MATCH REPORT | A PROMOTION PARTY AT TANNADICE
4th May 2024
United secured a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory at Dens Park to progress to the next round of the Betfred Cup as group winners after a hard-fought draw.
By Michael Blackley
The terrific 3981-strong away support left the ground with a smile on their faces after a good run in the tournament left them looking in good shape for the season ahead.
United had looked on course for a win in normal time when a Paul McMullan strike gave them a half-time lead.
But Dundee levelled through Mark O'Hara and United needed to show great grit and determination - and rely on some fine goalkeeping from Harry Lewis - to prevent the home side securing all three points.
Forward Matty Smith dropped out of the side that beat Cowdenbeath last week due to injury, with midfielder Scott Allardice coming in. It meant that United started the match without a recognised striker - although new signing Scott McDonald was on the bench and wide man Paul McMullan filled in up front, meaning he became the fourth player in four competitive games to play the centre forward role. He proved to be the best player on the field, with a fantastic skillful and determined performance.
There was also a return from injury for centre half Mark Durnan, who came in for Jamie Robson, with the youngster dropping to the bench and Tam Scobbie switching back to his natural position at full back.
After a feisty start, Dundee were first to threaten when ex-United man Scott Allan won a free kick despite appearing to just run into Lewis Toshney. Allan's inviting free kick had to be headed behind for a corner, from which Mark O'Hara leapt at the back post to test Harry Lewis, who held comfortably.
Paul McMullan then earned United their first real opportunity with a tremendous mazy run before he was fouled as he approached the Dundee box. Scott Fraser curled in a left-footed free kick which Scott Bain held.
After a frantic start, the game entered a distinctly scrappy phase as both sides attempted to gain the upper hand but only for them to find it difficult to break through two packed, before bursting into life in an action-packed last quarter of an hour.
First Dundee created an opportunity when a fine cross from full back Kevin Holt was headed towards goal by O'Hara, with Lewis holding well.
United then so nearly went ahead twice within a minute through Billy King. The winger sent a crashing drive pinging off Bain's right hand post after being well teed up by Scott Fraser. Then the impressive Paul McMullan was pole-axed by Darren O'Dea, who was booked for his efforts, after he once again caused havoc with another pacy dribble through the Dundee defence. King struck the resultant free kick sweetly, and Bain had to parry away.
Right on the stroke of half time United went ahead and it was the magnificent stand-in striker Paul McMullan who got the goal. Sam Stanton was sent racing in on goal and flicked it to the ex-Dunfermline winger, who side-footed the ball beyond the Dundee keeper from an acute angle to send the huge away support into raptures and give United a hard-fought 1-0 half-time lead.
United started the second half on the front foot with McMullan's direct running again causing problems and Fraser earning a corner from some nice footwork on the right.
McMullan again caused problems in the Dundee defence when he tirelessly chased the ball down then set up King, whose effort spun narrowly last the post.
Dundee then thought they levelled the score when Scott Allan's shot was heading into the net only for Sofien Moussa to nod it in from two yards out - but from an offside position.
With just under an hour on the clock, Dundee did manage to level the scores, when Scott Allan played in O'Hara who left Lewis with no chance.
United attempted to pick themselves up and McMullan hit a long range effort which Bain had to be alert to save.
Lewis was then the hero for United when he palmed away a fizzing effort from Roarie Deacon on the right.
The United keeper again did well to keep the scores level when he saved a Kevin Holt piledriver from close range.
Midway through the second half, both managers threw on extra attacking talent - with new United striker Scott McDonald replacing Scott Fraser, while El-Bakhtaoui replaced the impressive O'Hara for the hosts.
After a period in which they looked in danger of being overrun, United tightened up and started to win the one-on-one battles again in the final quarter hour. However, both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances.
But the home side ended the game on top and nearly stole the three points deep into injury time but Lewis again came to the rescue with a terrific block from Bartley when the wide man raced clear on goal. Jack Hendry then hit the post with a header in a dramatic finale but United dug in and clung on for a 1-1 draw.
In a penalty shootout to decide the group winners, United's McMullan, King, Toshney and McDonald were all on target, with youngster Logan Chalmers missing.
But Lewis was the hero in the shoot-out, with saves from both El-Bakhtaoui and Deacon giving United the bonus points to secure qualification to the next round of the Betfred Cup as group winners.
Man of the match: Paul McMullan. An outstanding, energetic and highly skilful performance by the wide-man, who did brilliantly as stand-in striker, took his goal well and even topped it off with a coolly taken penalty in the shoot-out. But Ray McKinnon will have been happy with many of the performances, especially the strong-tackling midfielder Jordie Briels and impressive goalkeeper Harry Lewis.
