QOTS Match Abandoned

Today’s match was abandoned at half-time with referee Craig Thomson deeming the surface too slippy and too dangerous.

That came with the game goalless, though United had by far the better of the first half.

By Peter Rundo

An injury sustained by Stuart Murdoch in training in midweek meant manager Csaba Laszlo had to make one enforced change to the side that defeated Morton, Paul Quinn coming in. He partnered Mark Durnan in central defence with skipper Tam Scobbie switching to the vacancy at right-back.  

United went into the game looking to extend their undefeated league run to seven games, whilst Queens had only suffered one defeat in their last six games.

In the first league meeting at Tannadice this season, despite playing most of the game with ten men, United won 2-1. Scott McDonald’s opener was cancelled out by Callum Fordyce with Scott Fraser netting the winner.

United’s last here ended in a 4-2 defeat last April, but the Tangerines won the other two meetings, triumphing 4-1 in the league and 3-2 in the Irn-Bru Cup. So goals have been in plentiful supply in this fixture.

Before the kick-off, there was a minute’s silence for Queens’ Physiotherapist John Kerr who passed away recently. 

In a bright opening, United took the game to the home side with Scott Fraser particularly prominent, displaying some nifty footwork, but the Doonhamers’ defence held firm.

Indeed, the hosts were first to really threaten when a Chris Kane shot was blocked for the game’s first corner after 10 minutes.

Two minutes later, Paul McMullan had United’s first effort, his diagonal effort from 18 yards sneaked past the far post.

As anticipated it was turning out be a very open affair with both sides committed to attack.

A Fraser flick set up a shooting chance for McMullan but his shot was blocked as United started to turn the screw.

From their first corner after 18 minutes, Mark Durnan was twice denied by close range blocks.

And on 19 minutes United came close to breaking the deadlock, the impressive Fraser playing in Billy King, who despite being closely challenged got his shot away from 15 yards but dragged it past the post with keeper Alan Martin on his heels. 

Midway through the half, loanee from St Johnstone, Jordan Kerr, surged forward and hit a speculative from 35 yards which Harry Lewis saved without too much trouble.

The action continued at the other end with Martin keeping a King’s low drive out with his feet and then Robson side-footed over Fraser Fyvie.

Robson was then at the heart of a great move on the left on 27 minutes to play in Scott McDonald but the striker disappointingly drilled his shot into the side netting.

Just after the half hour mark, United went close again. King was on the end of a McMullan cross and Martin could only parry his downward header, but the keeper reacted quickly enough to prevent McDonald taking advantage.

Seven minutes from the interval, we had the first booking, Darren Brownlie being penalised for a two-footed challenge on Robson who fortunately was able to continue after treatment.

In a counter-attack, Stephen Dobbie threatened with a run down the left, but Fyvie’s intervention ended the danger at the expense of a corner.

Just before the interval, Durnan was wayward with a header from a Fyvie free-kick, so United went in at the break without the goal their dominance deserved.

But there was no chance to see if United could win the game as during the interval, the match officials were out inspecting parts of the pitch, presumably concerned by the effect of frost forming as darkness fell and called a halt to proceedings.

Queen of the South:

Martin, Mercer, Brownlie, Kerr, Marshall, Dykes, Rankin (C), Jacobs, Stirling, Kane Dobbie.

Subs not used: Leighfield(GK), Rooney, Tapping, Lyle, McFarlane, Murray, Bell.

United (4-4-2):

Lewis, Quinn , Durnan, Scobbie (C), Robson, McMullan (Quinn 85), Fyvie, Stanton, Fraser, McDonald.

Subs not used: Deniz (GK), N’Koyi , Allardice, Smith, Dailly, Appere, Chalmers.

Referee: Craig Thomson