With
Scott Thomson moving on to Forfar during the close season, Jim McLean
brought in dutch keeper Guido Van de Kamp from Den Bosch as cover for
Alan Main. German defender Jochim Mueller was also brought in, but after
only a handful of games he had to retire with a back injury.
The season started with a Testimonial match for Maurice Malpas. After disappointing crowds in two previous testimonials, United invited Rangers to Tannadice to honour Malpas's contribution to the club. The Gers came with a full team and a large support, but United sent them back home with goals from Hamish French (2) and Michael O'Neill in a 3-1 win.
We had Fife Scottish buses again this year, but with them only supplying buses over 25 seaters and a dwindling support from the Glenrothes area, it was all getting a bit costly.
The
first real match in August was also
a high scoring game, with United fighting back from 3-1 down to level
the game, just for John Collins to fire into the top corner for the winner.
The goals kept coming, as United beat St Mirren 4-1 with goals from Michael
O'Neill, Billy McKinlay and Darren Jackson (2). A Jackson penalty gave
United a 1-1 draw at McDiarmid Park, where Andy McLaren made his debut
for the club in what was now our local derby, with Dundee being relegated
the season before. Montrose came to Tannadice for the 2nd round of the
League Cup, and with ex-Aberdeen stopper Doug Rougvie in their team they
made life difficult, but United won 3-2 to go though. A 1-0 defeat at
Easter Road was followed by a 1-0 win over Falkirk in the next round of
the League Cup at Tannadice, and a 0-0 draw with Aberdeen meant United
had taken only 4 of a possible 10 points in the League.
In
September, a disappointing performance
saw United go out of the League Cup at the quarter-final stage, with Istvan
Kozma inspiring Dunfermline to a 3-1 win at East End Park. United got
revenge just 4 days later, as they beat the Pars 3-0 at Tannadice. Two
away games at Ibrox and Tynecastle saw Duncan Ferguson twice score for
1-1 draws, while Motherwell left Tannadice with a 2-2 draw, with Gary
Bollan and Maurice Malpas scoring for United. This match saw the arrival
of Argentinian striker Victor Ferreyra from San Lorenzo, the deal equalling
United's record transfer fee, and another South American, Walter Rojas,
also arrived at Tannadice.
On
the first weekend in October and in
only his second game, the Argentinian scored two goals in a 4-0 win over
Falkirk at Brockville, and became an instant hit with the fans as Guido
Van de Kamp made his debut in goals. This was followed with a 0-0 draw
at home with Airdrie, a 4-1 hammering at Parkhead, and a 2-1 defeat at
home to St Johnstone, where Dave Narey was wrongly sent off, only his
second red card in his career. Hamish French left for Dunfermline after
4 years at the club, after an unlucky streak of injuries. A 3-1 win away
to Airdrie lifted the spirits again, and a Tuesday night victory over
Rangers at Tannadice made us all feel even better! A Darren Jackson penalty
and a goal from Duncan Ferguson after a mistake by Andy Goram gave United
a 3-2 win after being down 2-1.
The
next match saw the birth of the saying "There's only three certainties
in life. You live. You Die. And Jim McInally scores against Aberdeen!"
For the fourth time in 3 seasons, McInally grabbed a goal against the
Dons, this time the only goal of the game at Pittodrie. The next match
in November was a 2-1 win over Dunfermline
at East End Park with the winner coming from Dave Bowman, and Ray McKinnon
scored in a 1-1 draw with Hibs at Tannadice. Victor Ferreyra scored in
a 2-1 win at home over Falkirk, before a home 1-0 defeat to Hearts, the
last game for the Sandeman Street enclosure as building started on the
George Fox Stand. Alex Cleland scored in a 1-1 draw with St Mirren at
Love Street.
United
failed to win a match in December,
but recorded 1-1 draws with Motherwell away, and Celtic at Tannadice,
where Brian Welsh scored the equaliser for United. This was followed by
a 0-0 draw with Dunfermline at Tannadice, and a 2-0 defeat at Ibrox. Referee
Eric Martindale made a name for himself in the next game at Easter Road,
handing the game to Hibs, who went on to win 3-2 after United were in
control at 2-1.
The 3rd round of the Scottish Cup saw Berwick Rangers come to Tannadice, but there was no sign of a scare as Duncan Ferguson scored two in a 6-0 win.
Another bad run in February saw a 1-1 draw away to St Johnstone, another defeat at Tynecastle, and a 2-1 loss in the 4th round of the Scottish Cup at Parkhead, the first time United had not made, at least, the quarter finals since 1983! Alex Cleland scored in another 2-2 draw with Motherwell at Tannadice, before Mixu Paatelainen scored two in a 2-1 win over Falkirk at home.
In
March, Ray McKinnon scored the only
goal of the game at East End Park, and Alex Cleland did the same in a
1-0 win over Hibs at Tannadice. Maurice Malpas missed a penalty in a shock
1-0 defeat at Airdrie, but Victor Ferreyra and, who else but Jim McInally
scored for a 2-0 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie, losing only 1 point to
the Dons all season. After 5 years at Tannadice, and struggling to keep
his place in the team, Mixu Paatelainen was sold to Aberdeen for £400,000.
Duncan Ferguson scored his 13th goal of the season against Celtic at Parkhead,
but Celtic won 3-1.
United
won 3 of their 4 games in April, starting
with a 2-1 win over St Johnstone at Tannadice where Dave Bowman scored
the winner, followed by a 2-1 defeat at home to Rangers. Maurice Malpas
and Duncan Ferguson scored in a 2-0 win over Hearts at Tannadice, and
a Duncan Ferguson goal won the match through at Love Street against relegated
St Mirren.
The
last game of the season in May saw
Grant Johnson and Duncan Ferguson score in a 2-1 win over Motherwell at
Fir Park. A disappointing end to a season that promised so much at the
start, but United still managed to finish 4th in the League for the fourth
season in a row, although we missed out European qualification for the
second season in a row.