The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Both bosses satisfied as United hit back to win
DUNDEE UNITED finally broke their pre-season duck against Dunfermline at East End Park last night, writes Neil Robertson.
The Tangerines had lost all three games on their tour of Germany and Spain in the last fortnight but made no mistake against the administration-hit Pars.
The home side opened the scoring through Josh Falkingham but the Tangerines stormed back from that early setback with three goals by Ryan Gauld, David Goodwillie and Ryan Dow.
United boss Jackie McNamara, who revealed that the club are close to securing trialist Nadir Ciftci on a permanent deal, declared himself well satisfied with the result and the performance.
He said: “I think the lads are looking stronger and fitter with every game.
“We are just trying to get the balance right to give everyone some game time.
“I am delighted for David Goodwillie, especially getting his goal in front of our fans. “There were a lot of positives tonight.” His counterpart Jim Jefferies said: “I have said to the lads that you can do all the training you want but games against an experienced United side are invaluable.
“Overall, we are happy with our preseason work but it starts for real on Saturday at Cowdenbeath in the Ramsdens Cup.”
Jefferies was able to select a Dundee United player in his starting XI, however it was not Ryan Ferguson who joined the Pars on loan last week but another Tannadice youngster Luke Johnston, playing as a trialist.
McNamara selected a strong looking line-up but former Huddersfield, Preston and Chesterfield centre- half Neal Trotman, who is trying to seal a deal at Tannadice, had to be content with a place on the bench.
United made a bright start with Gauld threading a defence-splitting pass to Goodwillie in just the fourth minute but Dunfermline keeper Ryan Scully came racing off his line to make a vital block.
However, it was the Pars who stormed into the lead.
A Ross Millen corner was not properly cleared by the United defence with the ball falling to Falkingham who thumped it home past a helpless Mark McCallum from 15 yards.
McNamara’s men looked to recover from that early setback and good interplay between Gauld and Stuart Armstrong presented Goodwillie with another chance in the 20th minute but the on-loan Blackburn striker pulled his angled shot wide.
However, the travelling support only had to wait another two minutes to celebrate an outstanding equaliser.
Armstrong was fouled just outside the Pars box and Gauld stepped up to hit a pinpoint free-kick over the wall and into the back of Scully’s net.
United looked certain to take the lead in the 35th minute when Andrew Robertson hit a superb deep cross from the left towards Goodwillie but he directed his back post header off target.
Just four minutes after the restart, Goodwillie was presented with another gilt-edged opportunity when Armstrong embarked on barnstorming run to the byeline before cutting the ball back but the striker again fluffed his lines.
The Pars goal was leading a charmed life, though, with Mackay-Steven crossing from the left only for home defender Callum Morris to smack the ball against his own post and then Chris Erskine also saw an effort cannon off the woodwork.
But in the 52nd minute, Goodwillie finally hit the back of the net.
The striker was played in inside the Dunfermline box by Gauld and this time made no mistake blasting past Scully.
And the Pars keeper was picking the ball out of his net again in the 59th minute when sub Dow cracked an unstoppable 25-yard angled strike into the far corner of the net.
The Pars came close to pulling one back in the 79th minute but McCallum produced an outstanding diving save to deny Craig Dargo. Attendance – 1830. Dunfermline – Scully (Hrivnak 63), Millen, Whittle (Williamson 66), Young (Dargo 70), Morris (Potter 70), Johnston (Spence 57), Byrne (Martin 70), Kane, Buchan (Husband 57), Falkingham (El Bakhtaoui 70), Thomson.
Dundee United – McCallum, Dillon (Oyenuga 57), Watson (Dow 57), Butcher (Graham 57), Robertson, Armstrong (Cifti 57), Paton (Trotman 57), Erskine (Gardyne 57), Gauld (Gunning 57), Mackay-Steven (Souttar 57), Goodwillie (Rankin 57). Subs not used – Cierzniak.
Referee – George Salmond.