Mixu Paatelainen thrilled as Dundee United pass Partick cup test
ByPA Sport
Published 06/02/2016 at 18:45 GMT
Dundee United manager Mixu Paatelainen saw his players reap reward for their persistence as a 1-0 win over Partick secured a quarter-final slot in the William Hill Scottish Cup.
Mixu Paatelainen saw his team leave it late
Image credit: PA Sport
Dundee United manager Mixu Paatelainen saw his players reap reward for their persistence as a 1-0 win over Partick secured a quarter-final slot in the William Hill Scottish Cup.
United had substitute Scott Fraser to thank, as his 85th-minute winner carried the hosts through to the last eight.
Paatelainen said: "We've got to be delighted with the end result. It's a very good feeling to be through. That was the aim and we got there in the end.
"It was not the best performance-wise but we fought for it and that's what you have to do."
Fraser collected a pass from Blair Spittal and fired home left-footed to knock Partick out of the competition.
" It was a fantastic finish," said former striker Paatelainen. "Fraser is a good finisher with great technical ability. It was just great to see the ball hit the back of the net.
"Of course, we want to build on this and try to win every game. That's us with two wins in a row and we just have to keep going."
Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald admitted defeat was hard to take.
The Jags looked like they would take United back to Firhill for a replay until Fraser intervened late on.
Archibald said: "It was a sore one with the late goal. I don't think anybody deserved to win the game, it looked like a draw all the way.
"There wasn't a lot of quality. Defensively we were good up to the goal. We lost the ball in a bad area and they scored with a bit of quality.
"We changed the shape to combat the way United play. They are very, very direct with their two boys up front. I thought we handled that but we didn't create enough.
"We had a wee spell in the second half before the substitutions but it filtered away.
"David Amoo had what looked like a half-chance. The goalie maybe came out and put him off. We had a few flashing across the box but we didn't really work the goalie enough."
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