Dundee United gained revenge for a defeat to Dumbarton at the start of the season with this narrow but deserved win at Tannadice.
Ray McKinnon’s side were not at their best but did enough to edge out a stuffy Sons side and move up to second in the Championship table.
The home side started brightly and carved out a superb opportunity in the seventh minute.
Skipper Willo Flood played a great pass into the path of Nick van der Velden bursting down the right and he squared to Scott Fraser who looked certain to score but instead his shot cannoned off Dumbarton keeper Alan Martin’s post.
United dominated the early exchanges but they had a big scare in the 18th minute when keeper Cammy Bell had to pull off a stunning point-blank save to keep out a Garry Fleming shot.
The former Rangers stopper came to the rescue once more shortly after, clawing away a goal-bound Robert Thomson header.
Fraser then sent a long-range free-kick flying towards goal but Martin made a fine acrobatic save to tip his effort over the bar.
Then in the 31st minute, the Sons goalie had to make another vital stop to keep out a Van der Velden low volley with the teams heading in at the break with the scores level.
However, the deadlock was finally broken in the 53rd minute in bizarre circumstances. Fraser swung a corner in from the United right with Dumbarton’s Mark Docherty sending a header sailing past his own keeper.
The Tangerines then doubled their advantage in the 66th minute when Martin made another superb stop but big home defender William Edjenguele was on hand to stab home the rebound.
However, just seven minutes later, the Sons grabbed a lifeline when Thomson was first to react to beat Bell to the ball to convert from close range.
That though was scant consolation for Dumbarton with United seeing out the game to take all three points.
For full report, reaction and analysis, see Monday’s Courier.
