First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
A hard-fought draw at Tannadice today leaves United still in the thick of the relegation battle with just two league games remaining. For much of the match there was little to choose between the sides, and while the home team pushed strongly towards the end for three vital points, the winning goal just failed to arrive.
United fielded the same starting line-up that saw them to victory in last week's derby, Grant Brebner managing to shake off a knock. The only bad news for interim manager Gordon Chisholm was that "super-sub" Jason Scotland failed to recover in time to make the squad. Killie, without forward Danny Invincible, welcomed back Boyd into the squad after missing out last week, but manager Jim Jeffries opted to put his main striker on the bench.
After a slow start, United's first chance fell to Duff but he mis-hit wide from 15 yards. Shortly after, a well-worked move set up Crawford whose 20 yard shot went just over. Killie enjoyed plenty of possession, but struggled to create real chances. Gary Locke's low 40 yard strike was easily collected by Bullock. United looked more threatening with Jim McIntyre always involved. His deflected shot allowed Robson to get a header in on goal, then McIntyre himself was denied a tap-in when Dindeleux cut out Duff's low cross. But the ex-Killie man was not to be denied. Wilson's 17th minute corner picked him out and from six yards his header just sneaked over the line despite a desperate attempt by Leven to clear.
United enjoyed a short period in the ascendancy thereafter and Crawford, McIntyre and Robson were linking well. But a killer second never arrived and Killie fought their way back into the game. Even so, only Peter Leven's long throws looked in any way concerning for United's solid back three. A Mark Wilson free-kick for United was well placed, low to Combe's right-hand, but didn't carry enough power to really test the former United keeper. The home side had another couple of half chances before the break, Kerr and Crawford with powerful strikes charged down. The narrow half-time lead enjoyed by United was probably a fair reflection on the game.
With his second string strikers struggling, few would have been surprised by the half time appearance of Kris Boyd for a warm-up, and he duly replaced Nish before the second half commenced. Killie re-started in the ascendancy, a Gary Wales header being deflected wide, and forcing a number of corners. United seemed to have survived the storm, but on 53 minutes Boyd scored his eighth of the season against the Tangerines, tapping home from close range after a Lilley header had rebounded from the post. United fought back and McIntyre's header across goal from Brebner's cross only just fell behind the onrushing Crawford. Kilmarnock replaced right back Greer with winger Stephen Naismith as they found themselves on the back foot. After a period of calm, Boyd almost grabbed a second out of the blue with a twenty yard volley just going over the top. The striker then set up McDonald at the edge of the box, but Kerr made a superb blocking tackle. With Killie now getting on top, it was United's turn to try and change things - Collin Samuel came on to replace Duff, and took his place at right-midfield as the team changed from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2.
The change put United back in command and they looked the hungrier for the three points as the minutes ticked away. A powerful low shot from Robson was superbly turned round the post by Combe. Then McIntyre lobbed just over after a mistake by Dindeleux. With eight minutes left, United fans thought they had a penalty when Robson went down under the challenge of Naismith, but referee McCurry waved away strong penalty claims. As the game entered injury time Robson played McIntyre into the box, but his shot was deflected narrowly wide.
Despite late pressure, Kilmarnock left with a point, and overall there could be few real complaints about the result. The 5 v 0 cuffing suffered by near neighbours Dundee at East End Park was cause for celebration for some of the home support - but others were more muted realising the three points for the Pars mean United are right back in danger, with Dunfermline next up at Tannadice.
Teams:
Dundee Utd: Bullock, Kenneth, Ritchie, Archibald, Wilson, Kerr, Brebner, Duff (Samuel 70), Robson, Crawford, McIntyre. Subs Not Used: Colgan, McCracken, McInnes, Dodds, Grady, Cameron.
Booked: Wilson. Goal: McIntyre 16.
Kilmarnock: Combe, Lilley, Greer (Naismith 63), Dindeleux, Fowler, McDonald, Locke, Leven, Hay, Nish (Boyd 45), Wales (Johnstone 90). Subs Not Used: Smith, Murray, Dodds, Hamill.
Goal: Boyd 53.
Att: 6,576
Man of the Match: Jim McIntyre Several decent performances in the United side, but particularly in the first half the United striker was at the heart of many of the game's best moves.