Dundee: Bain, Kerr, Holt, Waddell, O'Dea; Kamara, Moussa, Allan (Wolters, 78), O'Hara (El Bakhtaoui, 69), McGowan, Waddell (Hendry, 80), Deacon
Subs not used: Parish, Vincent, Hateley, Haber
United: Lewis; Toshney, Scobbie, Durnan, Edjenguele; Briels, Allardice (Flood, 76), Stanton (Chalmers, 89); Fraser (McDonald, 67), McMullan, King
Subs not used: Mehmet, Donaldson, Robson, Ballantyne
Attendance: 10,460
But Dundee levelled through Mark O'Hara and United needed to show great grit and determination - and rely on some fine goalkeeping from Harry Lewis - to prevent the home side securing all three points.
Forward Matty Smith dropped out of the side that beat Cowdenbeath last week due to injury, with midfielder Scott Allardice coming in. It meant that United started the match without a recognised striker - although new signing Scott McDonald was on the bench and wide man Paul McMullan filled in up front, meaning he became the fourth player in four competitive games to play the centre forward role. He proved to be the best player on the field, with a fantastic skillful and determined performance.
There was also a return from injury for centre half Mark Durnan, who came in for Jamie Robson, with the youngster dropping to the bench and Tam Scobbie switching back to his natural position at full back.
After a feisty start, Dundee were first to threaten when ex-United man Scott Allan won a free kick despite appearing to just run into Lewis Toshney. Allan's inviting free kick had to be headed behind for a corner, from which Mark O'Hara leapt at the back post to test Harry Lewis, who held comfortably.
Paul McMullan then earned United their first real opportunity with a tremendous mazy run before he was fouled as he approached the Dundee box. Scott Fraser curled in a left-footed free kick which Scott Bain held.
After a frantic start, the game entered a distinctly scrappy phase as both sides attempted to gain the upper hand but only for them to find it difficult to break through two packed, before bursting into life in an action-packed last quarter of an hour.
First Dundee created an opportunity when a fine cross from full back Kevin Holt was headed towards goal by O'Hara, with Lewis holding well.
United then so nearly went ahead twice within a minute through Billy King. The winger sent a crashing drive pinging off Bain's right hand post after being well teed up by Scott Fraser. Then the impressive Paul McMullan was pole-axed by Darren O'Dea, who was booked for his efforts, after he once again caused havoc with another pacy dribble through the Dundee defence. King struck the resultant free kick sweetly, and Bain had to parry away.
Right on the stroke of half time United went ahead and it was the magnificent stand-in striker Paul McMullan who got the goal. Sam Stanton was sent racing in on goal and flicked it to the ex-Dunfermline winger, who side-footed the ball beyond the Dundee keeper from an acute angle to send the huge away support into raptures and give United a hard-fought 1-0 half-time lead.
United started the second half on the front foot with McMullan's direct running again causing problems and Fraser earning a corner from some nice footwork on the right.
McMullan again caused problems in the Dundee defence when he tirelessly chased the ball down then set up King, whose effort spun narrowly last the post.
Dundee then thought they levelled the score when Scott Allan's shot was heading into the net only for Sofien Moussa to nod it in from two yards out - but from an offside position.
With just under an hour on the clock, Dundee did manage to level the scores, when Scott Allan played in O'Hara who left Lewis with no chance.
United attempted to pick themselves up and McMullan hit a long range effort which Bain had to be alert to save.
Lewis was then the hero for United when he palmed away a fizzing effort from Roarie Deacon on the right.
The United keeper again did well to keep the scores level when he saved a Kevin Holt piledriver from close range.
Midway through the second half, both managers threw on extra attacking talent - with new United striker Scott McDonald replacing Scott Fraser, while El-Bakhtaoui replaced the impressive O'Hara for the hosts.
After a period in which they looked in danger of being overrun, United tightened up and started to win the one-on-one battles again in the final quarter hour. However, both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances.
But the home side ended the game on top and nearly stole the three points deep into injury time but Lewis again came to the rescue with a terrific block from Bartley when the wide man raced clear on goal. Jack Hendry then hit the post with a header in a dramatic finale but United dug in and clung on for a 1-1 draw.
In a penalty shootout to decide the group winners, United's McMullan, King, Toshney and McDonald were all on target, with youngster Logan Chalmers missing.
But Lewis was the hero in the shoot-out, with saves from both El-Bakhtaoui and Deacon giving United the bonus points to secure qualification to the next round of the Betfred Cup as group winners.
Man of the match: Paul McMullan. An outstanding, energetic and highly skilful performance by the wide-man, who did brilliantly as stand-in striker, took his goal well and even topped it off with a coolly taken penalty in the shoot-out. But Ray McKinnon will have been happy with many of the performances, especially the strong-tackling midfielder Jordie Briels and impressive goalkeeper Harry Lewis.
Dundee: Bain, Kerr, Holt, Waddell, O'Dea; Kamara, Moussa, Allan (Wolters, 78), O'Hara (El Bakhtaoui, 69), McGowan, Waddell (Hendry, 80), Deacon
Subs not used: Parish, Vincent, Hateley, Haber
United: Lewis; Toshney, Scobbie, Durnan, Edjenguele; Briels, Allardice (Flood, 76), Stanton (Chalmers, 89); Fraser (McDonald, 67), McMullan, King
Subs not used: Mehmet, Donaldson, Robson, Ballantyne
Attendance: 10,460
