First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
Dundee United took the three points today at Tannadice by virtue of a 2-1 victory over Falkirk. The victory was secured by two superlative strikes - one in each half.
Caretaker Manager Billy Dodds, in his one and only game in charge of the first team, promised changes to the team and the team lined up in a 3-5-2 formation. In goal, Craig Samson took over from Derek Stillie and the back three lined up with Archibald, McCracken and Ritchie playing across the field from right to left. In midfield, Duff and Mulgrew flanked the central pairing of Brebner and Kerr and Fernandez was pushed up just behind the strike force of McIntyre and Samuel.
Both teams started the game well enough and United's first chance came in the second minute when Mulgrew won a free kick on the left which he took himself. His low cross was met by Ritchie but the central defender couldn't direct it goalwards and the chance was lost. Falkirk then came into the game really brightly and started to dictate the tempo of the game. In the 16th minute, the visitors almost took the lead. A great through ball by Gow released O'Donnell down the left channel and the midfielder's strike from 16 yards crashed against Samson's left hand post and out for a goal kick with the United goalkeeper well beaten. In the 21st minute, United again had a let-off as Gow's driven cross, come shot from almost on the bye line beside the corner flag, evaded the leap of Samson and clattered off the top of the United crossbar. Falkirk were continuing to do most of the pressing and United were finding it difficult to find much fluidity in their play. In the 27th minute, Falkirk almost went ahead as United struggled to clear their lines and Lima's drive from 20 yards was pushed round the post by Samson for a Falkirk corner.
As United fought to get a foothold, they almost grabbed the lead on the half hour. A foul on Fernandez saw United awarded a free kick some 35 yards out in the middle of the park and loan signing Mulgrew had the Falkirk goalkeeper in all sorts of trouble with his swirling, dipping effort which the keeper managed to push over for a corner. United were now beginning to gain control of the midfield and Duff wasted an excellent opportunity in the 31st minute after Fernandez's left wing cross left him in splendid isolation at the back post. The midfielder's attempt at powering the header back across goal only succeeded in skying the ball high into the crowd behind the goal. If the opening 30 minutes had not been all that pleasing on the eye for the United faithful, this all changed in the 35th minute as Fernandez produced a goal of real quality. A burst out of defence saw McCracken attack the Falkirk defence but even as he played the ball to Fernandez's feet 20 yards from goal, there appeared little danger as the Spaniard received the ball with his back to goal. Fernandez feigned one way then twisted and turned the other way all in one movement before executing the perfect lob over the stranded Ferguson in the Falkirk goal from around 22 yards out. United then proceeded to play some good football and dominate the match and but for some desperate and lucky defending Falkirk would have gone in more than a goal down at half time. In the 42nd minute, great play from Mulgrew granted himself space out wide and his pinpoint cross was met by Brebner five yards out and the midfielder's bullet header was tremendously saved by Ferguson. From the resulting corner, United almost scored twice with Archibald's header firstly cleared off the line by Gow and then Brebner's effort from the rebound was somehow cleared over his own bar by Lawrie.
Half Time: Dundee United 1 Falkirk 0
Summary: After riding their luck early on and taking a while to get into the game, United will perhaps feel they could have been more than just the goal ahead. Falkirk for their part have tried to play football and could have been ahead before United started to play.
As the second half progressed, Latapy was becoming more influential in the middle of the park and was behind all of Falkirk's good moves. United, to their credit, were not giving an inch and battling away to preserve their lead. Some of these battling qualities almost cost an unfortunate goal in the 57th minute when industrious defending by Brebner in midfield saw the ball ricochet off the United man and almost set McBreen through on the goalkeeper. Luckily Samson was alert enough and raced from his box to clear the danger. What appeared to be a pivotal moment in the game came in the 58th minute when Ritchie was caught late and high by the challenge of Lawrie. Despite initially playing on, the captain was forced to admit defeat and was substituted in the 61st minute with Kenneth replacing him. As the new look United defence tried to adjust they gifted Falkirk a free kick 20 yards out in the 67th minute. Although the initial free kick hit the wall the ball was played back into the United area and Archibald's attempted clearance only succeeded in skying the ball high in the air. Milne reacted first to head the ball back across the goalmouth. McBreen was the first to react and powered home from 8 yards. Much like last week, at this point, United were in danger of conceding more goals. Just two minutes later, McBreen was sent through one on one with the goalkeeper and his attempted lob landed on the top of the net much to the relief of the home support. In the 74th minute a Latapy 25 yard strike looked a goal all the way until Samson flung himself full length to tip the ball round his right hand post. Crucially, departing caretaker manager Billy Dodds made two substitutions on the back of that chance for Falkirk. Miller came on to replace McIntyre and McInnes came on to replace the jaded Brebner.
