Saturday, May 15, 2010

Dundee United v Ross County online

The sun, at least is this part of Scotland, is shining, the Staggies are descending and no doubt Desperate Dan has already donned his United replica shirt.

First thing about Dundee United v Ross County in the Scottish Cup final today: this is the competition for fairytales. I pointed out earlier that, much as I'm happy for their fans, Portsmouth in the "other" cup final is not the place for romance.

So I'm glad to see Matt Slater taking the same view on the BBC site. As he says "some romance."

The prize for historical triteness of the day goes to the The Guardian and The Scotsman and many, many others for talk of a "Highland Clearance."

No, it remains only a football match. Credit, then, to Graham Spiers for talking instead of a "Highland invasion."

It wasn't until the 1970s that Dundee United first made a Scottish Cup final at which point they embarked on a remarkable losing sequence. Inside Left has United's Scottish Cup history covered.

And, showing a BBC like dedication to neutrality, they've also got the lowdown on Ross County in the cup: including the news that in County's only previous win over United current manager Derek Adams scored both goals.

Adams is profiled in The Times and opposite number Peter Houston is given the same treatment in The Daily Telegraph.

Elsewhere Scotzine reports on Houston's admirable decision to let Lee Wilkie lead the team out and The Daily Record has Jim McLean's Scottish Cup heartache and Ivan Golac's moment of glory.

Alex Smith is staying neutral but another man with links to both sides, Craig Brewster, is County or nothing in his role as assistant manager.

Cup final songs are a tradition that should be abolished but We Know SFA has the inside track on this year's, er, tracks. No opinions offered, I refuse to listen. That's opinion enough.

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