Clark’s right on time for United
HAVING been knocked out the Betfred Cup at the group stage, Dundee United survived a scare against Partick Thistle to make it over their first hurdle in this season’s Scottish Cup.
Nicky Clark’s stoppage-time winner sealed their progress to the fourth round.
Thistle’s Scott Tiffoney had opened the scoring in 25 minutes, but United rallied late in the day, with Lawrence Shankland’s equaliser sparking the comeback.
The match, however, will be remembered for the off-ball incident involving Brian Graham and Ryan Edwards, with Partick boss Ian McCall claiming that the United defender punched Graham.
Tannadice manager Micky Mellon fielded questions from the media before McCall made the accusations, and he was just pleased to see his side come from a goal behind to win.
‘The important thing is that we got there in the end,’ said Mellon. ‘Obviously, our coaching staff and I want to see the team playing as well as possible. There is a lot of stuff we want to improve on but we showed in spells what we want to do as a team.
‘We lost our way a little in the first half but second half we came out and probably didn’t get the rewards to start with for getting on track again. We didn’t lose our composure, and we kept battling away.
‘To be in the hat for the next round is the most important thing.’
United certainly didn’t look a team two divisions above their opponents and were fortunate not to give away an early penalty when Deniz Mehmet brought down Shea Gordon in the box. The keeper got just enough on the ball to dissuade referee Steven McLean from pointing to the spot.
However, they were made to pay for their slow start after 25 minutes. Ciaran McKenna launched in a long throw from the right, United failed to deal with it and Tiffoney couldn’t believe his luck when it fell to him and he headed in past Mehmet.
Adrian Sporle then saw his header comfortably saved by Thistle keeper Kieran Wright but it was the visitors who threatened again.
Gordon beat United’s offside trap to collect possession in the box and rolled a pass across goal to Graham but the striker couldn’t convert into an empty net at the back post.
The United performance deserved a rollocking at half-time and they certainly emerged from the changing rooms with a hunger that had been painfully absent.
Within the first minute, they were bearing down on Thistle and Darren Brownlie had to make a good block from Shankland. Marc McNulty’s attempt at the rebound was deflected over the crossbar.
‘It’s coming,’ screamed Mellon from the sidelines and an impressive Wright stop with his foot denied Shankland an equaliser.
From the resultant corner, McNulty’s effort was goalbound until Stuart Bannigan stopped it on the line. United appealed for a goal, Mellon convinced it had crossed the line, but their claims then turned to penalty, with the United boss insisting that it rolled up the Thistle man’s arm. The manager was booked for his protests.
The fresh impetus with which they emerged for the second half however soon extinguished and Partick steadied, but the off-theball clash reignited proceedings. Graham fell to the deck clutching his side before returning to his feet and squaring up to Edwards.
Thistle’s bench were infuriated, with goalkeeping coach Kenny Arthur booked for his claims.
Shortly after the flashpoint, United were level. Sporle’s cross from the left wasn’t dealt with by Mouhamed Niang and Shankland fired his shot past Wright.
Just as it appeared that extra time loomed, Partick handed United the win on a plate. Edwards hoofed the ball forward, Wright ran into Niang and Clark took advantage, rolling the ball into an empty net.
DUNDEE UTD (4-3-3): Mehmet; Bolton, Edwards, Reynolds, Robson (Chalmers 62); Butcher, Harkes, Fuchs (Clark 67); McNulty (Pawlett 86), Shankland, Sporle. Subs (not used): Siegrist, Connolly, Appere, Bisland, Smith, Walker. Booked: None.
PARTICK THISTLE (4-1-4-1): Wright; McKenna, Niang, Brownlie, Foster; Docherty; Cardle (Murray 57), Gordon, Bannigan, Tiffoney (Penrice 75); Graham (Rudden 81). Subs (not used): Sneddon, Lyon, Williamson, MacIver, Ocholi.
Booked: Docherty.
Referee: Steven McLean.