Johnny Russell netted a hat-trick as Dundee United eased to a Scottish Cup victory at Stair Park.

Stranraer were no match for the lively striker as Russell knocked in two strikes inside the opening 26 minutes.

Russell then set up Jon Daly to extend the visitors' lead before the interval.

Daly tapped in his second from close range at a corner following a great save from David Mitchell from Russell, who himself stroked in his third goal on 69 minutes.

The Scottish Premier League side made the trip to Stair Park keen to avoid a potential upset and never looked in any danger as Russell's hat-trick and a brace from Daly secured a routine win.

It was the first time the two sides had met since August 2004, when the Tannadice side won 3-1.

Stranraer goalkeeper Mitchell was called into action within the opening five minutes.

A corner was cut back to Stuart Armstrong who spotted the goalkeeper a few yards off his line. He tried to float the ball over Mitchell from the edge of the box but the number one backpedalled to tip it over the crossbar.

Still, that only delayed the opener by a few minutes.

Barry Douglas' cross took a kind deflection off right back Mark Staunton and fell kindly to Russell. The striker then buried it first time between Mitchell and the near post from just six yards.

Even when the Blues got a foot on the ball it was quickly recovered by the hungry-looking opposition.

United added a second on 26 minutes and again Douglas and Russell were involved.

The left-back again pushed forward and whipped the ball in where it was controlled by Rudi Skacel. Last year's cup winner squared it to Russell, who turned his man and rolled the ball into the bottom left corner.

Any chance of a Stranraer comeback was extinguished before the break.

Once again the ball came from the left but this time it was Daly who scored, making no mistake from close range after Russell's initial attempt.

The second half continued much in the same manner, Stranraer trying to push forward but unable to really threaten Radoslaw Cierzniak's goal.

United who looked more dangerous as Keith Watson hit the crossbar.

No goal there, but Daly grabbed his second just minutes later.

The hosts failed to clear a corner from the left and the striker was lurking to bundle it home.

A long day for Stranraer was compounded when Russell completed his hat-trick on 69 minutes.

Mitchell blocked substitute Michael Gardyne's low angled shot with his legs but Russell rattled in the rebound from the edge of the 18-yard box.

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (6)

Stranraer

  • 01 Mitchell
  • 02 Staunton
  • 03 MacGregor
  • 04 McKeown
  • 05 Dunlop
  • 06 Gallagher
  • 07 Winter Booked
  • 08 Phinn (Aitken - 79' )
  • 09 Moore (One - 68' )
  • 10 Malcolm
  • 11 Love (Agnew - 79' )

Substitutes

  • 20 Cadwell
  • 12 Aitken
  • 14 Agnew
  • 15 Wright
  • 19 One

Dundee United

  • 01 Cierzniak
  • 03 Douglas
  • 04 McLean
  • 05 Gunning
  • 12 Watson
  • 06 Flood (Ryan - 62' )
  • 08 Rankin
  • 16 Armstrong (Dow - 71' )
  • 51 Skacel (Gardyne - 65' )
  • 07 Russell
  • 09 Daly

Substitutes

  • 13 Banks
  • 10 Ryan
  • 15 Gardyne
  • 18 Dow
  • 20 Lacny
Ref: Finnie
Att: 1,089

Match Stats

Shots

1 17

On target

1 10

Corners

3 10

Fouls

9 11

Live Text Commentary

91:49 Full time

Full Time The referee blows for the end of the match.

89:13

Johnny Russell takes a shot. Save by David Mitchell. Corner taken by Barry Douglas. Michael Gardyne takes a shot from inside the box clearing the bar.

87:20

Effort on goal by Ryan Dow from outside the box goes harmlessly over the bar.

82:04

Armand One challenges Brian McLean unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Brian McLean.

80:57

Christopher Aitken takes a outswinging corner to the near post, Ryan Dow manages to make a clearance.

79:12

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Michael Dunlop by Brian McLean. Free kick taken by David Mitchell.

78:07

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Barry Douglas, Michael Dunlop manages to make a clearance.

78:07 Substitution

Substitution Dean Agnew joins the action as a substitute, replacing Robert Love.

78:07 Substitution

Substitution Christopher Aitken comes on in place of Nick Phinn.

71:47

Free kick awarded for a foul by Armand One on Richie Ryan. Gavin Gunning restarts play with the free kick.

70:26 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Dow joins the action as a substitute, replacing Stuart Armstrong.

68:15

Assist by Michael Gardyne.

68:15 Goal scored

Goal - Johnny Russell - Stranraer 0 - 5 Dundee U A goal is scored by Johnny Russell from inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Stranraer 0-5 Dundee Utd.

