Dundee Utd 1-0 Livingston

Dundee United celebrate McCracken's match-winning goal

David McCracken scored a timely first goal of the season to give the home side a precious SPL win.

The first half was a scrappy affair, with both sides battling to create and finish chances in this bottom of the table clash.

Livingston were looking to erase the memory of their midweek 5-0 thrashing against Motherwell in the CIS Cup.

But the Tannadice side scored with 12 minutes left, McCracken heading home from a Barry Robson cross.

Dundee United defenders Mark Wilson and Chris Innes were out on suspensions, but midfielder Karim Kerkar returned to the squad after being cup-tied for the CIS Insurance Cup win over Hibernian on Tuesday.

Livingston lined up without Will Snowdon, Oscar Rubio, Jim Hamilton and Robert Snodgrass, who were all dropped to the bench.

Assistant manager Alan Kernaghan came into the defence with Scott McLaughlin, as Derek Lilley and Colin McMenamin made up a new-look strike force.

United midfielder Barry Robson had the first attempt on goal after seven minutes after he collected a Jim McIntyre flick inside the Livingston box, but his angled shot from 16 yards failed to worry Livingston keeper Roddy McKenzie.

The next threat on goal during a scrappy opening period came from United striker McIntyre after 20 minutes, but he could only watch as his header sailed over the bar.

In the 27th minute, Robson made some space for himself at the edge of the Livi box but his shot was easily saved by McKenzie.

Livingston's strike pairing Lilley and McMenamin were almost anonymous although their cause was not helped due to an almost total lack of service from their midfield.

In the 35th minute there was a brief flurry of excitement when McIntyre saw his snap-shot from 25 yards strike the bar.

Then on the half-time whistle, Richard Brittain's corner from the left was met by Lilley at the near post, but the Livi striker's header was just off target.

The poor game was sparked into life with 12 minutes to go as David McCracken put the home side one nil up.

Robson sent over a corner from the right and McCracken headed home to grab his first goal of the season.

The win sees United climb off bottom spot in the table and swap places with Livi who now prop up the SPL having lost their last six games on the trot.

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Dundee Utd: Jarvie, Duff, McCracken, Ritchie, Archibald, Kerkar, Kerr, McInnes, Robson, McIntyre, Grady. Subs: Hirschfeld, Brebner, Dodds, Scotland, Callaghan, Gardiner, Cameron.

Livingston: McKenzie, McLaughlin, Kernaghan, Dorado, McNamee, Brittain, Easton, Lovell, O'Brien, McMenamin, Lilley. Subs: Meldrum, Rubio, Hamilton, Snowdon, McPake, Libbra, Snodgrass.

Referee: C MacKay