First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
There was a much more familiar look about the United side that took the field in difficult conditions, with Bullock, McCracken, Kerr, McInnes and Dodds all returning to the starting eleven after missing out on the mid-week draw at Stark's Park.
Partnering David McCracken at the heart of United's back four was trialist Neil Collins who played last season at Dumbarton.
Nevertheless, it was Forfar who looked the more threatening at the outset, forcing a number of corners. The Second Division side also had a penalty claim turned down when a shot appeared to strike United's Robson on the hand, but the referee deemed it not to have been deliberate. The closest United came to opening the scoring in these early stages was a James Grady back heel from a Stephen O'Donnell cut back but goalkeeper Brown gathered easily.
United were perhaps a little fortunate to take the lead after 10 minutes. Carelessness in the Forfar midfield allowed Robson to pick up possesion. He dribbled on to the edge of the box and, with the Forfar defence backing off, dispatched an excellent finish low past Brown.
If Forfar felt aggrieved, they did not take long to put matters right. Within a minute the Loons had won their fourth corner of the match. Stein flighted the ball in for Sellars to head home - completely unmarked - from eight yards. The match then swung from end to end but United had the better chances with Robson, Grady and McInnes coming close to giving United the lead. At the other end, a short pass back
allowed Paul Lunan to round Bullock, but his cross was scrambled away by Archibald before Forfar could take advantage. Conditions were difficult, with a greasy pitch and gusty winds causing both sets of players problems.
Forfar took a surprise 2 v 1 advantage after 34 minutes. Stein made a good run down the left before cutting across the penalty area. When the winger was eventually tackled the ball fell kindly for Paul Shields who finished clinically from 15 yards, low into the far corner. Again the lead was short lived and Robson set up Grady to score from a difficult angle on the left of the box after 37 minutes.
Two each at the end of an entertaining first half was probably fair, but it was no surprise that the second half didn't give the fans quite as much to shout about.
United were largely in control without creating as many clear-cut chances as in the first half, though they looked more solid at the back. Conditions remained difficult and there were some scrappy passages of play, interrupted at intervals by a series of substitutions from both sides.
United took the lead again 61 minutes in. Scotland ran at speed from the half way line before unleashing a powerful left foot shot from 30 yards which deflected into the top corner of Brown's net. The best goal of the game, however, was still to come. With ten minutes left on the clock, a fine Mark Wilson run across the edge of the box from the right allowed Jim McIntyre to send in a lovely curling cross from the left; and Kerr converted with a fine flick header in at the far post from 8 yards.
United ran out comfortable winners in the end and there were many pluses to be taken from the game - not least the scoring form of James Grady.
Teams:
Forfar: Brown, Rattray (Florence 55), Lowing (Hamilton 55), Forrest, King, Lunan (Maher 66), Sellars, Booth (McLune 66), King, Shields, Stein.
Subs not used: Dunn, Ferrie.
United: Bullock, O'Donnell (Wilson 45), Archibald, McInnes, Trialist, McCracken, Kerr, Grady (Samuel 70), Scotland (McLaren 77), Dodds (McIntyre 61), Robson.
Subs not used: Innes, Holmes, Jarvie.
Partnering David McCracken at the heart of United's back four was trialist Neil Collins who played last season at Dumbarton.
Nevertheless, it was Forfar who looked the more threatening at the outset, forcing a number of corners. The Second Division side also had a penalty claim turned down when a shot appeared to strike United's Robson on the hand, but the referee deemed it not to have been deliberate. The closest United came to opening the scoring in these early stages was a James Grady back heel from a Stephen O'Donnell cut back but goalkeeper Brown gathered easily.
United were perhaps a little fortunate to take the lead after 10 minutes. Carelessness in the Forfar midfield allowed Robson to pick up possesion. He dribbled on to the edge of the box and, with the Forfar defence backing off, dispatched an excellent finish low past Brown.
If Forfar felt aggrieved, they did not take long to put matters right. Within a minute the Loons had won their fourth corner of the match. Stein flighted the ball in for Sellars to head home - completely unmarked - from eight yards. The match then swung from end to end but United had the better chances with Robson, Grady and McInnes coming close to giving United the lead. At the other end, a short pass back
allowed Paul Lunan to round Bullock, but his cross was scrambled away by Archibald before Forfar could take advantage. Conditions were difficult, with a greasy pitch and gusty winds causing both sets of players problems.
Forfar took a surprise 2 v 1 advantage after 34 minutes. Stein made a good run down the left before cutting across the penalty area. When the winger was eventually tackled the ball fell kindly for Paul Shields who finished clinically from 15 yards, low into the far corner. Again the lead was short lived and Robson set up Grady to score from a difficult angle on the left of the box after 37 minutes.
Two each at the end of an entertaining first half was probably fair, but it was no surprise that the second half didn't give the fans quite as much to shout about.
United were largely in control without creating as many clear-cut chances as in the first half, though they looked more solid at the back. Conditions remained difficult and there were some scrappy passages of play, interrupted at intervals by a series of substitutions from both sides.
United took the lead again 61 minutes in. Scotland ran at speed from the half way line before unleashing a powerful left foot shot from 30 yards which deflected into the top corner of Brown's net. The best goal of the game, however, was still to come. With ten minutes left on the clock, a fine Mark Wilson run across the edge of the box from the right allowed Jim McIntyre to send in a lovely curling cross from the left; and Kerr converted with a fine flick header in at the far post from 8 yards.
United ran out comfortable winners in the end and there were many pluses to be taken from the game - not least the scoring form of James Grady.
Teams:
Forfar: Brown, Rattray (Florence 55), Lowing (Hamilton 55), Forrest, King, Lunan (Maher 66), Sellars, Booth (McLune 66), King, Shields, Stein.
Subs not used: Dunn, Ferrie.
United: Bullock, O'Donnell (Wilson 45), Archibald, McInnes, Trialist, McCracken, Kerr, Grady (Samuel 70), Scotland (McLaren 77), Dodds (McIntyre 61), Robson.
Subs not used: Innes, Holmes, Jarvie.
