Dundee Utd 2
St Mirren 0
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

With Maurice Malpas absent through injury, Jim McInally took over the captaincy whilst Alex Cleland occupied over the number three jersey, John 0'Neil came in on the right wing with Allan Preston filling the number ten shirt and Paddy Connolly moving to the substitute's bench. The early stages brought few incidents around either goal, although a hefty clearance by Alan Main produced an anxious moment in the Saints defence with Money punching clear from Darren Jackson. Our best move of the game so far came after half an hour when Allan Preston and Mixu Paatelainen combined down the left and Allan met Mixu's first time cross, but shot past the near post. There was an even better move eight minutes later. John O'Neil skipped past Black before sending over an early cross from which Ray McKinnon's diving header struck the face of the cross-bar. A minute later Freddy Van Der Hoorn scored from a free kick after Allan Preston had been brought down, but the kick had to be retaken. Saints had figured rarely as an attacking force in the first half and it was a similar situation after the break.

Money was in action three minutes into the second half, turning a fierce drive from Jim McInally round the post for a corner. On the hour mark we had a penalty appeal turned down when Mixu Paatelainen appeared to be held. The breakthrough was only temporarily delayed, however. Ray McKinnon sent over a free-kick to the far post and Darren Jackson stole in at the far post to give Money no chance with his first time strike, For the first time in the match Saints were seen as an attacking force and they almost equalised when a Peter Weir free-kick was headed fractionally over by Martin. Three minutes later Lambert sent in a shot which Alan Main turned round the post as Saints pushed forward in search of an equaliser. However, they were made to pay for throwing men forward three minutes from the end. Darren Jackson led the ball through to Jim McInally and the United skipper pushed the ball wide as Money advanced and Paddy Connolly slotted the ball into the empty net for our second.