United fail to join in the fun

DUNDEE UNITED 3-0

CLYDEBANK 14min Duffy 62min Olofsson 65min Olofsson Progressing through the Scottish Cup without breaking into a smile is quite a feat, but Dundee United are pulling it off. With all the flamboyance of a funeral march, United wore down homeless opposition to struggle into the big issue of tonight's semi-final draw.

Characteristically, given the cluttered path they have encountered, there is another hurdle to clear before thoughts can turn to the last four. It has taken eight diary dates to see off little Queen's Park and Clydebank, including four postponements and two replays. Swapping days off with off days, United have never once impressed during their limping route through this year's cup campaign to a quarter-final at Ayr United on Saturday. With form like that, Sod's Law ordains they are bound to win the thing in May. It is unwise to ignore the manager's instructions, but danger, too, in taking him too literally. Paul Sturrock had said prior to the game he did not care how United played, so long as they won. His players seemed to take that as an invitation to shun any obligation to entertain, and surrendered the initiative to lively, bright Clydebank who flourished until tired out by their own efforts. The Tannadice side might have been two down in the first five minutes, which would have done little for them, but much for a tie which lacked a sense of occasion. Those fans who bothered to show must have been of the opinion that, like a trip to the dentist, it was a date they were obliged to attend. The cup has always provided an opportunity for talent to shine on a bigger stage, and Clydebank midfielder David Nicholls, once on Hibs' books, displayed some nice touches at the outset to seize attention. He floated a ball through which almost gave Colin McDonald an opening goal. It took an acrobatic diving save from the back- pedalling Sieb Dykstra to keep the striker's high, lofted shot from the net. When Marc Anthony then came close with a snap shot after a Nichols' throw-in was insufficiently cleared, Clydebank were injected with early confidence. Nothing saps the spirit quite like conceding a goal, though, particularly as United made the breakthrough in their first attack of note. Joe Miller fired over a free-kick from the right and Billy Dodds nodded it back in at the far post for Neil Duffy to bullet in a close-range header which shook the net and provided his first goal of the season. That Ian McCall is a manager of promise is evident from more than the intelligent, articulate comments he tends to offer in interviews. The five-man midfield Clydebank deployed against United was the most impressive unit on the field, scurrying back to protect their defence one moment, beavering forward to support the front two the next. The through balls they unleashed for their strikers tended to be slightly over-hit on occasion, but nevertheless gave United no end of palpitations. The anxiety McCall must have felt about his midfield's ability to maintain that work-rate against Premier opposition was justified only in the last half hour. Colin Scott, one of those young keepers unable to see past Andy Goram when he was in Rangers' reserves, had been a spectator since losing the opener, but suddenly found himself propelled into action. Miller sent him scampering with a half-volley just wide, then Alex Mathie found space 10 yards out, only to spoon a harmless shot into the keeper's arms. Such action indicated the tie was at last easing away from Clydebank and two goals in four minutes killed them off. Mathie crossed from the edge of the area and the force of Kjell Olofsson's close-range shot carried the ball into the net despite Scott getting a hand to it. Olofsson had another almost immediately, courtesy of Clydebank's one glaring error of the day. Kenny Brannigan stumbled over a Miller cross, managing to knock the ball beyond his goalkeeper rather than into the safety of his hands. Olofsson pounced to slide the loose ball into an open goal. From the embers of a dying tie a spark of interest had been salvaged. Could Olofsson claim a hat-trick? The prospect had barely crept into supporters' thoughts when it was snatched from them as the striker was substituted. After the game Sturrock had the grace to admit Clydebank had played the prettier football, keeping possession tidily and never resorting to the high balls which can be a staple of the First Division. Ultimately they came no closer to scoring than through the stabbed shot towards goal from Innes Ritchie which Duffy cleared off the line in the closing minutes. But 3-0 flattered United. Olofsson, departing in the summer, is eager to bow out at the cup final but United must immediately address how to replace the powerful predator who adds so greatly to their threat in attack. The Tannadice side might still be in the cup, but they seem to feel no need to overdose on adrenalin. Clydebank show their mettle as they make it an uncomfortable afternoon at Tannadice dundee united (4-3-1-2) 1 Dykstra 5 Patterson 21 de Vos 18 Duffy 30 Paterson 15 Miller 68 23 Mols 11 Easton 14 Dodds 86 12 Mathie 7 Olofsson 68 substitutes 17 McLaren 68 19 Thompson 86 20 Skoldmark 68 clydebank (3-5-2) 1 Scott 6 Brannigan 2 Wishart 4 Ritchie 5 Taggart 8 Anthony 7 Nicholls 10 Gardner 64 3 Love 74 11 S Miller 9 McDonald 71 substitutes 12 Docherty 64 14 Murdoch 74 15 Brown 71 attendance 5,570 referee K Clark (Paisley)

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