Arabs can relax in more clean sheets

Robbie Neilson was delighted to see his Dundee United side extend their clean sheet run as they continued to put their Dumfries disappointment well and truly behind them.

United beat Queen of the South 3-0 at Tannadice on Saturday to move nine points clear in the Ladbrokes Championship.

It was a fifth successive win and clean sheet for United since they lost 4-0 against the same opponents last month.

Goals from Paul McMullan, Nicky Clark and Sam Stanton wrapped up the win before the 50-minute mark and made it 11 goals without reply for Neilson’s side.

“I’m a great believer that the team with the best defence generally wins the league,” the United head coach said.

“If we can keep scoring goals and keep clean sheets then it builds confidence in everyone else. The fans brought a lot of energy and we had a great crowd here again. The players then backed that up by starting the game very well.”

In the only other game, Morton stopped Arbroath moving to third with a 1-0 home win at Cappielow.

Meanwhile, Partick Thistle and Rangers under-21s joined Raith Rovers and Caley Thistle in the last four of the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Cup.

Ian McCall’s Partick ran out 4-1 winners at Stenhousemuir to earn their semi-final berth.

Reece Cole fired the Jags ahead after 34 minutes before David Hopkirk equalised.

Gary Harkins put Partick back in front two minutes later, before goals from Craig Slater and Kenny Miller completed the scoring.

Rangers under-21s beat Wrexham 2-0 with goals from Jamie Barjonas and Nathan Young-Coombes.