First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
At Station Park Forfar tonight, United fielded a side containing several youth team players together with a fair representation of experience from the first team squad. In a 3-5-2 formation player/coach Owen Coyle fielded Tony Bullock (pictured) in goal with a back three of Danny Griffin, Ross Gardiner and Mark Wilson and in midfield Steven Bell and Graeme Holmes were paired together with Owen Coyle himself linking between them and the striking partnership of Jason Scotland and Jim McIntyre. The wing backs were Stuart Duff on the right and Jim Paterson on the left. Hearts had out a strong side with first team players Hartley, Kirk and Boyack in their line up.
The first half started slowly with both sides probing for an opening. For United, a Griffin free-kick from 25 yards was held by the Hearts keeper and from the same range, Dunn tested Bullock in the United goal. Scotland fired just wide for United but Hearts took the lead through Weir after good work by Kirk and Hartley. The Tangerines responded and after a couple of attacks failed the home side were awarded a penalty for hand-ball against McCann from a McIntyre shot. McCann was dismissed and then Wilson made no mistake from the spot to level the match.
In the second half, United were the stronger side with the extra man advantage but despite all the pressure they heaped on Hearts it was the visitors who went ahead again. The referee adjudged Griffin to have fouled Kirk on the edge of the box in a rare attack and Kirk himself netted the penalty. Mid-way through the half, United pulled level again when McIntyre got the perfect contact to head home from a corner. However only two minutes later Hearts were back in front when Kisnorbo got too much room in the box and nodded home a free-kick. Scotland had two late chances to bring United back level but he missed the target on both occasions and the visitors left with all three points.
After the match player/coach Owen Coyle could not disguise his disappointment and said, "I cannot believe we lost this match. We have to stop gifting goals. Tonight, Hearts had four attempts on goal and scored from three of them. This was a game we should have won comfortably even after going behind. We battled back into the game and played some attractive football and it was a great move that lead to our winning the penalty to draw level. After we went behind again from their penalty we came back again and scored a great equaliser but then we allowed their player a free header in the box to go in front again. Collectively the players have to be mentally stronger and the sooner we get the attitude right the better. We have played some entertaining stuff at Under-21 level but we have to start entertaining and winning. Where we are now doesn't really reflect how well we have played but we have to learn to shut the back door."
FOR A FULL MATCH REPORT, PLEASE CLICK ONTO RESULTS/FIXTURES AND SELECT UNDER-21s.
The first half started slowly with both sides probing for an opening. For United, a Griffin free-kick from 25 yards was held by the Hearts keeper and from the same range, Dunn tested Bullock in the United goal. Scotland fired just wide for United but Hearts took the lead through Weir after good work by Kirk and Hartley. The Tangerines responded and after a couple of attacks failed the home side were awarded a penalty for hand-ball against McCann from a McIntyre shot. McCann was dismissed and then Wilson made no mistake from the spot to level the match.
In the second half, United were the stronger side with the extra man advantage but despite all the pressure they heaped on Hearts it was the visitors who went ahead again. The referee adjudged Griffin to have fouled Kirk on the edge of the box in a rare attack and Kirk himself netted the penalty. Mid-way through the half, United pulled level again when McIntyre got the perfect contact to head home from a corner. However only two minutes later Hearts were back in front when Kisnorbo got too much room in the box and nodded home a free-kick. Scotland had two late chances to bring United back level but he missed the target on both occasions and the visitors left with all three points.
After the match player/coach Owen Coyle could not disguise his disappointment and said, "I cannot believe we lost this match. We have to stop gifting goals. Tonight, Hearts had four attempts on goal and scored from three of them. This was a game we should have won comfortably even after going behind. We battled back into the game and played some attractive football and it was a great move that lead to our winning the penalty to draw level. After we went behind again from their penalty we came back again and scored a great equaliser but then we allowed their player a free header in the box to go in front again. Collectively the players have to be mentally stronger and the sooner we get the attitude right the better. We have played some entertaining stuff at Under-21 level but we have to start entertaining and winning. Where we are now doesn't really reflect how well we have played but we have to learn to shut the back door."
FOR A FULL MATCH REPORT, PLEASE CLICK ONTO RESULTS/FIXTURES AND SELECT UNDER-21s.
