Robbie Winters' polished 13th minute effort offered a rare moment of sparkle
in a dull New Firm Scottish Cup clash at Tannadice.
Surprise had been expressed that neither Sky nor the BBC had taken up live
broadcast rights for this only all-Premier Division tie of the third round.
Perhaps they had a preview screening.
Aberdeen in particular, perhaps with one eye on their precarious league
placing, lacked urgency for the vast majority of a disappointing match.
United never quite recaptured the form of their march to the Coca-Cola Cup
final earlier this term, but Winters' early strike proved enough.
Home manager Tommy McLean had indicated beforehand the team with most desire
would triumph and ultimately their six point advantage over the Dons in the
league proved the telling statistic.
United have the relative security to make a sustained bid for the Scottish Cup
- they might lack consistency as a side but in Winters have a 16-goal forward
who can turn games.
They have too the added incentive of being anxious to repair the mental damage
of their 3-0 loss Ibrox loss to Celtic in the season's earlier domestic cup.
United were without new Cameroon international signing Jean Jacques Misse
Misse because of a calf strain, while Aberdeen were at full strength.
Since losing the Coca-Cola Cup final on November 30, United have won just once
and both teams knew defeat would mean only a battle for league survival to look
forward to.
Aberdeen's last visit to Tannadice on November 9 brought the 5-0 defeat which
proved the end for Roy Aitken, dismissed the next morning, with Alex Miller now
at the Pittodrie helm.
Kjell Olofsson offered the first threat for the home side firing a 20-yard
drive which forced Jim Leighton into a fourth minute save low to his right.
Winters spurned a fine opportunity after 11 minutes after being presented with
a free header by a precise Andy McLaren cross.
But two minutes later the striker made amends after Magnus Skoldmark's cross
was touched on by Olofsson for Winters to turn the ball past Leighton from close
range.
An error by Skoldmark in defence allowed Stephen Glass in for an effort at
goal after 25 minutes, but the winger's angled strike was well held by Sieb
Dykstra.
Skoldmark was looking more assured in attack and came close after 28 minutes
when he met a McLaren free kick with a looping header well judged by Leighton.
The Dons' best chance to level before the break fell to Billy Dodds, butafter
turning well in the box, the Scotland man snatched at the opening shooting
straight at Dykstra.
Winters' powerful running continued into the second period and he set up
Olofsson for a curling strike gathered with ease by Leighton.
For Aberdeen, Dodds, whose indifferent form makes his World Cup place less
than secure, was displaced by Mike Newell in a bid to offer more in attack.
Winters then had two chances to have gained a decisive second, firstly his run
through on goal being denied by a well-timed late challenge from John Inglis
after 71 minutes.
In United's next attack, Winters latched on to Olofsson's neat pass, but
Leighton was able to push his strike at goal past the upright.
Encouraged, and finally realising their predicament, Aberdeen at last pressed
forward with Dean Windass' header from Paul Barnard's cross requiring Dykstra to
be alert.
After 80 minutes, Barnard should have made a better connection when picked out
at the far post but his shot was scooped away by United's Dutch keeper as United
held out.
Dundee Utd: Dykstra, Skoldmark, Malpas, Pressley, Perry,
Pedersen, Olofsson, Zetterlund, Winters (McSwegan 80), Jonsson,
McLaren.
Subs Not Used: Dolan, McKinnon.
Booked: Skoldmark, Pressley, Jonsson.
Goals: Winters 14.
Aberdeen: Leighton, Bernard, Whyte, O'Neil (O'Neill 69), Inglis,
Smith, Kiriakov, Jess, Windass, Dodds (Newell 59), Glass.
Subs Not Used: Anderson.
Booked: O'Neil, Windass, Newell.
Att: 11,488
Ref: K Clark (Paisley).
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