First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
After having had their fair share of bad lack and the breaks going against them, Dundee United managed to change their fortunes against Kilmarnock, with two valuable strikes, both with an element of fortune, taking them on their way to a comfortable 3-0 victory. Up to the breakthrough, the visitors had looked the most threatening, but the Tangerines never looked back after Brebner's long range effort deflected off McIntyre to give the forward his fifth - and surely most fortunate - league strike of the campaign.
The United starting line-up was heavily changed from last week's disappointing defeat by Motherwell, with Ian McCall making five changes. Tony Bullock was restored between the posts, with Jarvie dropping out of the squad altogether. Elsewhere, McInnes, Innes, Kerr and Scotland were also recalled, at the expense of McCracken, Grady, Kerkar and Duff missing out completely.
While the United manager was trying to change personnel to stop a bad run, Jim Jeffries only made one change to the Kilmarnock side on a similarly bad run, with youngster Steve Naismith coming in to replace Colin Nish, opting to leave new signing Mickel Wolski among the substitutes.
The opening ten minutes of the match were better viewing for the travelling Killie fans than the Arabs, with Johnston in particular looking threatening down the right flank. After a couple of early corners, Johnston sent Naismith away, but, the youngster hesitated with support available and the danger was eventually cleared. Johnston then shot over the bar from 15 yards.
United were the side to make the breakthrough, however, and took the lead with their first attempt at goal. Brebner advanced with the ball in midfield, and unleashed a 25 yard shot. To the fortune of the Tangerines, McIntyre could not get out the way of the shot, and the ball deflected off his shin, wrong footing Combe and rolling into the net.
Killie looked to make a quick reply, Boyd's free kick eventually ended up over the line after a deflection and a block by Bullock, the referee had already blown for a free kick.
After that scare, the home side doubled their lead on 22 minutes. Again, there was an element of fortune, as Robson's corner from the right drifted right across the face of goal and into the net at the far post.
Again, Killie looked to make an immediate response, and again felt aggrieved at the match officials after Naismith's effort beat the goalkeeper, but Robson got back to head the ball onto the bar from the goal-line. With many of the Killie players claiming a goal, Lilley headed the rebound over from 8 yards.
Following the eventful opening to the game, the game was always going to slow at some point, and United went into the half-time break comfortable with the two goals lead.
Half Time: Dundee United 2-0 Kilmarnock
The second half certainly started with a bang, as United extended their lead after only 35 seconds. Wilson floated in an inswinging free kick from the left, and McIntyre rose to glance a header into the far corner.
United's performance was giving a noticeable difference to their confidence, and the passing and movement was impressive during the second half.
On the hour mark, McIntyre almost grabbed his hat-trick, but his long range shot was parried by Combe.
Despite making changes to his personnel, the game was running away from Jefferies's Kilmarnock side, and United were increasingly comfortable as the game progressed.
All of McIntyre, Scotland, McInnes and Robson had good efforts on goal, but while some went narrowly wide, and others were saved by Combe, the fourth goal wasn't forthcoming. McInnes came closest, his chip clipping the cross bar on the way over, and Samuel also had an effort saved by Combe after coming on as substitute.
Apart from the occasional corner, the visitors never looked threatening in the second half, and United could have easily won the game by double the eventual scoreline.
Four minutes from time, Greg Cameron became the youngest player to play for United in the Premier League, the sixteen year old beating Christian Dailly's record when he came on to replace Brebner.
Full Time: Dundee United 3-0 Kilmarnock
Summary: This victory was badly needed by United, giving the difficulty of the upcoming matches, and credit must be given to the whole team for the vastly improved fighting spirit.
Although it was an afternoon where the breaks all came for the home side, Ian McCall must feel that this was due to happen after being on the opposite end of the luck in earlier matches. Having said that, United cruised to victory in the second half, and but for some narrow misses and saves from Combe, the Tangerines' score could have been far more than three.
Man of the Match: Jim McIntyre. The entire United side showed a marked improvement in performance from recent games, and nobody demonstrated this more than McIntyre. His goals give him the edge to take the award from Derek McInnes, who was also exceptional on his return to the side.
Teams:
Dundee United:
Bullock, Wilson, Innes, Ritchie, Archibald, Kerr, McInnes, Brebner (Cameron 86), Robson, McIntyre (Dodds 89), Scotland (Samuel 76).
Subs Not Used:
Hirschfeld (GK), McCracken, Kenneth, Grady.
Kilmarnock:
Combe, Greer, Lilley, Ford, Dindeleux, Johnston (Murray 52), McDonald, Leven, Invincible (Dargo 61), Naismith, Boyd (Wales 88).
