STORY OF THE MATCH | AYR UNITED (H)

Dundee United returned to the top of the cinch Championship table after securing a hard-fought victory over Ayr United.

Inside the opening two minutes, the Terrors had the ball in the net when Louis Moult diverted a low Glenn Middleton delivery beyond Charlie Albinson. However, the tangerine celebrations were halted by the nearside assistant’s raised flag.

A slip on the sodden Tannadice surface from captain Ross Docherty gave the hosts a rare opportunity to go for goal as the loose ball fell into the path of Fraser Bryden. 

The Ayr frontman found a way past onrushing ‘keeper Jack Walton but the well-placed Kevin Holt produced a phenomenal goal-line clearance to ensure the deadlock remained unbroken.

In a largely turgid opening 45 minutes, few clear-cut chances presented themselves to either side, with a dominant United continuing to be frustrated in front of goal 

It would take until just after the hour mark for the net to bulge once more in the city of Discovery, and in-form winger Kai Fotheringham proved to be the difference-maker once again for Jim Goodwin’s side.

Following a sustained period of pressure, a Middleton corner caused havoc in the penalty area, with visitors stopper Albinson flapping at the delivery.

This offered Fotheringham the opportunity to stab the ball over the goal line from point-blank range and United hit the front. Now into double figures in all competitions, the Academy graduate leads our scoring charts.

The run of play continued to flow towards the Honest Men’s target, but United were satisfied to close out the 90 minutes with just a solitary goal advantage and, ultimately, leapfrog Raith Rovers into pole position.