First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
Lining up in their familiar 4-4-2 formation, Tony Docherty fielded his strongest side for the SFA Youth Cup semi-final against St Mirren at Tannadice. That meant Euan McLean was in goal behind a back four of Stuart Abbot, Garry Kenneth, Ross Gardiner and William Easton. In midfield it was Barry Callaghan, David Robertson, Greg Cameron and Kieran McAleenan with Joe Andrew and Nicky McDonald up front.
It was end to end stuff in the first half with United opening well and both McDonald and Cameron having early chances, whilst McKenna of St Mirren almost caught out McLean as he tried to clear at the edge of the area. The keeper then held a McCay free kick with ease before Callaghan headed clear a dangerous cross from McFarlane. With ten minutes played, United carved out the first goal scoring opportunity when McDonald cut the ball back to Andrew on the right. The cross in was perfect for McAleenan but he hit the shot wide of goal. Andrew then profited from a McAleenan through ball but the shot, when it came, was deflected for a corner.
McLean was in action again two minutes later, saving with his feet from a fierce Gemmill shot and then with fifteen minutes played Andrew fired wide after McDonald set him up. Almost immediately at the other end McKenna caught the United defence flat footed and had only to nod the ball into the net but he somehow contrived to hit the post. A minute later McAleenan made a great run and cross only for Andrew to flick his header wide. Robertson was then out of luck as Smith in the Buddies' goal plucked the ball from the air as the United man was about to head it in. At the other end McLean was twice in trouble but the danger was cleared.
McCay wasted a free kick just on the half hour mark and when United burst up field McDonald threaded a great ball to the feet of McAleenan whose stinging low drive was just held at the near post by Smith. As the half drew to a close, McKenna, looking yards offside, gathered a through ball but fired over the top and then McAleenan saw his header from an Easton free kick knocked out for a corner. United were forced to withdraw Andrew with a head wound and replaced him with David Goodwillie just before the break.
The first half had been played at a fast and furious pace with play raging from end to end. Both sides had chances and it was a surprise that it ended goalless.
United went on the attack immediately after the restart and a neat McDonald back heel released Callaghan and his cross was well placed for Robertson who blasted for goal but the St Mirren keeper dived to block the effort with his body. Then, out of nothing, St Mirren went ahead. The referee must have been the only one who saw an infringement in the United box and he awarded a penalty to the visitors and McKenna calmly slotted home from the spot kick. From that point on St Mirren sat in and played on the break but United defended these well enough to limit St Mirren to one half chance. United on the other hand stepped up a gear and Goodwillie was unfortunate to hit the side netting after picking up a long ball over the defence. Smith punched clear under pressure from three United men as an Easton free kick came in and a great move involving McDonald and Robertson allowed the latter to swing in a fantastic cross but the diving McAleenan was just inches away. Goodwillie forced his way through a ruck of defenders to squeeze a shot on target which the keeper saved but the United youngster did get his name on the score sheet two minutes later when he powerfully headed home the equaliser from an Easton corner.
United then went for looking for a second and St Mirren can count themselves lucky that there were no takers for a good cross in from Easton. McAleenan then flicked a Cameron pass wide but United were caught on the break and Molloy netted St Mirren's second from a tight angle with fifteen minutes left.
Although that turned out to be the winner, United had chances to level and take the game into extra time. Goodwillie was denied because he was unable to get a good contact only a minute after the visitors went ahead. With ten minutes left, Gregg Burnett replaced an injured McDonald and he headed over from an Easton cross just after coming on. Two minutes later Cameron had a shot deflected for a corner and then Robertson tried one from twenty-five yards but the keeper gathered low. The same player then sent Goodwillie away and he in turn passed to the unmarked McAleenan but his shot too was deflected wide for a corner. The last chance of the match fell to St Mirren but Easton headed clear as the ball bobbed about in the box.
After a fairly even first half, United had had by far the greater share of chances and more possession than their opponents after the break but they came across a side that were well organised in defence and the visitors netted from two of only three real goal scoring opportunities in the half. Tony was obviously disappointed with the outcome and after the match he said, "We did not really play as well as we could have and although we created a number of chances we lost because we were unable to finish off some really good moves. All credit to St Mirren though because they came here, up for the game, and made things difficult for us. The boys are all really down because they know they have missed out on a great opportunity to get to the final but we will just have to pick ourselves up and get ready for the league match at the weekend."
