Dundee United turned on the style at Hampden Park to hammer Queen’s Park 5-0 and retain their four-point lead at the summit of the Championship.
Kai Fotheringham opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time, finally breaching the Spiders’ rearguard following 45 minutes of almost constant pressure from the visitors.
The Terrors ran riot after the break, with Louis Moult, Ross Graham, Fotheringham and Craig Sibbald rippling the net.
Given Moult saw a penalty kick saved by Calum Ferrie and Fotheringham struck the cross-bar, the margin of victory could have been even more comprehensive.
United named the same starting 11 for successive games for the first time since their 3-0 win at Arbroath on January 2.
Moult, fresh from winning Championship player of the month and SPFL goal of the month for March, led the line alongside Tony Watt, with Sam McClelland and Graham continuing at centre-back.
Early wastefulness
Jim Goodwin will wonder how his side endeavoured NOT to score during the opening 10 minutes.
Glenn Middleton set the tone, warming the palms of Ferrie after Sibbald robbed Jack Turner; one of several times the Spiders surrendered possession in their own half.
Fotheringham then headed an effort against the bar after latching onto a chipped Watt through-ball, before Moult saw his effort on the follow-up brilliantly saved by Ferrie.
Moult’s burgeoning battle with Ferrie continued from 12 yards when Josh Scott clumsily fouled Fotheringham in the box, prompting referee Duncan Williams to point to the spot. However, the Queen’s Park No.1 plunged to save Moult’s resultant, tame spot-kick.
Belated breakthrough
For all their territorial dominance, United could have found themselves trailing when a loose ball in the box fell to Turner, only for the midfielder to ripple the side-netting.
A wonderful last-gasp Jack Thomson tackle was required to deny Middleton a clear sight of goal as the winger hared onto a Moult pass, with the Tangerines again turning the screw as the interval approached.
And the Terrors did finally claim a deserved opener on the stroke of half-time.
A moment of magic by Watt saw the United forward skin Scott and Alex Bannon on the flank before picking out the unmarked Fotheringham in the box. The youngster’s finish was unerring.
Graham’s first goal since April 2022
Moult buried the personal frustrations of the first half within 10 minutes of the restart, latching on to a long Graham pass before producing a clinical lob to beat the onrushing Ferrie; his 18th goal of the season.
Graham was thwarted by an excellent point-blank save as Ferrie smothered his ferocious volley. However, the big centre-half powered home United’s third of the game from Miller Thomson’s subsequent corner.
Game over.
Five-star United
Now adding gloss to a comprehensive triumph, the Tangerines made it 4-0 in surreal fashion.
Fotheringham received a neat knock-down from Sibbald on the edge of the box and was fouled by Thomson in the act of shooting, yet his effort trickled into the corner of the net.
Despite initial confusion regarding what the referee had awarded, whistler Williams ultimately signalled for the goal.
United hit five for the third time in the Championship this season – following 5-0 and 6-0 wins against Partick Thistle and Arbroath, respectively – when Sibbald was rewarded for his peerless industry.
Another excellent Thomson corner-kick was headed back across the face of goal by Watt, and Sibbald was there to slam home from inside the box, via a slight deflection.
Star man: Kai Fotheringham (Dundee United)
It feels churlish to spotlight any single player.
Graham, Thomson, Sibbald, Ross Docherty and Watt all made a case to be deemed star man.
And there was not a failure among the names not mentioned above.
However, Fotheringham was at his potent best throughout.
As well as scoring twice, he won a penalty and struck the cross-bar with another effort.
Fourteen goals in 37 appearances is a superb tally for a player in his maiden campaign as a bona fide first-team regular.
Player ratings
Dundee United (4-4-2): Walton 6; Thomson 8, McClelland 7, Graham 8, McMann 8; Fotheringham 8 (Tillson 70), Sibbald 8, Docherty 8 (Cudjoe 75), Middleton 7 (Mochrie 75); Watt 8 (Wotherspoon 75), Moult 7 (Greive 68). Subs not used: Newman, Grimshaw, Meekison, Cleall-Harding
Referee: Duncan Williams
Att: 3,109
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