SAVED BY THE BELL
United keeper Cammy stops THREE penalties in one game
RAY McKINNON paid tribute to his goalkeeper Cammy Bell after his hat-trick of penalty saves helped his Dundee United side to a 3-1 win over Dunfermline at East End Park.
Bell saved spot-kicks from Gavin Reilly, Nicky Clark and Paul McMullan in the opening 30 minutes of the match before United went on to seal three points.
McKinnon said: ‘It was absolutely magnificent to save three penalties. But that’s why we brought him in, he’s a top, top goalkeeper. It was pretty special from him today.
‘I’ve never seen it before in my life. But you know what, after the second, I knew he’d save the third. He’s different class and it’s a massive performance from Cammy. I’m really, really happy with him.
‘It was a tough game for us, everything that could go wrong did. Three penalties and a sending off, but it shows our character and determination to not get beaten.
‘We really had to dig it out today, especially, as in my opinion, every decision went against us.’
Dunfermline blew a brilliant opportunity to open the scoring when they were awarded a penalty after just nine minutes.
Referee John Beaton pointed to the spot after United new boy William Edjenguele was adjudged to have shoved Lee Ashcroft inside the area following a Pars corner.
However, Bell produced a fantastic reaction save from Reilly, who drove his effort straight down the middle of the goal.
The home side were made to rue that miss just 11 minutes later when Simon Murray broke the deadlock for United.
Brilliant build-up play allowed Charlie Telfer to play in Tope Obadeyi down the left wing, who crossed low towards the front post.
The Pars defence failed to deal with the delivery, allowing Murray to collect the ball and swivel inside the six-yard box to fire home.
Dunfermline had their second penalty of the match on 25 minutes after Reilly’s shot ricocheted free off Bell before Clark got the loose ball ahead of Frank van der Struijk, who brought him down.
This time, Clark stepped up for the hosts but the result was the same as before, with Bell saving brilliantly down to his right-hand side.
Unbelievably, the Pars had their third penalty inside the first 30 minutes of the match just five minutes later when Paul Dixon blocked Clark’s shot with his hands.
Equally unbelievable, though, was that the result was the same. This time, McMullan tried his luck but Bell completed a hat-trick of penalty stops, again saving well at his right-hand post.
The second half started at the same, frenetic pace that the first finished and, just one minute after the restart, United doubled their lead. Nicky van der Velden, who had looked lively all match, slipped a ball to the on-rushing Tony Andreu, who was able to drive into the box and slip a shot under Pars’ keeper David Hutton.
Dunfermline then pulled a goal back on 50 minutes. The ball found Clark and his deflected shot fell to Michael Paton at the back post who was able to rifle the ball home with a fierce half-volley.
United were reduced to ten men on 56 minutes when Dixon brought Paton down with a desperate lunge from behind.
The Pars almost drew level with 25 minutes to go, but Ashcroft headed inches over from a corner.
Andreu made sure of the points in stoppage-time when he cracked a stunning half-volley past Hutton in the Pars goal.
Dunfermline boss Allan Johnston, said: ‘Three missed penalties but I thought the boys were different class today, always on the front foot throughout the game.
‘The first penalty we get, I was at a SFA meeting weeks ago and if it’s pushing or holding, it’s a red card. He pushed him but he’s only booked him, so what are the rules?
‘The third one, the boy’s actually caught it with his two hands when it’s going in the net, so surely that’s a sending off as well.’ DUNFERMLINE 1 Paton (50) DUNDEE UTD 3 Murray (21), Andreu (46, 90) By Fraser Clarke