3 talking points as Dundee United seal Scottish Cup win thanks to Ian Harkes screamer

Dundee United booked their place in the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup for the first time since 2019 after a hardfought 1-0 win over Partick Thistle.

It marks the Tangerines fourth win over the Jags in the competition, having KO'd them at Tannadice last year.

The Jags will have every right to feel hard done by having dominated most of the game and goalkeeper Jamie Sneddon had very little to do but a goal from Ian Harkes was the difference.

It was the home side who started the brighter with on-loan Dundee striker Alex Jakubiak looking particularly bright early on.

Making his debut, the forward initially started off on the right before moving more central where he was almost put through one v one after a mix-up in the nervous United defence.

Ian McCall’s side were playing some brilliant football, switching play brilliantly between their forward players and dominating the midfield battle.

Scott Tiffoney forced Benjamin Siegrist to tip his shot over the bar after brilliantly cutting inside.

It was the away side who took the lead though, albeit against the run of play, when Harkes struck a brilliant left-footed half-volley from the edge of the box to score his first goal since November.

From there on, the Tangerines took a bit more control of the game and started to put their opponents under a bit more pressure, forcing them back into their own half.

Partick once again started the second half brightly and a scramble in the United box caused by Benjamin Siegrist nearly led to the equaliser.

Throughout, the away side continually looked vulnerable from set pieces.

The first sub of the game came from the away side as midfielder Kevin McDonald made way for Scott McMann.

United’s first chance of the second half didn’t