Kjell Olofsson proved how much Dundee United will miss him at the end of the
season with a double to keep his side's current campaign alive against Clydebank
at Tannadice.
The Swede struck twice in five second-half minutes to end the challenge of the
First Division side in this Scottish Cup fourth round replay.
Olofsson will return to his former club Moss at the end of the term, but his
latest parting shots were vital today to supplement Neil Duffy's 14th minute
header.
In between Clydebank, threatened with extinction, refused to be killed off in
the tie and had the better of the first hour before Olofsson goals after 62 and
66 minutes sealed matters.
United, who struggled to defeat amateurs Queen's Park in the previous round,
now face Ayr next Saturday in a much-delayed quarter-final on their increasingly
scenic route to Hampden.
The teams had drawn a much-postponed clash 2-2 at neutral venue Forthbank in
midweek after Boghead, which the homeless Bankies share with Dumbarton, was
ruled unplayable once too often.
Both sides were missing experienced defenders, United stalwart Maurice Malpas
ruled out with a hamstring problem while Clydebank were without suspended former
Chelsea centre-half Joe McLaughlin.
The Bankies might have twice moved ahead in the opening minutes and both times
were denied by Sieb Dykstra in the United goal as they refused to be overawed by
the occasion.
David Nicholls' intelligent pass released Colin McDonald whose lob caught
Dykstra off-guard and out of position, but the Dutchman recovered his ground to
claw the ball to safety.
Moments later, a Marc Anthony volley from just inside the area again forced
Dykstra into action with a low save as the visitors started in assured manner.
It was against the run of play that United took the lead, Graeme Love paying a
double penalty for a reckless challenge on Miller which earned him a booking
then resulted in a goal.
Miller himself floated the free-kick to the far post where Billy Dodds guided
the ball into the path of Duffy who stooped to head firmly past Colin Scott.
United almost doubled their advantage after 17 minutes when Dodds fired over
when well-placed, but thereafter United failed to impose the level of control
they must have envisaged.
A Miller strike comfortably saved by Scott summed up the paucity of their
efforts as Clydebank belied their status with a significant degree of guile.
After 34 minutes, McDonald made good ground down the right and his cross
picked out Love in the air but the defender's header went just past the
upright.
Scott Miller cut inside neatly in Clydebank's next attack before unleashing an
angled drive which Dykstra proved equal to as United's slender lead persisted.
Nicholls struck a 20-yard drive just over the crossbar as Clydebank again
looked bright straight after the restart, but their spirits were soon to
diminish.
United's superior fitness began to tell in the closing half-hour and after 60
minutes they should have doubled their tally when Tonny Mols set up an unmarked
Mathie.
The former Ipswich forward snatched at the opening, enabling Scott to save
with ease, but Mathie made amends by battling hard for possession after 62
minutes.
His powerful low cross was diverted past Scott at the near post by an
onrushing Olofsson and at once any lingering nerves were eased with a 2-0 lead
secure.
A mere four minutes later, Olofsson had his second and United their third
after a dire defensive mix-up between Kenny Brannigan and keeper Scott.
Miller's inside pass caused indecision with the defender touching the ball
into the path of Olofsson to slot into an empty net to complete a job United had
made hard work of.
After 77 minutes, Scotland international Dodds was denied by a fine stop by
Scott as United looked to establish a still more convincing scoreline without
success.
Olofsson was substituted before the end, but on manager Paul Sturrock's mind
will be how to replace him next season such is his importance to a sluggish
outfit.
Teams:
Dundee Utd: Dykstra, Patterson, Olofsson (McLaren 67), Easton, Mathie, Dodds (Thompson 85), Miller (Skoldmark 67), Duffy, De Vos, Mols, Paterson.
Booked: Patterson, Paterson.
Goals: Duffy 14, Olofsson 62, 65.
Clydebank: Scott, Wishart, Love (Murdoch 74), Ritchie, Taggart,
Brannigan, Nicholls, Anthony, McDonald (Brown 72),Gardner (Docherty 64), Miller.
Booked: Love, Gardner.
Att: 5,570
Ref: K Clark (Paisley).
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