Subs Not Used:
Smith (GK), Wolski, Fowler, Hay.
Booked: McDonald (1), Lilley (62)
Referee Willie Young
Attendance 5,097
Read the full match report by Scott Simpson.
The United starting line-up was heavily changed from last week's disappointing defeat by Motherwell, with Ian McCall making five changes. Tony Bullock was restored between the posts, with Jarvie dropping out of the squad altogether. Elsewhere, McInnes, Innes, Kerr and Scotland were also recalled, at the expense of McCracken, Grady, Kerkar and Duff missing out completely.
While the United manager was trying to change personnel to stop a bad run, Jim Jeffries only made one change to the Kilmarnock side on a similarly bad run, with youngster Steve Naismith coming in to replace Colin Nish, opting to leave new signing Mickel Wolski among the substitutes.
The opening ten minutes of the match were better viewing for the travelling Killie fans than the Arabs, with Johnston in particular looking threatening down the right flank. After a couple of early corners, Johnston sent Naismith away, but, the youngster hesitated with support available and the danger was eventually cleared. Johnston then shot over the bar from 15 yards.
United were the side to make the breakthrough, however, and took the lead with their first attempt at goal. Brebner advanced with the ball in midfield, and unleashed a 25 yard shot. To the fortune of the Tangerines, McIntyre could not get out the way of the shot, and the ball deflected off his shin, wrong footing Combe and rolling into the net.
Killie looked to make a quick reply, Boyd's free kick eventually ended up over the line after a deflection and a block by Bullock, the referee had already blown for a free kick.
After that scare, the home side doubled their lead on 22 minutes. Again, there was an element of fortune, as Robson's corner from the right drifted right across the face of goal and into the net at the far post.
Again, Killie looked to make an immediate response, and again felt aggrieved at the match officials after Naismith's effort beat the goalkeeper, but Robson got back to head the ball onto the bar from the goal-line. With many of the Killie players claiming a goal, Lilley headed the rebound over from 8 yards.
Following the eventful opening to the game, the game was always going to slow at some point, and United went into the half-time break comfortable with the two goals lead.
Half Time: Dundee United 2-0 Kilmarnock
The second half certainly started with a bang, as United extended their lead after only 35 seconds. Wilson floated in an inswinging free kick from the left, and McIntyre rose to glance a header into the far corner.
United's performance was giving a noticeable difference to their confidence, and the passing and movement was impressive during the second half.
On the hour mark, McIntyre almost grabbed his hat-trick, but his long range shot was parried by Combe.
Despite making changes to his personnel, the game was running away from Jefferies's Kilmarnock side, and United were increasingly comfortable as the game progressed.
All of McIntyre, Scotland, McInnes and Robson had good efforts on goal, but while some went narrowly wide, and others were saved by Combe, the fourth goal wasn't forthcoming. McInnes came closest, his chip clipping the cross bar on the way over, and Samuel also had an effort saved by Combe after coming on as substitute.
Apart from the occasional corner, the visitors never looked threatening in the second half, and United could have easily won the game by double the eventual scoreline.
Four minutes from time, Greg Cameron became the youngest player to play for United in the Premier League, the sixteen year old beating Christian Dailly's record when he came on to replace Brebner.
Full Time: Dundee United 3-0 Kilmarnock
Summary: This victory was badly needed by United, giving the difficulty of the upcoming matches, and credit must be given to the whole team for the vastly improved fighting spirit.
Although it was an afternoon where the breaks all came for the home side, Ian McCall must feel that this was due to happen after being on the opposite end of the luck in earlier matches. Having said that, United cruised to victory in the second half, and but for some narrow misses and saves from Combe, the Tangerines' score could have been far more than three.
Man of the Match: Jim McIntyre. The entire United side showed a marked improvement in performance from recent games, and nobody demonstrated this more than McIntyre. His goals give him the edge to take the award from Derek McInnes, who was also exceptional on his return to the side.
Teams:
Dundee United:
Bullock, Wilson, Innes, Ritchie, Archibald, Kerr, McInnes, Brebner (Cameron 86), Robson, McIntyre (Dodds 89), Scotland (Samuel 76).
Subs Not Used:
Hirschfeld (GK), McCracken, Kenneth, Grady.
Kilmarnock:
Combe, Greer, Lilley, Ford, Dindeleux, Johnston (Murray 52), McDonald, Leven, Invincible (Dargo 61), Naismith, Boyd (Wales 88).
Subs Not Used:
Smith (GK), Wolski, Fowler, Hay.
Booked: McDonald (1), Lilley (62)
Referee Willie Young
Attendance 5,097
Read the full match report by Scott Simpson.
