Dundee United’s manager, Jim Goodwin, expressed his relief at advancing through a challenging Scottish Cup match against fourth-tier Spartans, particularly after experiencing a red card for Iurie Iovu just 12 minutes into the game.
“We’re thrilled to progress to the next round of the Scottish Cup, which is something we haven’t accomplished enough in the past three seasons,” he remarked to BBC Scotland.
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“If someone had offered me this result in the 12th minute, with us down to 10 men, I would have gladly accepted it.
“We anticipated a tough match against a well-organized Spartans team. The final moments were nerve-wracking, which was less than ideal, but overall, it wasn’t the most attractive game of football.
“The pitch conditions made things difficult for both teams. Unfortunately, my players will need to adapt, as the situation isn’t likely to improve anytime soon.”
Regarding the red card issued by referee Grant Irvine, Goodwin stated, “I haven’t had the opportunity to review the incident yet.
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“Tomorrow, I’ll discuss it with the CEO to determine if we should appeal. The fourth official informed us that the referee believed it was a clear and obvious goalscoring chance.
“From my perspective, there seemed to be some cover, and the Spartans player didn’t appear to have full control of the ball at that moment. It was a clumsy challenge, but whether it warranted a red card at that point in the match is questionable.”
“Heading into halftime with a 1-0 lead felt great. It was a well-executed corner that eased our nerves and gave us control.
“In the second half, we knew Spartans would become more aggressive and push forward, and they certainly did.
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“They managed to pin us back at times. I thought we might keep a clean sheet, but we conceded a rather fortunate goal—a deflected shot from outside the box.
“That added some anxiety as the game came to a close, but in cup competitions, the priority is simply to advance.”