CHALLENGE CUP: Tannadice men through to final

RAY McKinnon praised his players for earning a place in the final of the Irn-Bru Cup but stressed Dundee United have more important goals.

“While it’s good to get a chance of silverware, the league remains our main priority and there’s a long way to go in that,” the Tanandice manager said. “We put in a good display, particularly in the first half, and although Queens put in a fighting finish I thought we deserved the win.”

Queens were forced to leave out three recent signings who have helped turn around their league fortunes, with all three cup-tied.

United were the bookmakers’ favourites to reach the final, having won 4-1 at Palmerston earlier in the season.

With the teams having produced 13 goals between them in three league matches, the fans were hopeful of a goal glut, and United opened the scoring after only three minutes. A mix-up in the home defence allowed Charlie Telfer to fire in from close range, giving goalkeeper Lee Robinson no chance.

Queens retaliated with Darren Brownlie sending a header just past the upright following a corner, but the home defence were caught out again after 11 minutes when they failed to clear a low ball into the middle and Scott Fraser shot home from 10 yards.

Stephen Dobbie had a shot blocked at the expense of a corner and the Queens striker also went close with a header and a shot that both went just wide.

But United were controlling the game and went 3-0 up after 35 minutes when Tony Andreu ran on to a cross from Simon Murray to smash it home from 20 yards.

Dobbie pulled one back after 51 minutes finding the net with a right-footed shot from just outside the box which curled into the corner of the net. For a spell United seemed shaky under pressure as Queens threw everything forward, but Dobbie fired well over the top from 10 yards.

However, they did create an anxious few final seconds for United when Derek Lyle edged the ball into the net in injury time.