A neat and tidy performance at the Excelsior Stadium put Dundee United into the Scottish Communities League Cup quarter-finals.
The Tangerines worked hard for their win against an enthusiastic Airdrie United side, opening the scoring through Ryan Dow on 11 minutes and putting the outcome beyond doubt thanks to substitute Jon Daly (76).
It was a good night for a youthful Tannadice side and manager Peter Houston was suitably pleased that United’s name will be in the hat for the last-eight draw.
He said: ”It was a professional performance in what was a very tough match. Our attitude was spot-on and we had to work hard tonight.”
He added: ”I want to give credit to Airdrie because until the second goal I was always wary of an equaliser. So I was delighted to see the second one go in and I am delighted to be in the next round of the cup.”
Airdrie boss Jimmy Boyle, who felt his team were denied a penalty in the first half when Willo Flood appeared to handle, said, ”I think United’s full-time fitness started to tell but I was really pleased with our performance.”
There was a late change to the Tangerines’ starting line-up. The team sheets had midfielder Scott Robertson listed but when the players came out of the tunnel Stuart Armstrong, originally due to be on the bench, was in his place.
It later emerged that Robertson had injured his calf in the warm-up.
Another change from Saturday’s team that faced Inverness Caley Thistle was Barry Douglas, who came in for Keith Watson. The full-back has had more than his share of knee trouble and was not risked on the artificial surface.
It was Flood who played in Watson’s right-back role, though, with Douglas operating on the left of midfield.
Armstrong had the first serious chance on eight minutes after a rampaging run down the left by Paul Dixon ended with a cutback to striker Lauri Dalla Valle, who then found the young midfielder in front of goal but he could not get full contact on the ball.
United did not have too long for a goal, however, with the opener coming along in the 11th minute.
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It was a bit of a gift, with Airdrie keeper Paul McKane spilling Armstrong’s shot to allow Dow to show misfiring Chelsea striker Fernando Torres how it’s done by rounding the goalie and slotting home from a tight angle.
McKane nearly had another howler just a minute later, failing to hold on to Dixon’s strike but Dalla Valle could not get there first and was clattered in the process, requiring treatment.
Airdrie gradually crept into the game and had their first go at goal on 24 minutes, with Ryan Donnelly unfortunate to hit the side-netting after he beat United goalie Dusan Pernis to the ball went wide before shooting.
Donnelly then brought a fine one-handed save out of Pernis after hitting a half-volley from 25 yards then, up the other end, a cheeky chip from Danny Swanson just dropped over the Diamonds’ bar on 34 minutes.
Having had their goal gift-wrapped, United almost gave one back to Airdrie three minutes from half-time, when defender Garry Kenneth was short with a passback and the lively Donnelly took possession before shooting just wide.
Swanson got the second-half action going by firing a 20-yard shot wide then Douglas sent another strike a foot adrift of the target on 55 minutes.
Swanson left the field on the hour to be replaced by Gary Mackay-Steven, the former Airdrie player given the chance to shine against his old team.
He made an instant impact, forcing keeper McKane to cut out his cross from the left.
McKane was in action again on 66 minutes, diving to keep out a netbound header from Dalla Valle, then Daly came on for Armstrong and almost scored with his first touch as he had done against ICT but his header just cleared the bar.
Daly didn’t dally, though, and put United further ahead on 76 minutes.
Dixon broke down the left and swung over a tremendous low cross that was swept into the net by the inrushing Irishman from 10 yards out to wrap things up.
Attendance: 1252.
Photo Steve Gracie.
It was a bit of a gift, with Airdrie keeper Paul McKane spilling Armstrong’s shot to allow Dow to show misfiring Chelsea striker Fernando Torres how it’s done by rounding the goalie and slotting home from a tight angle.
McKane nearly had another howler just a minute later, failing to hold on to Dixon’s strike but Dalla Valle could not get there first and was clattered in the process, requiring treatment.
Airdrie gradually crept into the game and had their first go at goal on 24 minutes, with Ryan Donnelly unfortunate to hit the side-netting after he beat United goalie Dusan Pernis to the ball went wide before shooting.
Donnelly then brought a fine one-handed save out of Pernis after hitting a half-volley from 25 yards then, up the other end, a cheeky chip from Danny Swanson just dropped over the Diamonds’ bar on 34 minutes.
Having had their goal gift-wrapped, United almost gave one back to Airdrie three minutes from half-time, when defender Garry Kenneth was short with a passback and the lively Donnelly took possession before shooting just wide.
Swanson got the second-half action going by firing a 20-yard shot wide then Douglas sent another strike a foot adrift of the target on 55 minutes.
Swanson left the field on the hour to be replaced by Gary Mackay-Steven, the former Airdrie player given the chance to shine against his old team.
He made an instant impact, forcing keeper McKane to cut out his cross from the left.
McKane was in action again on 66 minutes, diving to keep out a netbound header from Dalla Valle, then Daly came on for Armstrong and almost scored with his first touch as he had done against ICT but his header just cleared the bar.
Daly didn’t dally, though, and put United further ahead on 76 minutes.
Dixon broke down the left and swung over a tremendous low cross that was swept into the net by the inrushing Irishman from 10 yards out to wrap things up.
Attendance: 1252.
Photo Steve Gracie.