# Spartans Shock Dundee United in Scottish Professional Football League Debut
Spartans made a stunning debut in the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) with a shock win over a Dundee United side relegated from the top-flight last season. The Edinburgh-based side, who were promoted to League 2 after winning the Lowland League, secured the points with a single goal from striker Blair Henderson after 11 minutes.
The win was part of a series of surprising results on the opening day of the Viaplay Cup group stage, with Premiership sides St Mirren and St Johnstone also suffering losses to lower league opposition. League 2 side Stenhousemuir beat St Johnstone 1-0 while a single goal was enough for Montrose against St Mirren.
Goalkeeper Blair Carswell was also a hero for Spartans, saving Tony Watt’s second-half penalty following Cammy Russell’s foul on Scott McMann. The result is twice in six months that United manager Jim Goodwin has suffered a loss to lower league opposition, having been sacked by Aberdeen after a Scottish Cup loss to sixth-tier Darvel.
## Spartans’ Promotion and Debut
Spartans were promoted to the SPFL after winning the Lowland League in 2019, becoming the first East of Scotland side to join the Scottish Professional Football League since East Stirlingshire in 2000. The Edinburgh side have been playing in the Lowland League since its formation in 2013, and have won the league three times in that period, as well as winning the South Challenge Cup in 2014 and 2017.
The win over Dundee United marked Spartans’ debut in the SPFL, and was a significant milestone for the club as they look to establish themselves in the professional game in Scotland. It was also a significant result for Henderson, who scored his first goal for Spartans since joining from East Kilbride in June 2019.
## Dundee United’s Relegation and Struggles
Dundee United were relegated from the Premiership last season after finishing bottom of the table with just 19 points from their 38 matches. The club have been struggling since their relegation from the top flight in 2016, and have failed to gain promotion back to the Premiership in the intervening years despite reaching the play-offs in each of the last three seasons.
The loss to Spartans is a further blow for United manager Jim Goodwin, who has now suffered two losses to lower league opposition in six months after being sacked by Aberdeen following a Scottish Cup loss to sixth-tier Darvel in December 2019.
## Looking Ahead
The result is a major boost for Spartans as they look to establish themselves in the SPFL, and will give them confidence going into their next match against Airdrieonians on Saturday 8th August 2020. For Dundee United, it is a further setback as they look to rebuild following their relegation from the Premiership last season, and they will be hoping for a better result when they face Raith Rovers on Saturday 8th August 2020.
More to follow…