It was end to end stuff in the first half with United opening well and both McDonald and Cameron having early chances, whilst McKenna of St Mirren almost caught out McLean as he tried to clear at the edge of the area. The keeper then held a McCay free kick with ease before Callaghan headed clear a dangerous cross from McFarlane. With ten minutes played, United carved out the first goal scoring opportunity when McDonald cut the ball back to Andrew on the right. The cross in was perfect for McAleenan but he hit the shot wide of goal. Andrew then profited from a McAleenan through ball but the shot, when it came, was deflected for a corner.
McLean was in action again two minutes later, saving with his feet from a fierce Gemmill shot and then with fifteen minutes played Andrew fired wide after McDonald set him up. Almost immediately at the other end McKenna caught the United defence flat footed and had only to nod the ball into the net but he somehow contrived to hit the post. A minute later McAleenan made a great run and cross only for Andrew to flick his header wide. Robertson was then out of luck as Smith in the Buddies' goal plucked the ball from the air as the United man was about to head it in. At the other end McLean was twice in trouble but the danger was cleared.
McCay wasted a free kick just on the half hour mark and when United burst up field McDonald threaded a great ball to the feet of McAleenan whose stinging low drive was just held at the near post by Smith. As the half drew to a close, McKenna, looking yards offside, gathered a through ball but fired over the top and then McAleenan saw his header from an Easton free kick knocked out for a corner. United were forced to withdraw Andrew with a head wound and replaced him with David Goodwillie just before the break.
The first half had been played at a fast and furious pace with play raging from end to end. Both sides had chances and it was a surprise that it ended goalless.
United went on the attack immediately after the restart and a neat McDonald back heel released Callaghan and his cross was well placed for Robertson who blasted for goal but the St Mirren keeper dived to block the effort with his body. Then, out of nothing, St Mirren went ahead. The referee must have been the only one who saw an infringement in the United box and he awarded a penalty to the visitors and McKenna calmly slotted home from the spot kick. From that point on St Mirren sat in and played on the break but United defended these well enough to limit St Mirren to one half chance. United on the other hand stepped up a gear and Goodwillie was unfortunate to hit the side netting after picking up a long ball over the defence. Smith punched clear under pressure from three United men as an Easton free kick came in and a great move involving McDonald and Robertson allowed the latter to swing in a fantastic cross but the diving McAleenan was just inches away. Goodwillie forced his way through a ruck of defenders to squeeze a shot on target which the keeper saved but the United youngster did get his name on the score sheet two minutes later when he powerfully headed home the equaliser from an Easton corner.
United then went for looking for a second and St Mirren can count themselves lucky that there were no takers for a good cross in from Easton. McAleenan then flicked a Cameron pass wide but United were caught on the break and Molloy netted St Mirren's second from a tight angle with fifteen minutes left.
Although that turned out to be the winner, United had chances to level and take the game into extra time. Goodwillie was denied because he was unable to get a good contact only a minute after the visitors went ahead. With ten minutes left, Gregg Burnett replaced an injured McDonald and he headed over from an Easton cross just after coming on. Two minutes later Cameron had a shot deflected for a corner and then Robertson tried one from twenty-five yards but the keeper gathered low. The same player then sent Goodwillie away and he in turn passed to the unmarked McAleenan but his shot too was deflected wide for a corner. The last chance of the match fell to St Mirren but Easton headed clear as the ball bobbed about in the box.
After a fairly even first half, United had had by far the greater share of chances and more possession than their opponents after the break but they came across a side that were well organised in defence and the visitors netted from two of only three real goal scoring opportunities in the half. Tony was obviously disappointed with the outcome and after the match he said, "We did not really play as well as we could have and although we created a number of chances we lost because we were unable to finish off some really good moves. All credit to St Mirren though because they came here, up for the game, and made things difficult for us. The boys are all really down because they know they have missed out on a great opportunity to get to the final but we will just have to pick ourselves up and get ready for the league match at the weekend."
