GIANT LEAP IN THE TITLE RACE
Jim’s joy as United follow up big win with Queen’s rout
QUEEN’S PK.. 0 DUNDEE UTD.. 5 JIM GOODWIN hailed his Dundee United stars for the five-star display which blew Queen’s Park away.
The Championship leaders thrashed the Spiders to maintain their four- point advantage over Raith Rovers in the race for the title and a spot in the Premiership.
Boss Goodwin was delighted that his players followed up their crucial win over title rivals Raith last weekend with a professional display as they put Queen’s to the sword.
Louis Moult missed an early penalty but there was no looking back after Kai Fotheringham made the breakthrough for United just before the break.
After the interval they swatted the Spiders aside as Moult notched their second, Ross Graham got their third, Fotheringham struck again and Craig Sibbald rounded off the scoring for the rampant Tannadice outfit.
Goodwin said: “I ’m absolutely delighted with the overall performance, we were well worth the result.
“Unfortunately, we missed the penalty but I was delighted to get the opening goal before half-time.
“It came at a really important time because I could sense the frustration and it was a brilliant opener, a great finish from Kai, which settled everyone’s nerves.
“Kai comes up with some important moments in games.
“He’s always a threat and a danger and has scored some important goals.
“That’s two really good performances back to back.
“It was great to beat Raith Rovers last week, a couple of goals and clean sheet, and then to back that up here against a difficult team who are fighting for their lives.
“We were really professional, high standards maintained from last week and that’s what we asked of the players.
“It’s easy to play one good game every now and again but good players are consistent with it and we have to be consistent over the next four games now.”
United should have grabbed an early opener but a header from Fotheringham smacked the crossbar and then Moult was denied on the rebound by an incredible save from Calum Ferrie.
The Tangerines where then awarded a spot-kick when Fotheringham was upended by Josh Scott but Ferrie saved Moult’s weak effort.
United finally made the breakthrough just before the half-time break.
Tony Watt spun to get away from Scott and Alex Bannon then his cut-back was swept home by Fotheringham.
Moult made up for his penalty miss when he doubled their lead in the 55th minute, latching on to Graham’s long ball to superbly lob Ferrie.
The goalie thwarted Graham four minutes later but from the resultant corner the big defender got the better of the Spiders keeper with a glancing header.
Fotheringham notched his second in the 64th minute when he beat Jack Thomson to the ball and poked a shot past Ferrie.
United got their fifth after 70 minutes as Watt headed a corner back into the danger area and the ball broke to Sibbald to lash in a shot with the aid of a deflection.
Queen’s manager Callum Davidson said: “It was a bad day at the office.
“Dundee United were much better than us at the basics. I can’t sugarcoat it, that was poor defending.
“We were all over the place and hopefully we’ve got all the mistakes out in one go as we have got four huge games coming up if we want to stay in this league.”