First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
United were denied a point at Rugby Park this afternoon by a last minute goal by substitute Gary Wales. It was hard luck on Gordon Chisholm's side which deserved at least a point from the game played on a very chilly and crisp Boxing Day afternoon. Killie had taken the lead through a fortuitous first half strike, when McDonald's attempted cross looped into the net at the far post, but United drew level through Collin Samuel's close range strike six minutes into the second half.
Jim Jefferies made two changes to the Kilmarnock side, with Stevie Murray and Colin Nish replacing Allan Johnston and the transferred Kris Boyd. Gordon Chisholm also made two changes to the United side, with Stuart Duff and Lee Miller coming in for Peter Canero and Grant Brebner.
Killie had the best of the early action, with both Nish and Naismith wasting good scoring chances inside the opening ten minutes. Naismith was again presented with a great opportunity to break the deadlock in the 18th minute but blazed over from 14 yards after Stillie had fumbled an Invincible cross under a heavy challenge from Nish.
The best United had shown in the opening half hour was to earn a few corner kicks, one of which came after a great run from Mark Wilson down the right flank, but these were all defended comfortably by the Killie defence.
The Terrors sprang into life in the 33rd minute, however, and almost snatched the lead on the counter attack. Mark Kerr linked with Collin Samuel, who back heeled for Wilson to cross. Although the low centre was missed by Robson, the loose ball ran only a foot wide of the far post with Combe beaten.
Just when United had started to show some promise in an attacking sense though, they fell behind to the opening goal in the 37th minute. Following a passing move down the right side, Killie took the lead with a rather fortuitous goal when Gary McDonald's attempted cross sliced off his foot and found the net at the back post.
Half Time: Kilmarnock 1-0 Dundee United
The second half started almost as badly for the visitors as the first half had ended, with David McCracken required to stop first Simon Ford and then Colin Nish from clear chances to score inside the opening four minutes of the second half.
However, the game was levelled up in the 51st minute courtesy of a Collin Samuel equaliser. Robson's outswinging corner found the head of McCracken, whose header was parried on the line by Combe before the Trinidad & Tobago international nipped in to score from close range.
The pattern of play became very scrappy in the most part, with both sides struggling to retain possession long enough to construct any meaningful attacking moves, and the referee's whistle and linesman's flag breaking up play even further.
However, as the game entered the final stages, it was the Tangerines who looked more likely to force a winner, Miller (twice), Wilson and Kerr all denied by former United keeper Combe inside the final ten minutes as a draw looked the eventual outcome.
Killie had other ideas though, and in the final minute of the match, a lofted ball into the area was nodded down for substitute Gary Wales to fire home.
There were two bookings, Alan Archibald for a foul on Danny Invincible, and Derek Stillie for reacting angrily to the award of a corner kick to Killie and throwing the ball towards the linesman.
Full Time: Kilmarnock 2-1 Dundee United
Summary: Killie came away from the game with the points, when the very least United deserved on the basis of their second half showing was a point. Although they were second best in the first half, and could easily have fallen further behind in the opening minutes of the second half, Samuel's goal seemed to restore the Tangerines' self-belief, and they were perhaps unlucky not to take all three points after dominating the game and looking much sharper and fitter in the final ten minutes. However, the late sucker punch from Gary Wales was harsh on Gordon Chisholm's men.
Man of the Match: Collin Samuel.
He takes the award narrowly ahead of Mark Kerr. Although Kerr looked neat, tidy and composed in midfield, and found space in congested areas repeatedly, Samuel again looked the most dangerous player on the pitch when he had the ball at his feet. To cap it off, Samuel deservedly got on the scoresheet for his third goal in four matches.
Teams:
Kilmarnock:
Combe, Greer, Ford, Wright, Hay, Invincible, McDonald, Fowler, Murray (Wales 70), Naismith, Nish (Di Giacomo 87).
Subs Not Used:
Bell (GK), Lilley, Dodds, Campbell, Loy.
Dundee United:
Stillie, Wilson, McCracken, Ritchie, Archibald, Duff, Kerr, Robson, McIntyre, Miller, Samuel.
Subs Not Used:
Samson (GK), Kenneth, McInnes, Cameron, Robertson, Fernandez, Goodwillie.
