Dundee United secure European spot

WELL what an end to the season that was for Dundee United. Promoted from the championship this time last year, Jim Goodwin’s side somehow managed to pull off a last gasp victory over north-east rivals Aberdeen and secure fourth place in the Scottish Premiership league and a European spot to go with it.

Going into to this showdown, both sides had been poor of late with United losing all four previous games since the split and looking tired and just about out on their feet in the hot Tannadice sun in the first 30 minutes.

Aberdeen took the lead after some horrendous defending by United allowed Jeppe Okkels to tap home after just a quarter of an hour. United though seemed to wake up around the 30 minute mark and were in control going into the break and it looked like their chance would come to even the game as they grew in confidence.

To add to the drama of the day, St Mirren had already scored at Celtic Park and at this stage United were looking like finishing sixth and out of European contention.

Just a week before, the Buddies had put another spanner in the works at Tannadice when they deservedly ran out 2-0 winners to put the pressure on and it looked like it may be their day in the east end of Glasgow with the champions perhaps having one eye on a cup final a week later.

That all changed again when United got their just reward on 53 minutes when a Glenn Middleton corner was nodded home by Declan Gallagher. A few minutes later, top scorer Sam Dalby slotted home a penalty to put the Tangerines in the lead and send Tannadice into a state of frenzy and nerves to go with it.

Aberdeen had chances late on to try and equalise and an amazing save from United deputy keeper Richards denied them a second on the day, before a huge roar reverberated around Tannadice when word came through that Celtic had equalised late into stoppage time which effectively put paid to any European aspirations that St Mirren had been dreaming of.

So it was advantage Dundee United, who saw out the game with grit and determination that had been so visibly lacking in previous weeks to leapfrog the Dons in the final league table.

A pitch invasion by overjoyed Arabs ensued, but it was unfortunately marred by an incident where Aberdeen’s unused sub goalkeeper Jack MacKenzie was hit by a flying object thrown from his own fans requiring him to have stiches to a facial injury.

Aberdeen fans had already been restricted in numbers after a bottle throwing incident at Jim Goodwin earlier in the season and it could well have a knock-on effect for the fixture in the future.

United certainly saved the best for last this season and that second -half performance in the final game was as good as they have played all year. There have been a few lacklustre performances where sideways football has been none too pleasing on the eye and failed to produce any kind of spark, leaving Arabs increasingly frustrated with the manager’s chosen style of play. Goodwin has mostly kept it simple with wing backs supplying crosses to a loan striker being the order of the day, which hasn’t been to everyone’s liking for sure.

All that will be forgotten for now though and United fans can relax, enjoy the summer and watch the comings and goings around the squad with a few players at the end of their contracts.

One would expect the loanees to return to their parent clubs also and that includes the Irish contingent of Ruari Paton and Emmanuel Adeboyega as well as keeper Jack Walton, who has been a great asset over the past two seasons.

The big question is of course the future of Sam Dalby who has yielded a return of 15 goals for the season and will indeed be difficult to replace should he choose to move on. It is reported United will do everything they can to hold on to the big Englishman but they will face stiff competition from elsewhere for his signature regardless.

It could all have been so different bar a couple of vital results where United managed to pull it out of the bag when it mattered most. The Arabs could well have been looking down the way at another nervy and tense end of season play-off scenario, but thankfully though it’s a bright sunshiney day in the Tangerine half of the city and love is indeed in the air for Jim Goodwin and his players.