The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Dumfries victory ‘massive’ – Neilson
Tangerines boss underlines importance of win at Palmerston Park
Dundee United manager Robbie Neilson hailed his side’s “massive win” after they returned from Dumfries with a 1-0 victory.
The Tangerines moved to within three points of Championship leaders Ross County, who have a game in hand, and just one behind second-placed Ayr United.
Nicky Clark’s first-half penalty gave United the edge over Queen of the South at Palmerston – their third league win over the Doonhamers this season.
Barry Maguire brought down Peter Pawlett and Clark hit his eighth goal of the season after the Queens player was sent off for the challenge.
Tannadice boss Neilson said: “That was a massive win for us given the fact that only ourselves and Morton have won here in the league this season.
“Ayr and Ross County have both been beaten heavily here, so I’m delighted for the players and the fans that we got the win. It is going to be extremely tight at the top over the next few weeks and wins like this are big.”
Queen of the South assistant manager Dougie Anderson said: “It was a traditional game of two halves and, despite being down to 10 men, we were more attack-minded in the second half.
“We need to address our run of form in terms of results, we need to get points on the board and, with a run of three games coming up, we need to start picking up points.
“They are all big tests in the Championship, and the difference between a relegation battle and the top four is probably as close as it has ever been.”
Ayr lost ground in the title race after being held to a goal-less draw at Morton.
QUEEN OF THE SOUTH 0 DUNDEE UNITED 1
Dundee United striker Nicky Clark is enjoying being seen as a “new player” by manager Robbie Neilson.
Clark scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot against 10-man Queen of the South, having recovered from an injury which saw him miss most of the first part of the season.
He repaid Neilson’s faith in him by bagging the winner against his former team at Palmerston on Saturday to chalk up a hat-trick of victories for the Tangerines this month.
Clark said: “We made hard work of it in the second half and at times it looked as if we had 10 men and they had 11.
“However, we got the three points and that was the most important thing.
“It was a massive win and a big three points for us. It closes the gap on Ross County and also with Ayr, who drew their game.
“Only two teams have won at Palmerston all season in the league – us and Morton. We’ve now won twice at Palmerston and it’s a hard place to come. I had a good time at Queens in the past and scored a few goals.
“I was delighted to score the penalty.” The defining moment came on 40 minutes when the home defenders Iain Wilson and Barry Maguire, on loan from Kilmarnock and Motherwell respectively, got themselves into trouble. That allowed United’s Peter Pawlett to run through on goal.
Maguire then rugby-tackled the former Aberdeen midfielder to the ground and saw red from referee Andrew Dallas.
Clark stepped up and rammed home the penalty.
He said: “Queens changed their shape in the second half and had a go at us but we held out.”
United managed to snuff out the goal threat of the Doonhamers’ Stephen Dobbie, who had chances kept to a minimum and was unable to add to his incredible 38-goal tally this season.
Clark added: “Dobbie is a great player but Morgaro Gomis stuck to him the whole game and the two centre-halves took care of him when he went further up the park.
“We knew he was the danger man and we stopped him well.”
The Tannadice side are fully focused on not just ensuring a play-off but have their sights set on the title and a return to the Premiership and, with manager Robbie Neilson having added well to the squad during the January window, they are now reaping the rewards.
Clark said: “There were a lot of changes and sometimes it takes time for teams to gel but we’ve worked hard in training every day and got our heads down with shaping and are starting to see the benefits of it now.
“You need competition for places at big clubs and you can certainly see that by the players the manager has brought in.
“We have a big squad and it’s needed with the number of games coming up – a lot of big games.
“We need everybody to be match fit and ready to go.”
Meanwhile, Tangerines boss Neilson said: “Nicky (Clark) has been like a new player for us.
“He missed the majority of the start of the season with an Achilles injury and is still getting his fitness levels up but he is a player who brings real quality.”
It was Queen of the South’s first home defeat since October and dented their play-off hopes.
They rarely threatened and came closest on 71 minutes when Kyle Jacobs was denied an equaliser when his shot crashed back off the crossbar.
Jacobs said: “I thought it was going to hit the bar and go in. We need to start chipping in with goals from elsewhere rather than relying on Dobbie all the time.
“The boys gave everything but it just wasn’t to be. It’s a pretty tight league and fourth place is still where we are looking to be.”