Dundee United 4, Cowdenbeath 1.

Betfred Cup Group C

Attendance-3256

COWDENBEATH were hit by a late goal which put a harsh reflection on their performance at Tannadice on Sunday.

Despite losing goalkeeper Dave McGurn at the break they never gave up and battled all the way.

Cowden were delighted to have left-back Shaun Rutherford, fit despite his severe knock sustained against Buckie Thistle, and went with the same defensive set-up.

Harvey Swann stepped into the left hand side of midfield and Robbie Buchanan supported Cammy Muirhead in attack.

Clearly United were keen to put pressure on the Blues from the start and the visiting rearguard and midfield had to work overtime in the early stages to keep them at bay.

But the hardworking Cowdenbeath team managed to deny the eager homesters and there was ten minutes on the clock before they had their first real raid when Sam Stanton saw his shot well held by McGurn.

The opening goal came after 30 minutes when Billy King did the spadework and Sam STANTON created space for himself to fire a right foot shot wide of McGurn.

But shortly after Matt McInally's angled ball into box glanced the United bar.

Cowden needed to start the second period well but they but they had to make a change when McGurn was unable to resume and sub ‘keeper Joe McGovern’s first job was to pick the ball out of the net when Matt Smith provided the pass and KING’S right foot shot gave the last line no chance.

Cowden responded and United ‘keeper Joe Lewis pulled off a fine save from Robbie Buchanan’s drive then at the other end Paul McMullan saw McGovern get his hand to his 35 yarder.

With 25 minutes left Cowdenbeath threw striker Josh Morris on for McInally and Buchanan had a great chance a minute later but the ball slipped inches wide.

But United flew up the other end and Jamie Pyper put in a challenge and fouled Smith in the box. Scott FRASER gave McGovern no chance from the spot.

However, nine minutes later Cowden pulled one back when MUIRHEAD fired an unsaveable shot high into the United net from the middle of the box after a Rutherford cross.

With nine minutes to go the home side got a fourth through SMITH after McGovern had parried King's shot into his path.

Dundee United: Lewis (6); Toshney (7) (Ballantyne 82 (2)), Scobbie (6); Edjenguele (6), Robson (7), Bries (6) (Allardice 68 (3)); Stanton (7), Fraser (7) (Chalmers 75 (3)), Smith (8), King (7), McMullan.

Cowdenbeath: Dave McGurn (6) (Joe McGovern 46 (6)); Matt McInally (6) (Josh Morris 65 (3)), Shaun Rutherford (7); Jamie Pyper (7). Scott Rumsby (7), David Syme (7); Fraser Mullen (7), Kyle Miller (7), Cammy Muirhead (7) (Ryan Connelly 83 (3)), Harvey Swann (6). Subs not used, John Ovenstone, Hamish Thomson, Lewis Turnbull.

Referee-Alan Newlands (6).