Dundee United ran newly-relegated English Premier league side Queens Park Rangers close at Barnet’s The Hive ground on Wednesday night.
Although the Tangerines suffered another defeat, this was most encouraging of the four pre-season games so far and they only lost out due to a goalkeeping error by the otherwise excellent Luis Zwick.
Manager Jackie McNamara praised his side’s performance, saying: “I have taken something from all our games so far, but to run a multi-million team like QPR so close is a real plus.
“Indeed I thought we were the better side and played the better football.
“Now hopefully we can take this performance into the Watford game on Saturday and the Aberdeen game because we won’t meet many teams of this quality back home.”
United first threatened on eight minutes. Paul Dixon whipped in a cross and Mario Bilate wasn’t far away from getting a touch allowing England keeper Robert Green to collect.
Three minutes later, United skipper Ryan McGowan on the end of a Blair Spittal corner but his well-struck effort went just over.
But it was the Londoners who almost drew first blood.
A surging run by the highly-rated Charlie Austin saw him tee up internationalist Jamie Mackie, but Zwick enhanced his growing reputation with a fine one-handed stop from the Scottish internationalist.
However, the Tangerines fell behind after 20 minutes. Austin fed Matt Phillips who evaded Zwick’s challenge to steer the ball into the empty net.
Three minutes later United’s best move of the game so far almost brought a leveller.
McGowan played the ball up the right which Bilate ran on to before cross to Spittal at the far post but his header drifted over.
And a couple of minutes later Bilate was only denied by a defender’s last gasp challenge after a neat flick on from Erskine who in turn might have been advised to shoot rather than cut the bal back after getting clear of the home defence.
But a goal for the Dutch striker was only temporarily delayed.
Bliate instantly controlled a long ball from John Souttar before neatly sliding home a deserved equaliser.
Another long ball this time caught out the QPR defence four minutes from the break. Charlie Telfer’s delivery was excellent and only the feet of Green kept out Erskine’s effort.
Unchanged at the interval, United continued to give as good as they got, but they were indebted to Zwick on the hour mark as he tipped Mackie’s acute-angled drive on to the post.
The danger wasn’t over though but the Tannadice defence held firm to block Austin’s follow up effort.
Unfortunately, Zwick was beaten three minutes later, allowing a Massimo Luongo header to slip through his hands as United again fell behind.
And but for the feet of the German keeper a minute later, Mackie would have added a third.
Amongst the raft of substitutions made by McNamara midway through the second half was the introduction of new signing Darko Bodul and he almost became an instant hero.
With 12 minutes left Aidan Connolly played in the Austrian only for his shot to hit the side-netting.