking, though, I am not worried about.”

A young Dundee United side found the going tough against an experienced Aberdeen as they crashed 2-0 at Station Park, Forfar, yesterday afternoon.

But for the heroics of keeper Josh Donaldson the Dons’ winning margin would have been greater.

The Tangerines stopper was beaten when Sam Roscoe headed home to give the Dons the lead.

Donaldson twice denied Ethan Ross and Joe MacPherson before Dons keeper David Craddock tipped Robert Ward’s strike over the bar.

Aberdeen doubled their lead on 57 minutes when Seb Ross raced through and crossed for younger brother Ethan to fire home.

Ward curled an effort narrowly wide while sub Declan Glass tested Craddock and in the closing stages Donaldson palmed away Toby Wells’ free-kick.