IT was what you might call a good day at the office for Dundee United manager Ray McKinnon at the weekend.
Not only did his team battle to the final of the Irn-Bru Cup by holding off a late challenge from Queen of the South in a 3-2 victory, but promotion chasing rivals Hibs, Falkirk and Morton all failed to take full points in the championship programme.
“It’s really been a good day all round and we’ve got something to keep focused on and keep on top of,” he said.
“It was important to get that result against Queens – it’s a tough place to come to but we’re into the final and it's something to look forward to. Now we can concentrate on our league form.
"There’s lots and lots to play for and everyone knows that. It’s a highly competitive league and a long way to go yet and we’ll focus on it.”
The Tannadice manager, however, could not hide his annoyance at the way his team nearly threw away a 3-0 lead having seemed to have their place in the final booked by the interval.
Charlie Telfer paved the way as he took advantage of slackness in the Dumfries defence to slot the ball home in just three minutes and Queens defenders were caught out again when they allowed Scott Fraser a sight of goal from just ten yards and he made no mistake.
The Dumfries men seemed at sixes and sevens at this stage as Tony Andreu got his name on the scoresheet with a 20-yard drive.
McKinnon said: “I felt we could have played even better. But we knew that if they scored it would give them something to fight for.”
And a half-time pep talk from manager Gary Naysmith seemed to put some fire into the Dumfries side and within five minutes of the restart Stephen Dobbie netted after seizing on a slip by a defender to open up some hope.
In fact the roles gradually became reversed with the pressure on United, particularly in the closing stages with keeper Luis Zwick forced into some fine saves.
But he could not defy Derek Lyle from narrowing the margin as the game moved into injury time with the United fans holding their breath.
Certainly Queens manager Gary Naysmith felt his side were unlucky. The former Scotland internationalist said: “At the end of the day I genuinely felt we were the better team.
“Unfortunately the first two goals we gave away were shocking. There are no other words for it and no matter how you dress it up that’s what’s cost us from getting into the final.”
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