Dundee United 3-0 Aberdeen

Jan 20 2008 Euan Mclean At Tannadice

Keegan Spotted Barry At His Soccer Circus

CRAIG LEVEIN joked that Kevin Keegan must have spotted Barry Robson at his Soccer Circus theme park in Glasgow after yesterday's reports linked his skipper with a move to Newcastle.

But the Dundee United boss knows it will be no laughing matter when the big clubs come calling for the in-form midfielder, who capped another superb performance with a stunning double against woeful Dons.

Two exquisite sweeps of his magic left foot late on gave Aberdeen no way back after a freak opener saw keeper Jamie Langfield's kick-out cannon into his own net off United hitman Noel Hunt.

Dons complained later Hunt had elbowed the ball in - but the fact is they deserved nothing.

The big talking points though were Robson's terrific strikes in the 77th and 84th minutes.

With six goals from the last four games and a running season tally of 11 scored from midfield, it is no wonder Celtic and Newcastle are reported to be lining up bids this month.

But Levein admits he is desperate to hang on to the captain he likened to Scotland star Paul Hartley.

Levein said: "Somebody told me Newcastle are interested - Kevin must have seen him in the Soccer Circus last year.

"I don't know if that's true but I'd love to keep Barry forever. If somebody makes an offer for him we'll stand here and discuss it but until then I don't see the point.

"He's our player, we've a game next week against Kilmarnock and I'm hoping he is in as good form as he was against Aberdeen.

"He's just a really good player and I must say with all the speculation in the papers he's managing to keep his focus very well indeed.

"He's letting everything else just pass him by without taking too much notice.

"The improvement in Barry in the past year has been incredible and there's more to come.

"He reminds me of Hartley in that he's a late developer and a fantastic player.

"Robson scored good goals out there but his performance was matched by at least half a dozen players.

"It was a team performance to savour. I've beaten myself to death every time we lose so now I'm going to enjoy myself."

Robson refused to talk about the growing speculation and insisted all he would focus on is a terrific team performance that puts United right back in the hunt for a UEFA Cup spot.

There were some outstanding displays, especially in the midfield where Craig Conway, Mark Kerr and Willo Flood helped Robson tame a toothless Aberdeen side described as "woeful" by furious boss Jimmy Calderwood.

Yet neither team impressed in a forgettable first half that was low on creativity and action.

Aberdeen had the best chance with their only real attack.

Barry Nicholson worked a one-two with Steve Lovell to storm clear on goal - but he dithered taking the ball on to his favoured right foot and gave Sean Dillon time to make a block.

United lost skipper Lee Wilkie in the second half with a hamstring injury that could rule him out for a week.

He was replaced by Danny Swanson - who later suffered what looks to be a bad knee injury that could sideline him much longer.

The game finally came alive in 50 minutes with the most bizarre goal you will see all season.

Langfield had plenty time to deal with a passback from Andrew Considine but needed two touches before launching it.

And he watched in horror as his kick-out crashed off the closing Hunt and bounced straight back into his gaping net.

It was Keystone Cops' stuff - but even worse was to come.

Nicholson squandered another chance to get his team-mate off the hook when he ballooned a 58th-minute penalty.

Ref Craig Thomson was over ruled by his assistant Martin Cryans who correctly spotted Garry Kenneth had been outmuscled in the box then fell on Lovell as he motored towards goal.

The decision to book the defender rather than send him off as the last man was also fair as Lovell wasn't certain to score from his wide position.

Good work by the officials - which is more than can be said for Nicholson who blazed his spot-kick over the bar.

United killed off the Dons with a wonderful goal in 77 minutes.

Hunt's neat flick deep in midfield sent Conway charging down the right. He showed his composure to cut inside Richie Byrne and pick out Robson coming in at the opposite side.

The Arabs skippermet the cross beautifully with a left-foot volley drilled low across Langfield and inside his left post.

That's the kind of strike only a player brimming with confidence could pull off - and he did it again.

With six minutes left he swept home his sixth goal in four games.

Robson set himself up for this one, forcing Nicholson into a crude barge on the edge of the box that earned a booking.

The captain curled United's free-kick low around the defensive wall and perfectly inside Langfield's right post.

It was a stunning finish to an excellent second-half display by United, only marred by the sight of sub Swanson helped off the pitch late on with that knee injury.

REF WATCH

CRAIG THOMSON and his assistants put in a strong collective performance. The ref was right to defer to his linesman with Dons' penalty decision and a booking for Kenneth's part in it was bang on. Sensible with his cards and fair with his decisions. Rating: 8/10.

MATCH STATS

DUNDEE UTD

SHOTS ON 9

SHOTS OFFF 4

OFFSIDE 2

FOULS 14

CORNERS 10

BOOKINGS 1

ABERDEEN

SHOTS ON 2

SHOTS OFF 1

OFFSIDE 0

FOULS 14

CORNERS 1

BOOKINGS 3