Dundee United 1-0 Dunfermline

Scott Robertson scored the only goal of the game at Tannadice

Dundee United proved too strong for First Division opponents Dunfermline in their Co-operative Insurance Cup quarter-final at Tannadice.

Midfielder Scott Robertson gave last season's beaten finalists the lead after 15 minutes when he collected Willo Flood's cross to fire home.

The Pars almost equalised three minutes after the break through midfielder Stephen Glass' strike.

United striker Roy O'Donovan went close with a lob as the hosts held on.

Craig Levein's side, who lost to Rangers on penalties in last season's Co-operative Insurance Cup final at Hampden, broke the deadlock within quarter of an hour through Robertson's strike.

The visitors rallied and almost levelled when striker Andy Kirk's shot cannoned back off the post.

United went close to doubling their lead a minute from the break when Pars defender Austin McCann cleared Paul Dixon's cross at the back post after the United midfielder had sped into the box.

In the 84th minute Flood nearly doubled the home side's lead, but his 10-yard came back off the Pars' crossbar.

Only a superb injury-time save by United goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska from Stephen Glass's volley denied the visitors a last-gasp equaliser.

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Dundee United manager Craig Levein:
"It was quite tight. We deserved to win but I thought Dunfermline put up a very good performance. Lukasz Zaluska has had to make a couple of great saves. It was a really tough test for us.

"We defended really well today. We kept their chances down to a minimum and I think Bayne and Kirk are two strikers who would trouble most defences in the SPL.

"Our centre-backs were different class today.

"We've got a tough match at Falkirk on Saturday and then we're away to Ibrox so we want to keep our run going for as long as we can."

Dunfermline manager Jim McIntyre:

"The turning point was the referee's decision when Andy Kirk was through one-on-one. Their two players ran into each other and it's very rarely Andy misses one-on-ones.

"The United coaching staff had clearly seen it as well but the referee thought Andy pushed one of them.

"But we just lick our wounds and get on with it and I'm proud of the players because United are a class team."

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Dundee Utd: Zaluska, Dillon, Wilkie, Dods, Dixon, Flood, Scott Robertson, Gomis, Conway, O'Donovan, Sandaza (Feeney 68).
Subs Not Used: McGovern, David Robertson, Swanson, Kenneth.

Goals: Scott Robertson 16

Dunfermline: Gallacher, Woods, Shields, Wilson, McCann, Harper (Bell 88), Phinn, Burke (Wiles 82), Glass, Bayne, Kirk (Williamson 82).
Subs Not Used: Reidford, Scott Thomson.

Booked: Gallacher

Attendance: 5,350

Referee: D McDonald