United manager Alex Smith had reason to smile for the first time this season after his club's 3-2 victory over Dunfermline. Charlie Miller's 86th-minute penalty signalled United's first home league victory in almost a year in a match also eventful for a flurry of red cards. "I have been looking forward to this," said Smith. "Today was long overdue for us, there has been so much agony for the supporters and at last we have now done something.

"When Charlie scored the penalty, we got the lucky break this week, unlike other games this season. "Six weeks ago we would have lost this game when it went to 2-2, but when they equalised it became more even and the players deserved this break." Smith singled out Miller and defender Jim Lauchlan in particular. "Charlie Miller is an outstanding player, but at the moment he is still only playing at 70% of his game since coming here.

"He's an entertainer and confident as well and his first-half performance in particular was excellent. He was the best player on the park to take the penalty in that situation as he is a big-time player. "Lauchlan was superb at the back. He has a great attitude and today he got the rest of the players going and others respond to him." ©Sporting Life