Read the full match report by Stuart McDonald.
United fielded the same starting line-up that saw them to victory in last week's derby, Grant Brebner managing to shake off a knock. The only bad news for interim manager Gordon Chisholm was that "super-sub" Jason Scotland failed to recover in time to make the squad. Killie, without forward Danny Invincible, welcomed back Boyd into the squad after missing out last week, but manager Jim Jeffries opted to put his main striker on the bench.
After a slow start, United's first chance fell to Duff but he mis-hit wide from 15 yards. Shortly after, a well-worked move set up Crawford whose 20 yard shot went just over. Killie enjoyed plenty of possession, but struggled to create real chances. Gary Locke's low 40 yard strike was easily collected by Bullock. United looked more threatening with Jim McIntyre always involved. His deflected shot allowed Robson to get a header in on goal, then McIntyre himself was denied a tap-in when Dindeleux cut out Duff's low cross. But the ex-Killie man was not to be denied. Wilson's 17th minute corner picked him out and from six yards his header just sneaked over the line despite a desperate attempt by Leven to clear.
United enjoyed a short period in the ascendancy thereafter and Crawford, McIntyre and Robson were linking well. But a killer second never arrived and Killie fought their way back into the game. Even so, only Peter Leven's long throws looked in any way concerning for United's solid back three. A Mark Wilson free-kick for United was well placed, low to Combe's right-hand, but didn't carry enough power to really test the former United keeper. The home side had another couple of half chances before the break, Kerr and Crawford with powerful strikes charged down. The narrow half-time lead enjoyed by United was probably a fair reflection on the game.
With his second string strikers struggling, few would have been surprised by the half time appearance of Kris Boyd for a warm-up, and he duly replaced Nish before the second half commenced. Killie re-started in the ascendancy, a Gary Wales header being deflected wide, and forcing a number of corners. United seemed to have survived the storm, but on 53 minutes Boyd scored his eighth of the season against the Tangerines, tapping home from close range after a Lilley header had rebounded from the post. United fought back and McIntyre's header across goal from Brebner's cross only just fell behind the onrushing Crawford. Kilmarnock replaced right back Greer with winger Stephen Naismith as they found themselves on the back foot. After a period of calm, Boyd almost grabbed a second out of the blue with a twenty yard volley just going over the top. The striker then set up McDonald at the edge of the box, but Kerr made a superb blocking tackle. With Killie now getting on top, it was United's turn to try and change things - Collin Samuel came on to replace Duff, and took his place at right-midfield as the team changed from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2.
The change put United back in command and they looked the hungrier for the three points as the minutes ticked away. A powerful low shot from Robson was superbly turned round the post by Combe. Then McIntyre lobbed just over after a mistake by Dindeleux. With eight minutes left, United fans thought they had a penalty when Robson went down under the challenge of Naismith, but referee McCurry waved away strong penalty claims. As the game entered injury time Robson played McIntyre into the box, but his shot was deflected narrowly wide.
Despite late pressure, Kilmarnock left with a point, and overall there could be few real complaints about the result. The 5 v 0 cuffing suffered by near neighbours Dundee at East End Park was cause for celebration for some of the home support - but others were more muted realising the three points for the Pars mean United are right back in danger, with Dunfermline next up at Tannadice.
Teams:
Dundee Utd: Bullock, Kenneth, Ritchie, Archibald, Wilson, Kerr, Brebner, Duff (Samuel 70), Robson, Crawford, McIntyre. Subs Not Used: Colgan, McCracken, McInnes, Dodds, Grady, Cameron.
Booked: Wilson. Goal: McIntyre 16.
Kilmarnock: Combe, Lilley, Greer (Naismith 63), Dindeleux, Fowler, McDonald, Locke, Leven, Hay, Nish (Boyd 45), Wales (Johnstone 90). Subs Not Used: Smith, Murray, Dodds, Hamill.
Goal: Boyd 53.
Att: 6,576
Man of the Match: Jim McIntyre Several decent performances in the United side, but particularly in the first half the United striker was at the heart of many of the game's best moves.
Read the full match report by Stuart McDonald.
