Clyde 0-1 Dundee United

By Martin Conaghan

Barry Robson opened the scoring for United after 57 minutes

A second-half strike from Barry Robson was enough to put Dundee United through to the fifth round of the Scottish Cup against Clyde at Broadwood Stadium.

The Premier League visitors were put under pressure from the start by their Division One hosts.

Clyde's Michael McGowan squandered an injury-time free-kick by striking his effort straight at the United wall.

In the end, Colin Hendry's men couldn't force the replay and Craig Levein's side managed to seal a narrow win.

Interview: Dundee United striker Barry Robson

Interview: Clyde manager Colin Hendry

Clyde's youngsters set out their stall from the outset, putting United under early pressure, but the Terrors weathered the winter chill at Broadwood and managed to contain an eager Bully Wee.

It was almost 19 minutes before the first significant action of the match arrived when Robson sent in a free-kick for Noel Hunt to blast in from 12 yards out, but Clyde keeper David Hutton managed to tip the ball round the post.

Dundee Utd's Willo Flood (left) and Ruari MacLennan of Clyde clash as they battle for the ball

Play continued at a healthy pace thereafter, but with little in the way of goalmouth action.

Shortly after the 30-minute mark, Clyde's Chris Higgins sent in a free-kick from the left and Christian Smith headed in from close range, but United keeper Euan McLean held well.

The best chance of the first-half arrived as half-time approached when Robson sent in a delightful cross from the right-hand side of the penalty area, but Willo Flood sent a full-stretch header just narrowly wide of the post.

United's chances in the latter stages of the first-half flattered their earlier performance, with Clyde enjoying the bigger share of possession in the first 45 minutes.

Following the restart, United displayed a newfound determination, but poor defensive timing from Lee Wilkie following a searching ball in to the United danger area allowed Gary Arbuckle to break free on the left-hand side and fire in a shot, but McLean's deft handiwork kept the scores level.

With 53 minutes gone, McGowan fouled Flood on the edge of the penalty area, and the Irishman blasted in a powerful free-kick from 25 yards, but Hutton managed to tip the ball over the bar.

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Less than four minutes later, United notched up the first goal of the evening when Robson was allowed to to line up a shot out on the right-hand edge of the Clyde penalty area and delivered a thunderbolt with his left foot, past a fully-outstretched Hutton and into the back of the Clyde net.

United played a cautious game in the final 30 minutes as Clyde pressed for an equaliser.

However, the visitors held the edge and with 15 minutes left on the clock Barry Robson looked set to double the lead with a powerful free-kick from the edge of the area, but Hutton managed to keep his balance on the Clyde goal-line and smothered the long-range effort.

Some late pressure from the First Division hosts gave way to a flurry of corner-kicks, giving United some cause for concern, but the Premier League side held out and were often quick to reply at the other end.

With five minutes left to play, Robson picked up another loose ball on the edge of the Clyde penalty area, only to be felled by Christian Smith, and the referee awarded a free-kick, but the United captain's set-piece was gathered by Hutton.

In the dying minutes, Clyde's Craig McKeown volleyed a right-footed shot from the left-hand side of the United box, but McLean saved well.

McGowan's injury-time free-kick was struck against the United wall, and with it went The Bully Wee's Cup hopes for another year.

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Clyde: Hutton, Neil McGregor, Smith, Higgins, McKeown, Masterton (David McGowan 72), Bradley, Ruari MacLennan, Arbuckle, Imrie, Michael McGowan. Subs Not Used: Cherrie, Wilson, Bestvina, Roddy MacLennan.

Booked: Higgins, Smith.

Dundee Utd: McLean, Dillon, Gomis, Wilkie, Dods, Flood, Kerr, Grainger, Jordan Robertson (Odhiambo 71), Hunt, Robson. Subs Not Used: Zaluska, David Robertson, Conway, Swanson.

Booked: Wilkie.

Goals: Robson 57.

Att: 1,550

Ref: Charlie Richmond.