67:23 Substitution

Substitution Armand One is brought on as a substitute for Michael Moore.

66:08

Richie Ryan takes a shot. Save by David Mitchell.

64:27

David Mitchell takes the free kick.

64:27 Substitution

Substitution Rudi Skacel goes off and Michael Gardyne comes on.

64:27

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Michael Dunlop by Stuart Armstrong.

63:01

Radoslaw Cierzniak takes the direct free kick.

63:01 Booking

Booking Sean Winter shown a yellow card.

62:36

Sean Winter concedes a free kick for a foul on Radoslaw Cierzniak.

60:48

Assist by Johnny Russell.

60:48 Substitution

Substitution Willo Flood leaves the field to be replaced by Richie Ryan.

60:48 Goal scored

Goal - Jon Daly - Stranraer 0 - 4 Dundee U Jon Daly finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Stranraer 0-4 Dundee Utd.

60:22

Barry Douglas takes the outswinging corner,

59:34

Mark Staunton fouled by Gavin Gunning, the ref awards a free kick. Grant Gallagher takes the direct free kick.

58:11

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Barry Douglas, Header by Keith Watson from inside the area strikes the post.

55:43

Barry Douglas takes a outswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post.

55:01

Sean Winter concedes a free kick for a foul on Barry Douglas. Direct free kick taken by Willo Flood.

54:26

Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Barry Douglas, clearance by Sean Winter.

52:41

Stuart Armstrong has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.

50:44

Nick Phinn takes the inswinging corner, Michael Dunlop takes a shot. Save by Radoslaw Cierzniak.

50:19

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David MacGregor by Rudi Skacel. Michael Dunlop restarts play with the free kick.

49:50

Rudi Skacel takes a shot. Save by David Mitchell.

46:06

The referee blows for offside. Radoslaw Cierzniak restarts play with the free kick.

45:28

Foul by Willo Flood on Robert Love, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Grant Gallagher.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +0:21 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.

43:00

Gavin Gunning challenges Michael Moore unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Nick Phinn.

39:37

Johnny Russell provided the assist for the goal.

39:37 Goal scored

Goal - Jon Daly - Stranraer 0 - 3 Dundee U Goal scored by Jon Daly from inside the box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Stranraer 0-3 Dundee Utd.

39:04

Corner taken right-footed by Willo Flood from the right by-line, save by David Mitchell.

38:08

Free kick awarded for a foul by Brian McLean on Sean Winter. David Mitchell takes the free kick.

37:26

Free kick awarded for a foul by Frank McKeown on Johnny Russell. Willo Flood takes the free kick.

35:45

Effort from 12 yards by Jon Daly. Save by David Mitchell. Effort on goal by Johnny Russell from inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the bar.

35:19

Craig Malcolm handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Gavin Gunning takes the direct free kick.

34:25

Willo Flood produces a left-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the bar.

33:11

Nick Phinn takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, John Rankin manages to make a clearance.

32:43

Stuart Armstrong challenges Michael Moore unfairly and gives away a free kick. Mark Staunton takes the direct free kick.

27:22

Effort from a long way out by John Rankin goes wide right of the goal.

26:04

The assist for the goal came from Rudi Skacel.

26:04 Goal scored

Goal - Johnny Russell - Stranraer 0 - 2 Dundee U Johnny Russell scores a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Stranraer 0-2 Dundee Utd.

20:36

Stuart Armstrong concedes a free kick for a foul on Mark Staunton. Direct free kick taken by David Mitchell.

19:28

Michael Moore gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Gavin Gunning. Barry Douglas takes the free kick.

16:47

Foul by Willo Flood on Robert Love, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Mark Staunton.

14:03

Foul by Robert Love on John Rankin, free kick awarded. Willo Flood takes the direct free kick.

12:27

Assist on the goal came from Barry Douglas.

12:27 Goal scored

Goal - Johnny Russell - Stranraer 0 - 1 Dundee U Goal scored by Johnny Russell from close range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Stranraer 0-1 Dundee Utd.

11:33

Michael Moore challenges Barry Douglas unfairly and gives away a free kick. Gavin Gunning takes the free kick.

9:16

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Barry Douglas from the left by-line. Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nick Phinn by Barry Douglas. Direct free kick taken by David MacGregor.

8:08

Robert Love is ruled offside. Brian McLean restarts play with the free kick.

6:12

Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael Moore on Gavin Gunning. Free kick taken by Radoslaw Cierzniak.

4:39

Corner taken by Willo Flood from the right by-line, Stuart Armstrong takes a shot. Save by David Mitchell. Outswinging corner taken by Willo Flood from the right by-line, Grant Gallagher makes a clearance.

0:00

The game gets underway.

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