Ayr United 1
Dundee United 1 (3-4 on pens)
Scottish League Cup (2nd Round)

Match Report

"A poor refereeing decision" helped Dundee United avoid a League Cup upset said Ayr United manager David Hopkin after the Premiership side won a tense shootout at Somerset Park.

Ayr led through Tomi Adeloye's goal, but the game turned with Jack Baird's red card as Nicky Clark equalised from the resultant penalty.

Benjamin Siegrist saved twice in the shoot-out as the visitors prevailed.

"No-one from Dundee United even appealed for a penalty," said Hopkin.

"For some unknown reason we get a penalty given against us. It's a poor refereeing decision that has cost us today.

"It's two centre halves going for the one ball, the ball is out of the pitch, the two are grappling with each other. The referee decides to point to the spot and the whole stadium is still waiting to see where it was coming from."

The home side were left to rue a number of big chances missed at 1-0 up as they were denied a place in the quarter-final for the first time in three years.

Dundee United striker Clark scored the winning shootout spot-kick after Patrick Reading and Jonathan Afolabi were denied for Ayr.

Reaction & how it happened
Dundee United came to Ayrshire after a morale-boosting 1-0 win over Rangers in the league seven days previously, and while they very much looked like the Premiership outfit early on, they soon found themselves second best to a confident Ayr United side.

David Hopkin's men had the best of the first-half chances with James Maxwell twice going close, though Peter Pawlett should have done better for the visitors before the break.

However, the hosts took a deserved lead when the impressive Adeloye was put clean through, took two touches, and finished.

Dundee United were rattled and but for Siegrist they would have been further behind as the goalkeeper saved from Reading and Mark McKenzie.

Ayr appeared to be heading for the next round up until 11 minutes to go when referee Nick Walsh felt Baird had brought down Ryan Edwards in the box and handed him a second yellow card.

Baird was sent off, and Clark scored from the spot.

Dundee United, now with an extra man, suddenly had a spring in their step. Marc McNulty stabbed the ball over in extra time just a day after rejoining the club on loan, while Liam Smith, Pawlett and Jeando Fuchs all shot wide.

At the other end, Ayr substitute Joe Chalmers should have done better as he shot wide, and so it went to spot kicks, where despite McNulty putting his effort over the bar, United found a way to win.

Match report written by BBC