First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
United welcomed Hearts to Tannadice today as the SPL fixtures drew to a close prior to the top six/bottom six split. After last week's heroics in Glasgow, United came out to great applause from a good home support - buoyed by recent performances and results, not to mention the chance of a voucher for a Cup Final ticket. The match was evenly contested by both sides and not even a puncture on the Kingsway on the way home could detract from a great end to a week when we've all been proud to be an Arab again.
United kicked off in a 3-5-2 formation and seemed keen to continue their recent good form. Barry Robson left Gordon stranded with a great early cross but the ball was cleared. United continued to look the more dominant side in the early exchanges and Mark Wilson was giving McAllister a torrid time of it on the right.
Hearts striker Lee Miller looked a handful for the United defence as Hearts came more into the game but the big striker seemed very keen to go down when challenged. From such a free kick, the Hearts striker had his first real effort on goal but the United wall did well to block his effort.
Hearts started to come more into the game and Wyness shot wide when he should have done better and Miller brought a comfortable save from Bullock with a header. Ex-United man Stephen Pressley also went close when he headed just over from a corner. Hearts looked as if they were in the ascendancy but it was United that took a lead that their play overall deserved. Mark Wilson found space on the right and his cross was dummied by McIntyre; Jim's move caught out the Hearts full back Thomson and Barry Robson controlled the ball before crashing an unstoppable shot past Gordon.
Arab celebrations were rather short lived though as McAllister got free near to the corner flag and his cross was headed past Bullock by Miller and a deflection off Ritchie.
Tony Bullock then saved well from Wyness as the Jambos tried to catch United after the restart palming the striker's free header over.
Half time saw the introduction of Stevie Crawford in place of Jason Scotland. The half commenced with a lot of end-to-end play without either goalkeeper being really troubled. The first real chance of the half came when a corner by Robson was punched clear by Gordon, only for him to save Brebner's volley from the edge of the box, before denying Duff as he looked to net from the rebound.
Alan Archibald tried his luck from distance only to have the Hearts keeper get a hand to the ball to push it past the post.
Hearts were far from out of the game and Pressley and Wyness should both have hit the target or better as Hearts tried to get another goal. Substitute Mark Burchill went through on goal but his effort was well blocked by Ritchie.
As the game drew to a close, the United support tried to lift their team for one last big effort and they weren't disappointed. A Barry Robson free kick from near the corner flag was sent crashing against the bar by Gary Kenneth's head with Gordon nowhere to be seen. United were not to be denied and after Robson had fired over from long range a ball was played to Stevie Crawford in the left channel. The striker held the ball up well before playing in Brebner who placed a glorious shot over Gordon and into the top corner of the net! An absolute peach if there ever was one and a goal fit to win any game.
The team left the field to a standing ovation - thoroughly deserved.
Dundee Utd: Bullock, Wilson, Kenneth, Ritchie, Archibald, Duff (Samuel 78), Kerr, Brebner, Robson, Scotland (Crawford 45), McIntyre.
Subs Not Used: Colgan, McCracken, McInnes, Grady, Robertson.
Booked: Archibald, Ritchie.
Goals: Robson 37, Brebner 90.
Hearts: Gordon, Thomson, Pressley, Webster, McAllister, Mikoliunas, Kizys (Stewart 62), MacFarlane, Hamill, Wyness (Burchill 75), Miller.
Subs Not Used: Moilanen, McKenna, Simmons, Weir, Berra.
Booked: McAllister.
Goal: Miller 39.
Attendance: 7,704
Ref: A Freeland
Man of the match: Grant Brebner - a great display from the United midfielder who worked tirelessly and scored a peach of a goal to secure the points for United.
Read the full match report by Grant Letham
United kicked off in a 3-5-2 formation and seemed keen to continue their recent good form. Barry Robson left Gordon stranded with a great early cross but the ball was cleared. United continued to look the more dominant side in the early exchanges and Mark Wilson was giving McAllister a torrid time of it on the right.
Hearts striker Lee Miller looked a handful for the United defence as Hearts came more into the game but the big striker seemed very keen to go down when challenged. From such a free kick, the Hearts striker had his first real effort on goal but the United wall did well to block his effort.
Hearts started to come more into the game and Wyness shot wide when he should have done better and Miller brought a comfortable save from Bullock with a header. Ex-United man Stephen Pressley also went close when he headed just over from a corner. Hearts looked as if they were in the ascendancy but it was United that took a lead that their play overall deserved. Mark Wilson found space on the right and his cross was dummied by McIntyre; Jim's move caught out the Hearts full back Thomson and Barry Robson controlled the ball before crashing an unstoppable shot past Gordon.
Arab celebrations were rather short lived though as McAllister got free near to the corner flag and his cross was headed past Bullock by Miller and a deflection off Ritchie.
Tony Bullock then saved well from Wyness as the Jambos tried to catch United after the restart palming the striker's free header over.
Half time saw the introduction of Stevie Crawford in place of Jason Scotland. The half commenced with a lot of end-to-end play without either goalkeeper being really troubled. The first real chance of the half came when a corner by Robson was punched clear by Gordon, only for him to save Brebner's volley from the edge of the box, before denying Duff as he looked to net from the rebound.
Alan Archibald tried his luck from distance only to have the Hearts keeper get a hand to the ball to push it past the post.
Hearts were far from out of the game and Pressley and Wyness should both have hit the target or better as Hearts tried to get another goal. Substitute Mark Burchill went through on goal but his effort was well blocked by Ritchie.
As the game drew to a close, the United support tried to lift their team for one last big effort and they weren't disappointed. A Barry Robson free kick from near the corner flag was sent crashing against the bar by Gary Kenneth's head with Gordon nowhere to be seen. United were not to be denied and after Robson had fired over from long range a ball was played to Stevie Crawford in the left channel. The striker held the ball up well before playing in Brebner who placed a glorious shot over Gordon and into the top corner of the net! An absolute peach if there ever was one and a goal fit to win any game.
The team left the field to a standing ovation - thoroughly deserved.
Dundee Utd: Bullock, Wilson, Kenneth, Ritchie, Archibald, Duff (Samuel 78), Kerr, Brebner, Robson, Scotland (Crawford 45), McIntyre.
Subs Not Used: Colgan, McCracken, McInnes, Grady, Robertson.
Booked: Archibald, Ritchie.
Goals: Robson 37, Brebner 90.
Hearts: Gordon, Thomson, Pressley, Webster, McAllister, Mikoliunas, Kizys (Stewart 62), MacFarlane, Hamill, Wyness (Burchill 75), Miller.
Subs Not Used: Moilanen, McKenna, Simmons, Weir, Berra.
Booked: McAllister.
Goal: Miller 39.
Attendance: 7,704
Ref: A Freeland
Man of the match: Grant Brebner - a great display from the United midfielder who worked tirelessly and scored a peach of a goal to secure the points for United.
Read the full match report by Grant Letham
