Sheffield United 2
Dundee 1
Anglo-Scottish Cup (Quarter Final 1st Leg)

Match Report

Newspaper extract from The Courier.

Dundee's plan to settle for a 1-1 draw was foiled in the last minute at Bramall Lane last night when Sheffield United midfield man John Matthews gave his side a slender lead to take into next week's second leg of the Anglo-Scottish Cup quarter-final at Dens Park.

It was obvious last night that Dundee did not go to Sheffield to win friends. They went for a result, and after a very open entertaining first half the Dens Parkers obviously decided that a 1-1 draw would suit them fine.

Tommy Gemmell will not be unhappy with the final result. Before the game he told me he would accept, if necessary, a one goal deficit for the second leg and he got his wish in a match in which Argentinian star Sabella stood out like a sore thumb and will be the star attraction when his team come to Dens Park next Tuesday.

Murphy had a chance to put Dundee ahead in five minutes when he got a nice slip from. Turnbull inside the penalty box but took too long and was crowded out before getting a shot in.

The Bramall Lane pitch looked in great condition as former Dens Parker John MacPhail strode upfield to provide his team's first danger with a low shot which came back off the far post with Donaldson beaten.

In 14 minutes Donaldson was helpless when a Butlin header from a Cutbush cross rattled the crossbar and left former Clydebank player Dougie Brown with the easy task of scoring almost on the line.

Five minutes later Sinclair almost equalised with a curling shot which hit the top of the crossbar after good service from Turnbull.

MacLaren was booked for a foul on Sabella and in 25 minutes the talented Argentinian showed his class with a terrific drive which hit the post.

But in 30 minutes Dundee shook them with an equaliser from Billy Williamson. Turnbull forced a corner on the left and When keeper Conroy got his hand to Murphy's cross, Williamson was waiting to score with a diving header.

In 35 minutes Dundee might have had a penalty when a Murphy shot appeared to be handled. A minute later, Matthews became the second player to be booked for a foul on Sinclair.

Dundee were playing well but just on half-time they were lucky to survive when Sabella again found the woodwork with a great shot.

Dundee should have been punished right on the resumption for a bad mistake by Bobby Glennie which let Sabella clean through at goal, but the Argentinian tried to be too clever and never even got his shot in.

Dundee now seemed quite happy to contain the home side but in a breakaway a good run and cross by Redford brought keeper Conroy into swift action to keep out a Sinclair header.

A flash of Sabella magic beat two defenders before he passed to Butlin, and brought a fantastic save from Donaldson who tipped the centre's shot over the crossbar.

Dundee's reversal of their tactics from the open football to a containing game was not pleasing the home fans. But it was paying off and when the home side did get through the Dundee defence they were finding Donaldson in unbeatable form.

He had a great save from a Brown header and foll-wed this up with an even better one from MacPhail.

It was all Sheffield on pressure but they were getting nowhere until the final minute when Matthews broke the de fensive barrier with a great shot from 25 yards to give his side the lead, with the second leg still to come at Dens Park.