DUNDEE UNITED 1
Clark (77)
ARBROATH 1
Linn (Pen 82)
( Arbroath win 5-3 on pens)
Csaba Laszlo pleaded for time for his newlook Dundee United side to click – as Arbroath shocked them by grabbing a bonus point with this penalty shoot-out success.
Laszlo watched his much-changed outfit struggle to hit top gear, with their League 1 visitors dumping them . 5-3 in a penalty shootout after Bobby Linn’s 82nd-minute penalty had cancelled out Nicky Clark’s 77th-minute opener for United at Tannadice.
Linn hit the winning penalty for the visitors, while Ricky Little, Michael McKenna, Ryan Wallace and Mark Whatley all converted from the spot.
However, United youngster Logan Chalmers had his effort saved by Arbroath keeper Darren Jamieson after Stewart Murdoch, Fraser Aird and Paul McMullan had all hit the target.
Boss Laszlo sighed: “We do need a bit of time. It’s quite a new team and we are still finding how each other plays. It won’t happen just like that, but it’s still disappointing to lose this way.
“We have a game at Ross County on Tuesday where we can make up for this. The boys know they have to improve and I’m sure we will as the weeks go by.
“It’s up to us to focus and pass the ball much quicker to cut open the opposition.”
Championship hopefuls United featured six of their new summer signings, but it was Dick Campbell’s Lichties who ought to have taken the lead in just five minutes. United kid Declan Glass fouled David Gold, but Wallace drilled his penalty wide of Benjamin Siegrist’s post.
Midway through the first half, United threatened when Jamie Robson’s deep cross from the left was met by McMullan, whose volley flashed just over Jamieson’s bar.
Campbell’s parttimers were spraying the ball about well in the Tayside sunshine and their healthy travelling support were urging them on to take the lead.
Just before half-time, Wallace’s corner was met by Colin Hamilton, whose close-range header went just inches wide of the target.
United began the second half much brighter and Frederic Frans wasn’t far away with his 50th-minute header from Nicky Clark’s cross, before Aird hit a long-distance effort just over the top.
Clark then struck his first goal in a Tangerine jersey with just 13 minutes remaining. Aird’s cross was flicked on by McMullan and the former Dunfermline man was on hand to beat Jamieson from inside the six-yard box.
However, the Angus outfit hit back in 82 minutes after sub Kane Hester was taken down by Christoph Rabitsch. Up stepped Linn to force the penalty shoot-out, which they won to earn a bonus point.
Arbroath assistant boss Iain Campbell said: “All credit to the lads.
“You can see United are a good side, but we came back from the disappointment of missing an early penalty to show great character.”