Hamilton 0
Dundee Utd 4
League (Premier Division)

Match Report

After the frustration of the European tie with Fioriana, there was no such agony for United supporters here as we dictated play from the start and got the tonic of a goal from which there was no way back for the Accies. Conditions were miserable at Douglas Park with heavy rain and a strong wind blowing down the park, but there was early rejoicing for the sizeable United travelling support when following a move down the left Allan Preston fired in a first time return ball which the Accies defence failed to clear and Raphael Meade cut the ball back for Mixu Paatelainen to pick his spot after just 88 seconds play. Hamilton retaliated five minutes later with a 30 yard wind assisted Jamieson shot which Billy Thomson saved comfortably. A MacDonald cross flashed across the box a few minutes later but Scott failed to make contact. But most of the action was coming at the other end and a first time shot by Mixu Paatelainen looked a certain scorer until it was blocked. Gordon McLeod was unlucky not to score when first the keeper then a defender blocked his efforts, after he'd ran clear of the Accies defence. In the 37th minute an angled cross from Allan Preston was run into the net by Raphael Meade as we deservedly increased our lead. Ferguson then made a great save from a Raphael Meade cross which had been deflected by Kerr. Before half-time McKee scooped the ball past from 10 yards.

The second half opened with us still very much in command. A snap shot by Mixu Paatelainen went narrowly past and Ferguson tipped over a Maurice Malpas drive before we added a third in the 63rd minute. Allan Preston jinxed past Weir and his centre to the near post was hammered in by Mixu Paatelainen. Quarter of an hour later we scored a fourth in more fortuitous circumstances when Ian McPhee's cross from the left seemed to take a slight deflection and Ferguson couldn't prevent the ball going in at the near post.