Such was the cynical nature of the CIS Cup tie that every player should have been required to produce personal health cover before taking the field at Tannadice last night. In total one player was sent off, nine others booked, and Airdrie manager Steve Archibald sent packing to a seat in the stand. Yet Archibald could hail the performance as something of a triumph, with his side only losing 4-3 on penalties after withstanding Dundee United with 10 men for 37 minutes.

Archibald has his vision for the future but it can only become a reality if his many foreign imports are more disciplined, desist in their histrionics, and direct all their energies towards playing the game instead of plumbing seedier levels. United manager Alex Smith gave a strong hint of the wind of change blowing through Tannadice by demoting the Canadian defender Jason de Vos and replacing him as team leader in the heart of his defence with his new acquisition Stephen Wright. De Vos' countryman Pat Onstad was also kept kicking his heels on the bench and David Hannah suffered the same fate.

However, Smith handed a debut to promising midfielder Kevin McDonald, a product of the youth development system. Cameroon striker Alfonse Tchami made his first appearance before the home support, throwing him into direct confrontation with his international colleague Fabrice Moreau in Airdrie's League of Nations team. There were several potentially intriguing contests in each area of the field. Unfortunately, there were fewer than 5000 fans present when the tie got under way. United were the first to threaten with a powerful run by Tchami, who was brought down abruptly by the Spaniard Miguel Alphonso, who was booked for the crude challenge. In a frenetic opening, the best chance Airdrie were able to conjure was from a corner from Austin McCann which Barry Elliott frittered away with a half-hearted attempt at goal. United's Jim Patterson was equally wasteful when wildly skipping a corner from Heaney over the bar. It was to be the young wing back's last contribution, for shortly afterwards he was felled by a shocking two-footed tackle by Fabrice Moreau and stretchered off. It reflected no credit whatsoever on referee John Rowbotham, who was adjacent to the horrific challenge yet took no action. Rowbotham's inept handling sent out the wrong signal to both teams and several questionable tackles swiftly followed.

In 23 minutes Airdrie's high-profile mercenaries at last managed to cobble together an attack and David Fernandez split open the United defence in a lightning counter-attack - only to be denied the crucial opening goal by a last-ditch block by David Partridge, who was only too happy to concede a corner. Shortly afterwards, it was with considerable irony that the home supporters greeted the booking of the aggressive Moreau - for kicking the ball away. Just before the interval United came close to breaking the deadlock when their substitute Steven Thompson, who had replaced the luckless Patterson, whipped in a cross from the left which was met by Heaney at the far post only to direct his header off target. There was no lessening of hostilities when the match restarted, and a spate of bookings ensued. The cynical nature in which the match was contested recalled memories of the shameful Scottish Cup tie between these clubs a year ago, when four players were red-carded. United brought on David Hannah for Heaney and the switch enhanced their attacking options. For in 62 minutes Hannah forced Airdire keeper Sanchez Broto into a superb one-handed save to concede a corner from his thundering 25-yard free kick. Airdrie responded by replacing Barry Elliot, who had threatened much but delivered nothing in real terms, with Paul Clark. In 68 minutes Airdrie again came close when Fernandez combined with John Elliott and it took an intuitive save by Alan Combe to deny him the opening goal. This enterprising move inspired Airdrie to their most dominant spell in a dreary match and several half-chances followed as United relinquished control.

Eventually United were forced to call upon the aerial power of de Vos to deal with Airdrie's growing confidence and the Canadian took over from McDonald. The malevolent undercurrent which had throbbed through this tie eventually spilled over with seven minutes remaining when David Hannah challenged the Spaniard Fernandez, the attacker went down as if shot. Manager Archibald immediately leapt to the touch-line to remonstrate with the referee, who took no action. However, a few seconds later Fernandez, still upset at the inaction, took revenge by elbowing de Vos to incur a red card. Once again Archibald was on his feet, claiming an injustice in too forcible terms. His conduct was reported by the fourth official to the referee, who sent him packing to a seat in the stand.

Minutes later Rowbotham was again found wanting when former Real Zaragoza player Jesus Sanjuan clearly punched youngster Stephen McConalogue. Instead of ordering off the Spaniard, he only cautioned him, then issued a yellow card to McConalogue for allegedly diving.

Dundee United: Combe (7), McQuillan (5), Aljofree (6), Buchan (6), Wright (7), Partridge (6), Heaney (6), McConalogue (6), Tchami (6), McDonald (5), Paterson (7). Subs: de Vos (6), Onstad, Hannah (5), Thompson (5), Venetis.

Airdrie: Broto, Boyce, McCann, Alphonso, Forrest, Moreau, Elliott, San Juan, Elliot, Calderon, Fernandez. Subs: Taylor, Wilson, Pacifico, Clark, Brady.