Booked: Archibald (15), Stillie (42)
Attendance: 5,749
Referee: Eddie Smith
Please click here for the full report by Scott Simpson.
Jim Jefferies made two changes to the Kilmarnock side, with Stevie Murray and Colin Nish replacing Allan Johnston and the transferred Kris Boyd. Gordon Chisholm also made two changes to the United side, with Stuart Duff and Lee Miller coming in for Peter Canero and Grant Brebner.
Killie had the best of the early action, with both Nish and Naismith wasting good scoring chances inside the opening ten minutes. Naismith was again presented with a great opportunity to break the deadlock in the 18th minute but blazed over from 14 yards after Stillie had fumbled an Invincible cross under a heavy challenge from Nish.
The best United had shown in the opening half hour was to earn a few corner kicks, one of which came after a great run from Mark Wilson down the right flank, but these were all defended comfortably by the Killie defence.
The Terrors sprang into life in the 33rd minute, however, and almost snatched the lead on the counter attack. Mark Kerr linked with Collin Samuel, who back heeled for Wilson to cross. Although the low centre was missed by Robson, the loose ball ran only a foot wide of the far post with Combe beaten.
Just when United had started to show some promise in an attacking sense though, they fell behind to the opening goal in the 37th minute. Following a passing move down the right side, Killie took the lead with a rather fortuitous goal when Gary McDonald's attempted cross sliced off his foot and found the net at the back post.
Half Time: Kilmarnock 1-0 Dundee United
The second half started almost as badly for the visitors as the first half had ended, with David McCracken required to stop first Simon Ford and then Colin Nish from clear chances to score inside the opening four minutes of the second half.
However, the game was levelled up in the 51st minute courtesy of a Collin Samuel equaliser. Robson's outswinging corner found the head of McCracken, whose header was parried on the line by Combe before the Trinidad & Tobago international nipped in to score from close range.
The pattern of play became very scrappy in the most part, with both sides struggling to retain possession long enough to construct any meaningful attacking moves, and the referee's whistle and linesman's flag breaking up play even further.
However, as the game entered the final stages, it was the Tangerines who looked more likely to force a winner, Miller (twice), Wilson and Kerr all denied by former United keeper Combe inside the final ten minutes as a draw looked the eventual outcome.
Killie had other ideas though, and in the final minute of the match, a lofted ball into the area was nodded down for substitute Gary Wales to fire home.
There were two bookings, Alan Archibald for a foul on Danny Invincible, and Derek Stillie for reacting angrily to the award of a corner kick to Killie and throwing the ball towards the linesman.
Full Time: Kilmarnock 2-1 Dundee United
Summary: Killie came away from the game with the points, when the very least United deserved on the basis of their second half showing was a point. Although they were second best in the first half, and could easily have fallen further behind in the opening minutes of the second half, Samuel's goal seemed to restore the Tangerines' self-belief, and they were perhaps unlucky not to take all three points after dominating the game and looking much sharper and fitter in the final ten minutes. However, the late sucker punch from Gary Wales was harsh on Gordon Chisholm's men.
Man of the Match: Collin Samuel.
He takes the award narrowly ahead of Mark Kerr. Although Kerr looked neat, tidy and composed in midfield, and found space in congested areas repeatedly, Samuel again looked the most dangerous player on the pitch when he had the ball at his feet. To cap it off, Samuel deservedly got on the scoresheet for his third goal in four matches.
Teams:
Kilmarnock:
Combe, Greer, Ford, Wright, Hay, Invincible, McDonald, Fowler, Murray (Wales 70), Naismith, Nish (Di Giacomo 87).
Subs Not Used:
Bell (GK), Lilley, Dodds, Campbell, Loy.
Dundee United:
Stillie, Wilson, McCracken, Ritchie, Archibald, Duff, Kerr, Robson, McIntyre, Miller, Samuel.
Subs Not Used:
Samson (GK), Kenneth, McInnes, Cameron, Robertson, Fernandez, Goodwillie.
Booked: Archibald (15), Stillie (42)
Attendance: 5,749
Referee: Eddie Smith
Please click here for the full report by Scott Simpson.
