Dumbarton 3-2 Dundee United

Craig Barr rises to head Dumbarton's winner — Craig Barr rose above everybody to head Dumbarton's winner

Centre-back Craig Barr scored twice as Dumbarton dented Dundee United's Championship play-off hopes with only their seventh league win of the season.

Calum Gallagher tucked away a cross to open the scoring but Celtic loanee Anthony Ralston headed United level.

Barr rose highest to head home a corner before Scott McDonald's finish again dragged Csaba Laszlo's side level.

McDonald thought he had scored again with a shot which was cleared on the line but another Barr header won it.

His winner from a corner with 10 minutes left earned Dumbarton their first win in five matches and condemned United to a 10th league defeat of the season.

They next host leaders St Mirren at Tannadice on Tuesday with the Paisley side looking to wrap up the title.

United are now nine points behind second-placed Livingston and three behind Dunfermline, having played two games less, but are only two points clear of Greenock Morton in fifth as they struggle to clinch a play-off place.

Post-match reaction:

Dumbarton boss Stevie Aitken: "It was a really good victory for my side as Dundee United are one of the better teams in the Championship and I still think they will fill one of the play-off places.

"The target at the start of the season was to ensure we finished ahead of Brechin City, as we are the two part-time teams in the Championship, and to hope we might get closer to one of the other teams above us.

"Now we are looking to finish strongly with one eye on the fact we do look like finishing in the relegation play-off place. This win says a lot about how hard my players are working."

Dundee United boss Csaba Laszlo: "That was a disappointing result; we dominated the game for large spells but just could not find the way to win. After coming back twice we had one goal chance after another in the last 20 minutes but we could not defend the corners and I am really so sorry for the fans.

"We can only look forward now, but we have lost a very important three points here today. Every single game is a big game for us now but this is a difficult division and every team in it can surprise you.

"At the moment we have to look to reach the third or fourth place, that's now the target and we have to do it."

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Dumbarton

Formation 4-4-1-1

1Gallacher
22DickBooked at 57mins
55Barr
4Dowie
3McLaughlinSubstituted forBurtat 78'minutes
10Walsh
14Hutton
8Wilson
25Stirling
21HandlingSubstituted forGallagherat 68'minutes
7GallagherSubstituted forStewartat 88'minutes

Substitutes

5Gallagher
9Stewart
15Hill
19Ewings
20Froxylias
24Nisbet
31Burt

Dundee Utd

Formation 4-2-3-1

25Lewis
29Ralston
91Mohsni
3Scobbie
2Murdoch
12Stanton
16FloodBooked at 5mins
28SmithSubstituted forMikkelsenat 64'minutes
8McDonald
11King
7McMullan

Substitutes

9Mikkelsen
14Edjenguele
15Slater
17Robson
24Gillespie
32Mason
41Donaldson

Referee:: Steven McLean
Attendance:: 994

Match Stats

Home TeamDumbartonAway TeamDundee Utd

Possession: Home40%; Away60%

Shots: Home9; Away16

Shots on Target: Home7; Away7

Corners: Home4; Away9

Fouls: Home6; Away10

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Dumbarton 3, Dundee United 2.
90'+3'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Dumbarton 3, Dundee United 2.

90'+2'
Post update
Corner, Dundee United. Conceded by Liam Dick.
90'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Scott McDonald (Dundee United) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
89'
Post update
Andy Dowie (Dumbarton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89'
Post update
Foul by Thomas Mikkelsen (Dundee United).
88'
Substitution
Substitution, Dumbarton. Mark Stewart replaces Calum Gallagher.
87'
Post update
Attempt missed. Willo Flood (Dundee United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
83'
Post update
Foul by Kyle Hutton (Dumbarton).
83'
Post update
Scott McDonald (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
83'
Post update
Foul by Calum Gallagher (Dumbarton).
83'
Post update
Samuel Stanton (Dundee United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
79'
Goal!
Goal! Dumbarton 3, Dundee United 2. Craig Barr (Dumbarton) header from very close range to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by David Wilson following a corner.
79'
Post update
Corner, Dumbarton. Conceded by Willo Flood.
78'
Substitution
Substitution, Dumbarton. Liam Burt replaces Christopher McLaughlin because of an injury.
78'
Post update
Foul by Samuel Stanton (Dundee United).
78'
Post update
Calum Gallagher (Dumbarton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
77'
Post update
Attempt saved. Stewart Murdoch (Dundee United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
76'
Post update
Attempt saved. Scott McDonald (Dundee United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
75'
Post update
Attempt saved. Scott McDonald (Dundee United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

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