Neilson’s delight as United revival rolls on
dunfermline 0 dundee united 2 Mcmullan (24), King (60)
A virtuoso performance from former Dunfermline midfielder Fraser Aird proved the catalyst in helping Dundee United to victory over his old club at East End Park.
The Canadian internationalist, controlling play in the manner of an orchestral conductor as the Tangerines outclassed the Pars, adding increased momentum to the mini revival in the Tannadice club’s fortunes since the appointment of Robbie Neilson as manager earlier this month.
“I’m really pleased with that performance” said a clearly delighted Neilson, who is unbeaten in three games since taking over from Csaba Laszlo.
“We didn’t play as well as we have been but we did the things we needed to get the three points.
“Dunfermline sat in and we had to work hard to break them down. We’re getting better, the fans are getting behind us and confidence levels are increasing.
“Winning games always helps, but there’s still a lot of football to be played.”
The United defence looked uneasy during the opening stages of the game and, with just five minutes on the clock, they were left exposed when a cleverly placed pass from Dunfermline frontman Faisal El-bakhtaoui found strike partner Myles Hippolyte.
He made space for himself on the edge of the penalty area before firing in a low shot which was well saved by Benjamin Siegrist.
Hippolyte, restored to the Pars starting line up after having been benched for the last five games, looked in the mood to dunfermline 6:
(4-4-2) Robinson 6, Williamson 6, Ashcroft 7, Devine 6, J Longridge Craigen 7(Connolly 62,5),Beadling 5, Vincent 6 (Thomson 75,3), Longridge 5(Ryan 70,4), Hippolyte 7, El-bakhtaoui 7. Unused – Gill (Gk), Martin, Keena, Muirhead dundee united: 6:
(4-2-3-1) Siegrist 7, Murdoch 6, Bouhenna 7, Frans 7, Booth Stanton 6, Fyvie 7, Aird 8(Rabitsch 77,3), Mcmullan 7, King 6(Clark 62,5), Safranko 6 (Curran 88,1). Unused – Rakovan (Gk), Smith, Edjenguele, Loemba.
reclaim a regular slot in the team and his strong running, combined with the guile of El-bakhtaoui, was causing problems at this point in the game for United’s central defensive partnership of Frederic Frans and Rachid Bouenna.
But the visitors were gradually beginning to establish a foothold, coming close when Fraser Fyvie volleyed narrowly over Lee Robinson’s crossbar in the 14th minute.
The two former Dunfermline players in the United side, Aird and Paul
Mcmullan, then combined well with Aird embarking on an exhilirating 60-yard run down the left touchline before dispatching an inch-perfect crossfield pass to Mcmullan, whose effort was deflected for a corner.
As is generally the case when players return to face their former clubs, both Aird and Mcmullan were subjected to the standard quota of abuse from the home fans, but they responded in the most effective way possible in the structure and execution of the opening goal