United home in on first victory

ALAN PATTULLO AT TANNADICE

Dundee United 2 Archibald (12), McInnes (44)
Hearts 1 Severin (47)

STRANGE that a game which began in such underwhelming fashion should conclude having adopted so significant a bearing. This, at least, was the case for Dundee United, who after over half a year of trying have finally won a league match on their own park.

That it was ultimately conducted in so hazardous a way in no way acted to stem the delight of those connected to the club, the tense final minutes as Ian McCall’s side fiercely protected their one-goal advantage merely making the joy at the final whistle more unconfined.

It hardly seemed possible that a contest which kicked off against a backdrop of half-empty stands and a distinct absence of hype could end in the riveting manner that it did. United, having glimpsed the possibility of ending this barren eight-month period without a league victory at Tannadice, suddenly found themselves fearing they might collude to throw the opportunity away. Not since defeating Dunfermline on the first day of March had they experienced a league win at their own lair. Given the wholesale changes at the club in the summer, it is reasonable to suggest there are players here who had never known what it was to dance a jig of joy at the place they regard as home. Yesterday, though, it happened.

Two goals up at the break - Alan Archibald and then Derek McInnes scored in a half that United hardly dominated - the home team were always conscious Hearts would mount a concerted effort to rectify matters in the second half. That this salvage operation should bear some fruit just a minute after the restart was harder to credit, Scott Severin’s controlled drive from the edge of the box the spark which lit an enjoyably frantic second 45 minutes.

One hopes, though, that the Dundee public are more responsive the next time Hearts are in town, on Wednesday night. The CIS Cup quarter-final tie between Dundee and the Edinburgh club has taken on an extra significance in light of Dundee’s problems, with the administrator having called for a full house. At Tannadice yesterday, there was not even a half-full house present.

United’s goals, too, were stylish enough, and the opener driven in by Archibald was his first goal for the club. The second a minute away from half-time was claimed by Derek McInnes, the skipper, who enjoyed what manager Ian McCall called his finest game for the club since signing in the summer, rifling home from an acute angle after having been abandoned at the far post by the entire Hearts defence.

Perhaps meriting more praise, however, were the two saves performed by keeper Paul Gallacher which kept Hearts at bay in the first half and ultimately won United the match.

The first, from Andy Kirk’s header, demanded most awe. Gallacher was already falling back as the Hearts striker made a strong connection to Alan Maybury’s cross, but somehow he managed to deflect the ball over the bar. Never mind his goalkeeping father, Gordon Banks would have been proud to have claimed this as his own.

Another save at the feet of Mark de Vries was as vital as it was brave, United defender David McCracken also getting in on the act with a thrilling goal-line clearance.

Hearts were hoping to gather the three points which would help in their aim to return to the European stage next season, while also sustaining a winning run in the league which, before yesterday, stretched to four games. To this end, being two goals down by the interval was not part of the plan.

It probably was not even in McCall’s reckoning, since the United manager has grown used to seeing his side fail to deliver at their home ground. Indeed, only one win has been posted here all season, against Morton in the CIS Cup. Yet here he was at half-time figuring how to preserve a precious two-goal lead against the third best team in the country. Presumably, losing a goal within a minute of the restart did not inform his strategy.

Feeling the breath of Hearts on their neck, United lost composure and also nearly lost the game. Kevin McKenna hit the post, and substitute Dennis Wyness saw a goal-bound shot blocked on the goal-line by McCracken as Hearts tried desperately to get back on level terms. This was probably the least they deserved.

United hung on as cross after cross was slung into their busy box. Craig Gordon, the Hearts goalkeeper, was even spotted amid the melee in injury time, as though this was a cup final and not a humdrum league fixture. Of course, for the United fans, it might have been a cup final, sensing as they were this longed-for home victory. And when it did arrive, signalled by a terrific blast of Alan Freeland’s whistle, relief spilled down from the stands.

Dundee Utd: Gallacher, Wilson, McCracken, Innes, Archibald, McLaren (Samuel 75), Kerr, McInnes, James Paterson (Duff 56), Dodds, McIntyre. Subs not used: Jarvie, Miller, Easton.

Hearts: Gordon, Neilson, McKenna, Webster, Maybury, MacFarlane (Berra 83), Severin, Kisnorbo (Valois 78), Simmons (Wyness 50), De Vries, Kirk. Subs not used: Moilanen, McCann.

Referee: A Freeland.

Attendance: 6,343

Taken from the Scotsman