Dundee Utd3–0Dunfermline

Atonement for that Skol Cup defeat was upper most in our minds as we faced Dunfermline four days after their freak 3-1 victory over us at East End Park. Within a couple of minutes Rhodes had twice been in action. First from Gary Bollan and then to keep out a deflected shot from Freddy Van Der Hoorn. Although it was United in those early stages, Dunfermline almost sneaked ahead in the 11th minute, but Alan Main tipped over a Gallacher header. That, however was the only serious action Alan Main was to be involved in during the whole match. Rhodes saved well from Billy McKinlay in the 27th minute and was then happy to see Duncan Ferguson send a shot just wide of the target. A goal, however, was only delayed and in the 32nd minute Maurice Malpas found Billy McKinlay who rolled the ball into Dave Bowman's path and he sent a right-foot shot curling into the top left-hand corner. It was one way traffic now and twice Rhodes saved from Billy McKinlay before the interval.

Quarter of an hour into the second half, Duncan Ferguson, playing only his third full match of the season due to injury, was denied by Rhodes outstretched body when the young striker was clean through. Play continued to flow towards the visitor's goal and skipper Maurice Malpas saw his cross come off the face of the bar. Despite our constant pressure it took us until the 74th minute to go further ahead. A deep cross from Gary Bollan out on the left found Freddy van der Hoorn at the far post and his low drive took a deflection off Moyes to enter the far corner of the net. It took a third goal in the last minute of the match to reflect on the balance of play. Again Gary Bollan was the instigator. He won the ball from Kozma out on the left, headed down the Hank before cutting the ball back to Duncan Ferguson who turned the ball past Rhodes.

The big striker injured an ankle in the process and was replaced by Paddy Connolly, making his first appearance of the season. The three goal winning margin equalled our best Premier win over the Fifers and although we exacted revenge for that midweek defeat in the Skol Cup, the general opinion was that we had in fact played better when losing four days previously which perhaps puts into context how hard it was to come to terms with defeat in midweek!