Dundee United 0-1 Kilmarnock: Ayrshire side knock hosts out of cup competition again
- Published
Kyle Vassell used his height and power to reach Danny Armstrong's corner kick and head his team into the quarter-finals
Kilmarnock reached Monday's Scottish Cup quarter-final draw as they knocked Dundee United out of a second cup this season.
After a dreadful first half, United went close through a Craig Sibbald drive and a Liam Smith header.
But Kyle Vassell's header proved to be enough to edge out a United side currently bottom of the Scottish Premiership.
Loick Ayina was sent off late on to compound matters for the hosts.
The teams have become regular cup opponents recently. Kilmarnock won the League Cup tie at Rugby Park earlier this season, which was revenge for United knocking them out the Scottish Cup last term.
The teams being near neighbours at the foot of league table suggested the football might not be scintillating, and so it proved in the opening period, following a minute's applause in memory of Billy Thomson, the former United goalkeeper who died last week aged 64.
After a limited first half, Mathew Cudjoe's trickery gave Craig Sibbald the chance to shoot from 25 yards. Sam Walker scurried to his left to save but the Kilmarnock goalkeeper soon needed his crossbar to deny Smith's header.
But just as United threatened, they were stung by Vassell, who headed past Mark Birighitti before he could get a flailing fist to it.
Dundee United pinned Kilmarnock back for the next 20 minutes but, just like the first half, they could not carve any goalscoring chances.
Ayina, on loan from Huddersfield Town, had been booked for a late foul on Brad Lyons in the first half and the 19-year-old was sent packing on his debut for another heavy challenge with 12 minutes to go.
Player of the match - Daniel Armstrong
Craig Sibbald's attempt to stop Daniel Armstrong in his tracks typifies the frustrations the Kilmarnock midfielder's opponents often feel. Armstrong also let United left-back Scott McMann know he would be in for a busy afternoon with some early runs and, in a match short of quality, it was the Kilmarnock player's accurate corner that set up Vassell for the winning header.
What they said
Dundee United head coach Liam Fox: "There's obviously huge disappointment that we're out the cup. I need a bit more from the players. There was very little in the game. Once Kilmarnock scored we let our heads drop too quickly and that affected us for the rest of the game so we need to get better at that."
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "This was a tough draw for us and we've managed to navigate this game. Whatever the draw throws up for us, it is something to look forward to. I am more concerned now that when that quarter-final comes round we are going into it in decent form."