Forfar Athletic 0-1 Dundee United: Peter Pawlett goal puts visitors into last-eight

Peter Pawlett's goal spared Dundee United's blushes as they made heavy weather of beating League 1 Forfar Athletic to reach the Scottish Cup quarter-finals.

Forfar, without a home league win in over 14 months, were the better side for much of the first half.

But Micky Mellon's Premiership charges breathed a huge sigh of relief as Pawlett eventually broke the deadlock.

United now visit either Aberdeen or Livingston in the last eight.

They are now six games unbeaten in all competitions but it was part-time Forfar, who had won just three times in 2021, who emerged with the most credit despite playing their fifth game in 11 days.

• Reaction & as it happened

In terms of form and in squad strength, everything favoured United. Even the blow of losing goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist minutes before kick-off to an apparent hand injury appeared unlikely to rock the Tannadice side.

But they began on the back foot. Bernard Coll dipped a free-kick just over the bar for the hosts, then Steven Doris should have worked the goalkeeper when a corner kick routine fell into his lap, but he blasted over.

For 25 minutes, United were second best, but then Lawrence Shankland almost poked his side in front.

The Scotland striker chested down a cross, shrugged aside the defender and bore down on goal, but goalkeeper Marc McCallum blocked at his feet.

But back came the home side. Jordan Allan outpaced the defence to reach a long ball, but snatched at his shot and pulled it wide.

It was an intriguing tie and, as United began to look more like themselves, Nicky Clark flicked a back-post header towards the bottom corner but McCallum did well to claw it away.

And Clark went close again when he curled a free-kick off the crossbar.

But again play swung to the other end and Murray MacKintosh sent a Forfar shot over after a neat lay-off.

One moment of slackness though was punished as United broke the deadlock. Pawlett collected a pass from a corner, was given too much time to spot a gap inside the near post, and drove a shot which bounced off the woodwork and in.

As Forfar tired, United kept pressing. Shankland and Marc McNulty threatened, but at 1-0 the cup tie was still alive and Forfar substitute Scott Fenwick headed over from close range.

McNulty's shot was cleared off the line by MacKintosh, while in the final minutes Forfar threw everyone forward at a corner kick - including the goalkeeper - but couldn't force the ball over the line.

Man of the match - Murray MacKintosh

MacKintosh was a stalwart in defence and was also a threat going forward too

What did we learn?

Forfar were well organised and had clearly worked on their set-piece routines; causing the Premiership side problems. Despite playing five games in 11 days, they took the game to the visitors and looked a threat.

Their frustration will be that they didn't even work the goalkeeper with their chances. And United needed just one opportunity to win the tie.

What did they say?

Forfar Athletic interim player-manager Gary Irvine: "We were organised, I can't fault the efforts of the lads. We had our chances and it's a fine line and we needed to be more clinical.

"This is a lift for us. We're up against tough opposition and showed we can compete if we show belief and work hard for each other. We'll take positives out of this going into Tuesday [against Clyde]."

Dundee United manager Micky Mellon: "We needed to do a professional job and we've done that. We just had to keep plugging away and we knew eventually that bit of quality would tell."

What's next?

Forfar are at home to Clyde in League 1 on Tuesday (19:45 BST), while United are at Kilmarnock in the Premiership on Wednesday (19:45).