Dundee Utd 2-1 Dunfermline

Collin Samuel (centre) and Barry Robson (right) were on target

Dundee United eased the pressure on under-fire manager Gordon Chisolm with a hard-fought victory over Dunfermline.

The impressive Collin Samuel gave the Tannadice men the lead, racing on to a long clearance from goalkeeper Derek Stillie and calmly finishing.

The Pars drew level when Scott Wilson rose highest to head in Lee Makel's fine free-kick.

But Barry Robson's curled free-kick just before the break won it for the home side.

Chisholm desperately needed a result and a performance from his under-pressure side and the players responded early on, twice going close in the opening five minutes.

First Samuel volleyed narrowly wide after a neat turn and Peter Canero then saw a shot flash across the face of goal.

Samuel's pace was causing the Pars all sorts of problems and a neat moving involving the Trinidadian striker almost teed up a goal for Jim McIntyre only for the striker to mis-kick with the goal at his mercy.

The home pressure paid off in the 25th minute when Samuel latched on to Stillie's long punt up field and clipped the ball past Allan McGregor.

But the home side were only leading for five minutes.

Lee Makel swung in a delightful free-kick and Wilson firmly headed the ball into the far corner.

The visitors then got on top and Stillie had to produce a stunning save to deny Greg Ross a fine headed goal and Andy Tod also had a shot blocked as United struggled to regain their composure.

But the lively Samuel won a free-kick on the edge of the Dunfermline penalty box and Barry Robson blasted the ball around the wall into the bottom corner to give United the half-time lead.

Canero went close to extending that lead after the break but his 20-yard strike went wide and Makel saw a long-range effort punched clear by Stillie at the other end.

Samuel blasted another shot from distance over the bar but neither side looked like adding to their goal tally until injury time when the visitors nearly snatched a point.

Substitute Derek Young received the ball 12 yards from goal but his volleyed effort went agonisingly wide ensuring the points stayed at Tannadice.

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Dundee Utd: Stillie, Wilson, McCracken, Ritchie, Archibald, Canero (Duff 68), Kerr, Brebner (Miller 74), Robson (McInnes 83), Samuel, McIntyre.
Subs Not Used: Samson, Kenneth, Fernandez, Goodwillie.

Goals: Samuel 25, Robson 41.

Dunfermline: McGregor, Scott Wilson, Shields, Labonte, Ross (Craig Wilson 87), Mason, Thomson (Derek Young 66), Makel, Campbell, Burchill (Hunt 69), Tod.
Subs Not Used: Halliwell, Darren Young, McCunnie, Tarachulski.

Booked: Shields, Tod.

Goals: Scott Wilson 31.

Att: 5,889

Ref: S Conroy (Scotland).