QOTS 2 DUFC 3

So United will meet St Mirren in this season's Irn Bru Mickey Mouse Challenge Cup (or whatever it's called) final after scraping through in a topsy turvy semi final against Queen of the South at Palmerston.

It was an odd game. United were by far the better team in the first half, racing into a three goal lead. While it wasn't magnificent play, United were the hungrier and more determined team in that period and that was borne out by the fact we got the goals.

Charlie "he scored number 6" Telfer opened the scoring after just 3 minutes with a fine finish to the keepers right, and then Scott Fraser doubled the advantage shortly after a bit of a stramash. The best goal of the game came from Tony Andreu though with a fine finish into the top corner from 18 yards.

United seemed to be coasting at the break but naturally we conceded a goal and then proceeded to sheidt ourselves for the rest of the game. Queens wasted a number of chances to further close the deficit and get themselves back in the game and unfortunately for them they didn't get a goal back until stoppage time. To be honest if they had scored earlier they would have been very likely to get an equaliser.

It's difficult at the moment for United. We aren't playing well, we aren't keeping clean sheets and it's just not clicking for us. It was however hugely important to win simply to try to build up a little momentum and confidence. I've said on numerous occasions this season that this trophy means little to me (I won't be at the final because I'm on holiday, and I'm not even that bothered to miss it to be honest) but if it helps lift the players then fantastic.

I don't think anyone played fantastically well. There were a lot of middling performances. I'm yet to see anything from Nicholls that excites me but hopefully that comes with games.

On a side note, I just want to say how pleased I am that we'll be playing St Mirren and not TNS in the final. I still think it's a disgrace that non-Scottish teams were invited into the tournament and I think the changes to the competition this season have been designed to help two clubs, to the detriment of the game here. Thankfully we will have a Scottish club winning a Scottish tournament.