MARK DURNAN breathed new life into Dundee United’s promotion hopes with a dramatic late winner to see off relegation-threatened Ayr United at Tannadice last night.
The big defender was the unlikely hero for Ray McKinnon’s cup winners as he struck with just 11 minutes remaining to move them to within one point of rivals Falkirk and Morton.
United made sure Saturday’s IRN-BRU Cup final triumph wasn’t dampened in any way after Simon Murray had given them a 23rd-minute lead before former Dundee favourite Gary Harkins equalised with a 50th-minute penalty for Ayr.
It brought a huge sigh of relief for the tense Taysiders, who ended a wretched three-game losing streak in the league to remain fourth in the Championship.
Buoyed by securing silverware just a few days earlier, United went into this re-arranged fixture knowing victory was essential to keep the pressure on those above them.
First-team coach Darren Taylor would also be leaving behind his place in the dug-out to become the club’s new head of football operations within the next 72 hours as part of restructuring plans announced by chairman Stephen Thompson prior to kick-off.
On the field, Thomas Mikkelsen was handed a starting berth after his 75th-minute header winner helped them see off St Mirren at Fir Park to get their hands on the cup.
For second-bottom Ayr, they arrived on Tayside knowing they too had to win to try to haul themselves away from the drop zone. Former Dundee star Harkins was in an advanced role for the visitors and given his usual reception from the Tangerine Army.
In fact, it was Harkins who had the first real shot at goal in 20 minutes which home keeper Cammy Bell saved comfortably.
Then, at the other end, Tony Andreu tried his luck with a 25-yard effort which sailed well wide, unlike his classic strike which broke the deadlock in their Fir Park cup triumph.
However, in 23 minutes Murray put the hosts ahead in some style.
The local lad showed skill and pace to skin Ayr skipper Nick Devlin before steadying himself and placing his shot through the legs of Greg Fleming from a tight angle.
It was the 25-year-old’s 13th goal of the season having set up Mikkelsen with a wonder cross for his bullet header the previous Saturday.
Ayr’s response came in 33 minutes when Brian Gilmour’s free-kick was met by defender Conrad Balatoni but his header went straight into the arms of Bell. The hosts kept up the pressure and, on the stroke of half-time, winger Alex Nicholl’s corner was flapped at by Fleming.
Frenchman William Edjenguele headed it down only to be cleared off the line as the visitors breathed a sigh of relief.
But Ayr levelled in 50 minutes. Andreu needlessly brought down Rab Crawford just a yard inside the box following Gilmour’s quick free-kick and referee Barry Cook pointed straight to the spot.
Up stepped Harkins, who calmly sent Bell the wrong way with a classy spot-kick into the corner of the net.
That was to prove Harkins’ last involvement as he was replaced in 61 minutes by former United striker Farid El Alagui.
Desperate to make amends, Andreu saw his left-foot shot well saved by Flemning in 63 minutes before Nicholls rammed the rebound into the side-netting.
A few minutes later, Murray was in the thick of the action again but this time he couldn’t direct Willo Flood’s cross towards goal.
However, United got their rewards in 79 minutes.
Charlier Telfer’ corner was only half-cleared to allow Murray to nod the ball to Durnan who hooked his shot home from eight yards to send the home fans away happy and still dreaming of a return to the top-flight.
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