First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
United Under 21s went to Edinburgh tonight, with Owen Coyle (pictured) in charge for his first game. The line-up was a mix of youth and experience with Tony Bullock in goal, Stewart Duff at right wing back, Gary Bollan on the left and Mark Wilson playing as a sweeper. The centre back pairing consisted of David McCracken and Steven Anderson whilst in midfield Craig Easton played alongside Graeme Holmes. Owen Coyle himself played in a linking role in front of this pair and behind strikers Jason Scotland and Stephen McGowan.
The first half had few incidents and no goals and United's only chance of the half came when Coyle hit the bar from a corner kick. Hibs were doing their fair share of attacking and Bullock had to be alert to make a couple of good saves. Steven Bell came on at half time for McGowan.
Early in the second half a great ball over the Hibs defence by Bollan was taken well by Coyle but the veteran striker was brought down in the box. Wilson stepped up to confidently strike home the resulting penalty. A well-worked passing move down the United right brought a second goal for the visitors. Scotland turned and fired in a great shot from the edge of the box and although the Hibs keeper pulled of a tremendous save, he could only parry the ball as far as Bell who scored with a composed finish. United were very much in control when Coyle played a through ball for Scotland who then beat a defender before slotting past the keeper to make it 3-0.
The Tangerines had more chances to increase their lead but Hibs in fact pulled one back as a result of some slack play at the back and then the home side scored again with five minutes left from a well-executed free-kick over the wall.
Overall, player/coach Owen Coyle was pleased to get the young side off to a winning start and he spoke enthusiastically about the team's passing play particularly as three goals came as a result. He was however somewhat disappointed at the loss of Hibs' first goal which he felt encouraged the home side to push forward at time when they looked beaten. He sees the Under-21 arena very much as a learning situation for the younger players where hopefully they will learn from mistakes and reduce the possibility of these happening again.
The first half had few incidents and no goals and United's only chance of the half came when Coyle hit the bar from a corner kick. Hibs were doing their fair share of attacking and Bullock had to be alert to make a couple of good saves. Steven Bell came on at half time for McGowan.
Early in the second half a great ball over the Hibs defence by Bollan was taken well by Coyle but the veteran striker was brought down in the box. Wilson stepped up to confidently strike home the resulting penalty. A well-worked passing move down the United right brought a second goal for the visitors. Scotland turned and fired in a great shot from the edge of the box and although the Hibs keeper pulled of a tremendous save, he could only parry the ball as far as Bell who scored with a composed finish. United were very much in control when Coyle played a through ball for Scotland who then beat a defender before slotting past the keeper to make it 3-0.
The Tangerines had more chances to increase their lead but Hibs in fact pulled one back as a result of some slack play at the back and then the home side scored again with five minutes left from a well-executed free-kick over the wall.
Overall, player/coach Owen Coyle was pleased to get the young side off to a winning start and he spoke enthusiastically about the team's passing play particularly as three goals came as a result. He was however somewhat disappointed at the loss of Hibs' first goal which he felt encouraged the home side to push forward at time when they looked beaten. He sees the Under-21 arena very much as a learning situation for the younger players where hopefully they will learn from mistakes and reduce the possibility of these happening again.
