First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
For today's Under-21 match at Fir Park against Motherwell the Under-21s recovered from losing a first minute goal to win by 2-1 with the goals coming from Steven Anderson and Steven Bell. Tony Bullock made his return after injury and the only other players over the age of nineteen were Jim Paterson and Graeme Holmes. All the others were from the Youth squad.
The home side stunned United with the opening goal in the first minute when Scott McDonald squeezed the ball home from ten yards. It took the Tangerines a while to settle after that and the Fir Park side had a couple of good chances to increase their lead before United even had a shot at goal, Abbot firing wide. After twenty minutes United began to get into their stride and Conway lobbed a good effort onto the roof of the net. Motherwell hit the post before Paterson had a shot blocked and the home keeper had to punch clear under pressure twice. The visitors got the reward their efforts warranted when Anderson headed in a Jarvis corner right on half time.
Motherwell's McDonald almost put the home side back in front just after the break but from that point on United gradually took control. Bell had one effort saved before he netted the decisive counter twenty minutes from the end, blasting high into the roof of the net after both he and Anderson had shots blocked in a goal mouth scramble. United continued to play a good passing game without finding another goal and the match ended with the Tangerines on top and the win sees the Under-21s move up to fifth spot in the league where they will finish.
Owen Coyle was very pleased with the performance and after the match he said "We have had a fantastic finish to the season, winning our last three games all away from home and all with mainly our Youth players. They have played a lot of games in the last couple of months and we are delighted with the attitude the boys have shown. Today's result was a well deserved three points for some hard work, coming from behind as we did."
The home side stunned United with the opening goal in the first minute when Scott McDonald squeezed the ball home from ten yards. It took the Tangerines a while to settle after that and the Fir Park side had a couple of good chances to increase their lead before United even had a shot at goal, Abbot firing wide. After twenty minutes United began to get into their stride and Conway lobbed a good effort onto the roof of the net. Motherwell hit the post before Paterson had a shot blocked and the home keeper had to punch clear under pressure twice. The visitors got the reward their efforts warranted when Anderson headed in a Jarvis corner right on half time.
Motherwell's McDonald almost put the home side back in front just after the break but from that point on United gradually took control. Bell had one effort saved before he netted the decisive counter twenty minutes from the end, blasting high into the roof of the net after both he and Anderson had shots blocked in a goal mouth scramble. United continued to play a good passing game without finding another goal and the match ended with the Tangerines on top and the win sees the Under-21s move up to fifth spot in the league where they will finish.
Owen Coyle was very pleased with the performance and after the match he said "We have had a fantastic finish to the season, winning our last three games all away from home and all with mainly our Youth players. They have played a lot of games in the last couple of months and we are delighted with the attitude the boys have shown. Today's result was a well deserved three points for some hard work, coming from behind as we did."
