Dundee United still have some work to do before their place In the UEFA Cup quarter-finals is secure. It looked so good for the Taysiders when the powerful John Clark lashed in a magnificent second goal just one minute after half-time last night at Tannadice. But for the remaining 44 minutes United stuttered and failed to collect the third goal Jim McLean desperately wanted as insurance for the return in Yugoslavia on December 10.

McLean's men did not play well in that important phase of the match but they were not helped by a change of tactics by Ha]duk. The Slavs deserted their inept defensive football and began to move forward dangerously. When they did. United goalkeeper Billy Thomson had to produce a superb save from a Bursac header to maintain the two goal lead. Hajduk without several top players, looked as nervous as any previous European visitors. to Tannadice and it was no surprise when they tossed away a goal in 28 minutes.

A Paul Sturrock cross from the left was missed by a mass of players - including goalkeeper Miaden Pralija. The ball fell to former Celt Jim McInally. whose first goal for United was no more than a tap-in. Clark. whose shooting has been a feature of recent United games, scored a glorious second. Another Sturrock cross was miskicked by young Billy McKinlay. Clark made no such error. lashing a left-foot shot from the edge of the box past Pralija. United, who had done so well late in their previous ties against Lens and Craiova, went for the kill but it did not come.

Their best move of the game by Sturrock and sub Kevin Gallacher let in Maurice Malpas but Pralija made an excellent save. The keeper also stopped a try by Sturrock but there was not the customary threat in their attacks as they clearly missed Eamonn Bannon who had gone off injured early in the second half.

There were four bookings, Asanovic, Adamovic and Jarni of Split and United's Malpas.

Dundee United: B. Thomson, Malpas, Beaumont, McInally, Clark, Narey, McKinlay, Milne, Bannon, Sturrock, Redford, Substitutes: Coyne, Bowman, Gallacher, Sulley, McGinnis.

Hajduk Split: Pralija, Miljus, Setinov, Andrijasevic, Vulic, Celic. Jerolimov, Peruzovic, Bursac, Asanovic, Deveric Substitutes: Varvodic, Drazic, Jarni, Mise, Milanko.

Ref: W. Funkham (West Germany)

Attendance: 11,596