It was a Sunday stroll for Dundee United as they comfortably saw off Cowdenbeath at Tannadice to make it three wins out of three in Betfred Cup Group C.
The Tangerines opened the scoring through Sam Stanton in the 30th minute with his first goal for the club and then doubled their advantage just after the break thanks to Billy King.
Scott Fraser made it three and easy from the penalty spot before Cowdenbeath scored what proved to be just a consolation goal through Cameron Muirhead.
However, the home side it four with Matty Smith on the mark and the wins sets United up nicely before the eagerly-awaited derby with Dundee at Dens next week.
Home boss Ray McKinnon made three changes from the side that beat Buckie Thistle last Wednesday night with Matty Smith, Tam Scobbie and Scott Fraser coming in for Patrick N’Koyi, Mark Durnan and James Keatings, with the latter suffering ankle ligament damage in the Highlands.
Dundee boss Neil McCann was an interested spectator as the home side clicked into gear straight away against the League 2 part-timers, spraying the ball around confidently.
However, it wasn’t until the 11th minute that Cowdenbeath’s veteran keeper David McGurn had to make his first save of the game, comfortably dealing with a shot on the turn from a tight angle by Stanton.
Billy Brown’s team looked to hit on the break with Muirhead embarking on a great a great run down the left but the subsequent corner was easily dealt with.
Clear-cut chances were notable by their absence with United continuing to play the ball around nicely without causing the Fife side too much trouble in the final third.
Cowdenbeath hearts were in their mouths in the 27th minute when Jamie Pyper headed back towards his own goal with McGurn having to look lively to snuff out any danger.
In truth though there was little for the fans to get too excited about until the home side finally broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark.
The Blue Brazil defence was cut open as Billy King threaded a pass into the feet of Stanton who made no mistake, calmly slotting low past the exposed McGurn.
United then had a scare of their own shortly after when a deep cross from the right by Matthew McInally clipped the top of home keeper Harry Lewis’s crossbar.
McKinnon’s men though were growing in confidence and just before the break they put together a flowing move that featured no less than two backheels and ended with full-back Jamie Robson dragging a shot just wide of McGurn’s far post.
Cowdenbeath made a change at half-time with former United keeper Joe McGovern coming in for McGurn – but he suffered a nightmare introduction to the game, conceding after just a minute.
The ball broke to King, who produced a sublime chipped finish over McGovern from just inside the Blue Brazil box to make it 2-0.
It was a hammer blow for Cowdenbeath but they fashioned an opportunity of their own soon after when Bobby Buchanan hit a shot on the turn but it was comfortably gathered by Lewis.
McGovern was tested again when Paul McMullan hit a curling shot from 16 yards but this time the keeper saved easily.
The goalie though had no chance in the 67th minute when United were awarded a spot-kick following a foul in the Cowdenbeath box by Pyper on Robson. Fraser stepped up to take the penalty and coolly steered it past McGovern.
McKinnon would have been looking for a clean sheet to go with the win but that hope was extinguished in the 76th minute when Cowdenbeath pulled one back. A cross from the left by Shaun Rutherford was fired low into the net by Muirhead past Lewis.
However, United restored their three-goal advantage just four minutes later when McGovern could only parry a King shot into the path of Smith who made no mistake, rifling home from close range.
Robson then had a gilt-edged opportunity to make it five but somehow steered his header wide.
Attendance – 3,253.
Dundee United – Lewis, Scobbie, Toshney (Ballantyne, 82), McMullan, Fraser (Chalmers, 75), King, Stanton, Edjenguele, Robson, Briels (Allardice, 68), M. Smith.
Subs not used – Deniz, Donaldson, Thomas, B. Smith.
Cowdenbeath – McGurn (McGovern, 45), Pyper, Rutherford, Mullen, Rumsby, Syme, McInally (Morris, 65), Buchanan, Muirhead (Connolly, 83), Miller, Swann.
Subs not used – Thomson, Ovenstone, Turnbull, Leslie.
Referee – Alan Newlands.
