The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Tannadice men do the dirty work to remain on course for Hampden
It wasn’t pretty on a Firhill pitch that resembled a boggy marsh but Dundee United dug in to book a Scottish Cup quarter-final spot.
In the space of four days, United have moved fourth in the Scottish Premiership and moved to within 90 minutes of a trip to Hampden.
Back-to-back wins over Motherwell and Partick have lifted the mood at Tannadice and given the fans hope that this could be a very exciting season.
Courier Sport was at Firhill on Saturday and here are four talking points from the hard-fought Dundee United win at Partick Thistle:
United do dirty work to keep it clean
This was never going to be a day for fancy football.
That became clear to Dundee United the minute they set foot on the boggy marsh that is Partick’s pitch.
It was a day to roll the sleeves up and dig out a result. Credit must go to both sides for making this game a great spectacle.
It was a good oldfashioned Scottish Cup tie and United had to defend bravely to pick up their fourth consecutive clean sheet.
Energetic Ilmari Niskanen
The image of Ilmari Niskanen caked in mud typified the spirit shown by United to win.
The Finland international was the driving force behind the midweek win over Motherwell and he thrived at Firhill.
United have changed their system in recent weeks to go to a back three and Niskanen’s role has changed.
Deployed in an attacking left wing-back role, Niskanen’s lung-busting runs down the flank have been a real feature of the last two games.
He provided an assist for Tony Watt’s goal against Motherwell and posed Partick real problems.
Does Firhill win prove United are peaking at the right time?
United were booed off the park by some fans after drawing with 10-man St Johnstone last week.
Fast forward seven days and the United fans were partying in Partick.
Let’s not get carried away. It’s only two wins and United haven’t achieved anything yet.
But both victories were hugely significant.
The win over Motherwell has put United in the fight for a European spot.
And Saturday’s success has put them within touching distance of a trip to Hampden.
United boss Tam Courts said last week his side could be “peaking at the right time”.
The Tannadice men had lost six in a row up to midjanuary. But the picture is far more positive now with just one defeat in seven.
They also have one of the meanest defences in the country.
The only time their defence has been breached in 487 minutes of football is a last-minute Liel Abada goal for an on-form Celtic.