First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
The pre-season build-up continued closer to home with tonight's match at Kirkcaldy. United Boss Ian McCall fielded a less experienced side than that which won at Burnley on Saturday making eight changes from the starting line-up at Turf Moor.
As had been mentioned in the press during the week, Thomas Pinault started the match as a trialist in a central midfield role. Raith's cosmopolitan side under the guidance of Claude Anelka was bound to be keen to prove itself against SPL opposition.
United started the match well, claiming early possession and looking assured on the ball, yet it was Rovers who managed to create two clear-cut chances within the first five minutes, neither of them troubling Jarvie though.
United went on to dominate the early part of the game with Pinault, Scotland and Wilson all playing a major role in some slick passing moves. Jason Scotland was also showing the good form in which he finished last season and caused the Raith defence more than a few problems with his direct running with the ball. He won a free kick that was taken by Wilson and well saved by Pounassamy. McLaren also elicited a great save from the goalkeeper when his shot came off a defender and was tipped over. Just before half time, United took the lead. Scotland was again fouled as he bore down on goal and, from the resulting free kick, Grady had little more than a half chance but lashed a great shot into the net from the edge of the box.
Barry Robson replaced Grady at half time and Raith freshened things up with five substitutes within ten minutes of the restart. United set out positively with McIntyre getting close to a through ball and having an arguable claim for a penalty after eluding his marker in the box. Raith began to come more and more into the game and it was only thanks to a great tackle by Abbot and a save from Jarvie that Raith was denied getting onto the score sheet sooner. The equaliser was almost inevitable and Sacko drilled in low past Jarvie with 20 minutes left to play. Almost immediately after that, the same player clattered the ball against the junction of post and bar. Robson gave the Raith keeper a late fright with a cross which almost sneaked in at his front post but the game ended, probably fairly, in a draw.
Teams:
Raith Rovers: Pounassamy, McAlpine, Paquito, Hajovsky, Davidson, Brady, Hagen, Benaissa, Sacko, Tchimbakala, Ebanda
Subs: Young, Boyle, Maxwell, Eloujdi, Ouattara, Smart
Dundee Utd: Jarvie, Wilson, Abbot, Archibald, Kenneth, Holmes, Trialist (Pinault), Scotland, McLaren, Grady, McIntyre.
Subs: Trialist GK, Robson, O'Donnell, Robertson, Bell, Cameron, Conway
Attendance: 1301
Referee: John Rowbotham
As had been mentioned in the press during the week, Thomas Pinault started the match as a trialist in a central midfield role. Raith's cosmopolitan side under the guidance of Claude Anelka was bound to be keen to prove itself against SPL opposition.
United started the match well, claiming early possession and looking assured on the ball, yet it was Rovers who managed to create two clear-cut chances within the first five minutes, neither of them troubling Jarvie though.
United went on to dominate the early part of the game with Pinault, Scotland and Wilson all playing a major role in some slick passing moves. Jason Scotland was also showing the good form in which he finished last season and caused the Raith defence more than a few problems with his direct running with the ball. He won a free kick that was taken by Wilson and well saved by Pounassamy. McLaren also elicited a great save from the goalkeeper when his shot came off a defender and was tipped over. Just before half time, United took the lead. Scotland was again fouled as he bore down on goal and, from the resulting free kick, Grady had little more than a half chance but lashed a great shot into the net from the edge of the box.
Barry Robson replaced Grady at half time and Raith freshened things up with five substitutes within ten minutes of the restart. United set out positively with McIntyre getting close to a through ball and having an arguable claim for a penalty after eluding his marker in the box. Raith began to come more and more into the game and it was only thanks to a great tackle by Abbot and a save from Jarvie that Raith was denied getting onto the score sheet sooner. The equaliser was almost inevitable and Sacko drilled in low past Jarvie with 20 minutes left to play. Almost immediately after that, the same player clattered the ball against the junction of post and bar. Robson gave the Raith keeper a late fright with a cross which almost sneaked in at his front post but the game ended, probably fairly, in a draw.
Teams:
Raith Rovers: Pounassamy, McAlpine, Paquito, Hajovsky, Davidson, Brady, Hagen, Benaissa, Sacko, Tchimbakala, Ebanda
Subs: Young, Boyle, Maxwell, Eloujdi, Ouattara, Smart
Dundee Utd: Jarvie, Wilson, Abbot, Archibald, Kenneth, Holmes, Trialist (Pinault), Scotland, McLaren, Grady, McIntyre.
Subs: Trialist GK, Robson, O'Donnell, Robertson, Bell, Cameron, Conway
Attendance: 1301
Referee: John Rowbotham
