First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
Debut goals from Lee Miller and Barry Nicholson saw Dundee United and Aberdeen share the spoils at the end of a highly competitive SPL curtain raiser. A keenly fought game between two well-matched sides, the Dons will feel they created the better chances and might have clinched three points, but United put enough into this game to merit their point.
The team sheets saw four new faces in all. As well as Miller, Derek Stillie started in goal for United, and Nicholson was joined in the Aberdeen side by ex-Celtic and Den Haag player Jamie Smith. Stevie Crawford continued in his new role just behind the front pairing of Miller and McIntyre, and Stuart Duff filled in for the suspended Barry Robson at left wing-back.
But it was Lee Miller who stole all the early attention. Greeted as a hero by the "Red Army" at Pittodrie back in May when the striker looked set to sign for Aberdeen, his reception today was rather less flattering! United fans couldn't have been happier with his response. With the game seven minutes old a lovely flick from the big front-man sent Crawford through on goal, but a superb Anderson tackle left United with only a corner. Wilson's set-piece was fired back across goal by McCracken, where Miller collected calmly, turned and placed the ball into the corner of the net from 8 yards.
There was plenty of attacking from both sides throughout the remainder of the half, though some fine defending meant goalkeepers were seldom tested. United were occasionally guilty of sitting too deep and Nicholson, McNaughton and Smith were all allowed clear sights at goal from the edge of the box - but each failed to hit the target. The Dons also threatened at set pieces with Anderson coming close from a Nicholson corner. At the other end Miller controlled a Wilson cross superbly well to set up Brebner whose 18 yard drive was tipped over by Esson. As half time beckoned a clever Smith path put Severin clear in the United box - until a superb Ritchie tackle saved the day for the home side. Severin then turned provider putting Nicholson through, but his shot was straight at Stillie, and United went in a goal to the good - a score which was probably a little harsh on the Dons.
The lead was only to last three minutes of the second half. McNaughton broke clear on the left and his far post cross evaded United's defence allowing the unmarked Nicholson to control the ball at the far post before firing home. The second half took on a similar pattern to the first with both teams looking to go forward, but Aberdeen creating the better chances. Again United were guilty of allowing the Dons too much freedom at the edge of the box and Smith had a shot blocked and Dempsey went close with long range efforts. United threatened from two Mark Wilson corners, headers from Archibald and Kenneth being deflected wide, and Archibald again going close having beaten Severin to a header. MacIntyre did well to collect a Duff pass and find himself a yard of space, but his shot form 16 yards lacked power and Esson gathered comfortably.
But as the game wore on, it was United's back three who looked more likely to concede, especially once the excellent Ritchie had to limp off. A powerful Severin shot from 20 yards was only parried back out by Stillie, and Nicholson looked set to fire home his second, until a superb last gasp Brebner tackle saved United. Another quick counter attack by the Reds ended with Jamie Smith squaring the ball for Clark at the edge of the box, but somehow Wilson got back to block the shot. When an injury time volley from Nicholson went just over, the last chance of the game had gone.
A lively start to the season with two evenly matched sides - though United will be happier with the point.
Teams:
United: Stillie, Wilson, McCracken, Archibald, Kerr, Brebner, Miller (Samuel), McIntyre, Duff, Crawford, Ritchie (c) (Kenneth 62). Unused subs: Samson (gk), Dodds, Grady, Holmes, Robertson.
Aberdeen: Esson, McNaughton (Winter), Anderson (c), Diamond, Severin, Smith, Nicholson, Clark, Dempsey, Stewart (Craig 72), Considine. Unused subs: Langfield (gk), Muirhead, Foster, MacAuley, Maguire.
Referee: Dougie McDonald
Attendance: 12,404
Man of the Match: A good debut from Derek Stillie, but he is just shaded for man of the match by Lee Miller. The striker displayed an excellent touch for such a tall man, and capped an excellent game with a well-taken goal.
Read the full match report by Stuart McDonald.
The team sheets saw four new faces in all. As well as Miller, Derek Stillie started in goal for United, and Nicholson was joined in the Aberdeen side by ex-Celtic and Den Haag player Jamie Smith. Stevie Crawford continued in his new role just behind the front pairing of Miller and McIntyre, and Stuart Duff filled in for the suspended Barry Robson at left wing-back.
But it was Lee Miller who stole all the early attention. Greeted as a hero by the "Red Army" at Pittodrie back in May when the striker looked set to sign for Aberdeen, his reception today was rather less flattering! United fans couldn't have been happier with his response. With the game seven minutes old a lovely flick from the big front-man sent Crawford through on goal, but a superb Anderson tackle left United with only a corner. Wilson's set-piece was fired back across goal by McCracken, where Miller collected calmly, turned and placed the ball into the corner of the net from 8 yards.
There was plenty of attacking from both sides throughout the remainder of the half, though some fine defending meant goalkeepers were seldom tested. United were occasionally guilty of sitting too deep and Nicholson, McNaughton and Smith were all allowed clear sights at goal from the edge of the box - but each failed to hit the target. The Dons also threatened at set pieces with Anderson coming close from a Nicholson corner. At the other end Miller controlled a Wilson cross superbly well to set up Brebner whose 18 yard drive was tipped over by Esson. As half time beckoned a clever Smith path put Severin clear in the United box - until a superb Ritchie tackle saved the day for the home side. Severin then turned provider putting Nicholson through, but his shot was straight at Stillie, and United went in a goal to the good - a score which was probably a little harsh on the Dons.
The lead was only to last three minutes of the second half. McNaughton broke clear on the left and his far post cross evaded United's defence allowing the unmarked Nicholson to control the ball at the far post before firing home. The second half took on a similar pattern to the first with both teams looking to go forward, but Aberdeen creating the better chances. Again United were guilty of allowing the Dons too much freedom at the edge of the box and Smith had a shot blocked and Dempsey went close with long range efforts. United threatened from two Mark Wilson corners, headers from Archibald and Kenneth being deflected wide, and Archibald again going close having beaten Severin to a header. MacIntyre did well to collect a Duff pass and find himself a yard of space, but his shot form 16 yards lacked power and Esson gathered comfortably.
But as the game wore on, it was United's back three who looked more likely to concede, especially once the excellent Ritchie had to limp off. A powerful Severin shot from 20 yards was only parried back out by Stillie, and Nicholson looked set to fire home his second, until a superb last gasp Brebner tackle saved United. Another quick counter attack by the Reds ended with Jamie Smith squaring the ball for Clark at the edge of the box, but somehow Wilson got back to block the shot. When an injury time volley from Nicholson went just over, the last chance of the game had gone.
A lively start to the season with two evenly matched sides - though United will be happier with the point.
Teams:
United: Stillie, Wilson, McCracken, Archibald, Kerr, Brebner, Miller (Samuel), McIntyre, Duff, Crawford, Ritchie (c) (Kenneth 62). Unused subs: Samson (gk), Dodds, Grady, Holmes, Robertson.
Aberdeen: Esson, McNaughton (Winter), Anderson (c), Diamond, Severin, Smith, Nicholson, Clark, Dempsey, Stewart (Craig 72), Considine. Unused subs: Langfield (gk), Muirhead, Foster, MacAuley, Maguire.
Referee: Dougie McDonald
Attendance: 12,404
Man of the Match: A good debut from Derek Stillie, but he is just shaded for man of the match by Lee Miller. The striker displayed an excellent touch for such a tall man, and capped an excellent game with a well-taken goal.
Read the full match report by Stuart McDonald.
