Bullish United dare to dream
CARETAKER boss Laurie Ellis hailed his Dundee United troops after seeing them move joint top of the table — then insisted he had given their incoming manager the perfect platform.
Managerless United surged to the summit of the Championship as they brushed aside off-field uncertainty to sink league leaders St Mirren, who were a shadow of their usual selves at Tannadice.
Ellis guided the title-chasing Tangerines to their second consecutive win since taking over from sacked boss Ray McKinnon thanks to goals in either half from Mark Durnan and Sam Stanton, before Adam Eckersley hit a last-gasp consolation for the below-par Buddies.
There was no sign of any incoming boss in the stand to run the rule over the Taysiders, with former Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo still the front-runner for the vacant post, but whoever comes into the dugout will at least be inheriting a rejuvenated side who have got their title charge back on track.
Ellis, who has ruled himself out from succeeding McKinnon, said: ‘It gives the incoming manager a good platform to really kick this squad onto where we need to be come the end of the season.
‘There’s a lot involved in managing Dundee United and an experienced head who has seen things before and has quick answers to everything will ensure we keep our club moving at the speed we need to. The remit in this division is to win every game.
‘We’ve come out of it with six points from the past two games. It was a great three points, hard-earned against a good St Mirren side. It’s the players who have got this result.’
It was the hosts who began brightest and they created the first clear-cut chance in eight minutes. Youngster Matthew Smith used his pace to burst through the Saints defence and picked out Scott Fraser with his pinpoint cross.
Fraser was all set to pull the trigger, but the forward’s first touch was heavy and the ball ran out for a goal-kick.
However, United did not have to wait too much longer for the breakthrough. Scott McDonald was fouled by Buddies midfielder Stephen McGinn to hand the Tangerines a set-piece midway inside the visitors’ half.
Fraser’s free-kick found Durnan in acres of space and he had time to plant a 14-yard header past Craig Samson, who remained rooted to the spot.
United were well on top and Fraser tried to increase their lead soon after with an ambitious drive which went well over Samson’s bar.
Yet, on 38 minutes the visitors were screaming for a penalty when Cammy Smith went down inside the box under a challenge from Durnan. The Buddies felt there had been contact but referee Greg Aitken was close by and waved play on.
Ten minutes into the second half, Billy King went on a solo run which ended in Samson producing a reflex save from his angled shot.
United were looking for a second goal and, with 15 minutes left, Stanton released Fraser but his curled effort was headed away by Saints centre-back Jack Baird.
However, they sealed matters with 11 minutes to go. Substitute Fraser Fyvie’s cross was perfect for Stanton who turned before driving a low shot into the corner of the net.
Eckersley’s injury-time volley from 30-yards gave deflated Saints boss Jack Ross scant consolation.
He said: ‘There’s a feeling of disappointment. We lacked what we normally have and that’s that bit of quality in the final third.
‘But we’ll dust ourselves down and it’s how we react which is the important thing moving forward.’