As the game entered the final stages with Falkirk looking the more likely to steal the points, a dream goal clinched the points for United. Mulgrew's 88th minute cross initially looked too high and too long but it was collected at the back post by Miller, who was clever enough to knock the ball back to the inrushing McInnes who met the ball 20 yards from goal and unleashed a rocket of a drive high into the top corner of the Falkirk net. The club captain showed by his animated celebration just what the goal meant to him and the club. United then comfortably held out until the referee's whistle blew in the 93rd minute to signal the end of the game. As the players and staff left the pitch, an emotional looking Billy Dodds was awarded a standing ovation by the ecstatic United faithful as he waved goodbye.
Dundee Utd: Samson, McCracken, Ritchie (Kenneth 63), Archibald, Duff, Kerr, Brebner (McInnes 75), Mulgrew, Samuel, McIntyre (Miller 75), Fernandez.
Subs Not Used: McLean, Robertson, Cameron, Goodwillie.
Booked: Fernandez.
Goals: Fernandez 36, McInnes 89.
Falkirk: Ferguson, Lawrie, Rodrigues, Ireland, Milne, O'Donnell, Lima (Steven Thomson 84), Latapy (Cregg 87), Scally (Moutinho 67), McBreen, Gow.
Subs Not Used: Glennon, McPherson, Ross, Barr.
Booked: Scally.
Goal: McBreen 69.
Att: 7,948
Ref: M McCurry
Click here to read the full match report by Joe Rice.
Caretaker Manager Billy Dodds, in his one and only game in charge of the first team, promised changes to the team and the team lined up in a 3-5-2 formation. In goal, Craig Samson took over from Derek Stillie and the back three lined up with Archibald, McCracken and Ritchie playing across the field from right to left. In midfield, Duff and Mulgrew flanked the central pairing of Brebner and Kerr and Fernandez was pushed up just behind the strike force of McIntyre and Samuel.
Both teams started the game well enough and United's first chance came in the second minute when Mulgrew won a free kick on the left which he took himself. His low cross was met by Ritchie but the central defender couldn't direct it goalwards and the chance was lost. Falkirk then came into the game really brightly and started to dictate the tempo of the game. In the 16th minute, the visitors almost took the lead. A great through ball by Gow released O'Donnell down the left channel and the midfielder's strike from 16 yards crashed against Samson's left hand post and out for a goal kick with the United goalkeeper well beaten. In the 21st minute, United again had a let-off as Gow's driven cross, come shot from almost on the bye line beside the corner flag, evaded the leap of Samson and clattered off the top of the United crossbar. Falkirk were continuing to do most of the pressing and United were finding it difficult to find much fluidity in their play. In the 27th minute, Falkirk almost went ahead as United struggled to clear their lines and Lima's drive from 20 yards was pushed round the post by Samson for a Falkirk corner.
As United fought to get a foothold, they almost grabbed the lead on the half hour. A foul on Fernandez saw United awarded a free kick some 35 yards out in the middle of the park and loan signing Mulgrew had the Falkirk goalkeeper in all sorts of trouble with his swirling, dipping effort which the keeper managed to push over for a corner. United were now beginning to gain control of the midfield and Duff wasted an excellent opportunity in the 31st minute after Fernandez's left wing cross left him in splendid isolation at the back post. The midfielder's attempt at powering the header back across goal only succeeded in skying the ball high into the crowd behind the goal. If the opening 30 minutes had not been all that pleasing on the eye for the United faithful, this all changed in the 35th minute as Fernandez produced a goal of real quality. A burst out of defence saw McCracken attack the Falkirk defence but even as he played the ball to Fernandez's feet 20 yards from goal, there appeared little danger as the Spaniard received the ball with his back to goal. Fernandez feigned one way then twisted and turned the other way all in one movement before executing the perfect lob over the stranded Ferguson in the Falkirk goal from around 22 yards out. United then proceeded to play some good football and dominate the match and but for some desperate and lucky defending Falkirk would have gone in more than a goal down at half time. In the 42nd minute, great play from Mulgrew granted himself space out wide and his pinpoint cross was met by Brebner five yards out and the midfielder's bullet header was tremendously saved by Ferguson. From the resulting corner, United almost scored twice with Archibald's header firstly cleared off the line by Gow and then Brebner's effort from the rebound was somehow cleared over his own bar by Lawrie.
Half Time: Dundee United 1 Falkirk 0
Summary: After riding their luck early on and taking a while to get into the game, United will perhaps feel they could have been more than just the goal ahead. Falkirk for their part have tried to play football and could have been ahead before United started to play.
As the second half progressed, Latapy was becoming more influential in the middle of the park and was behind all of Falkirk's good moves. United, to their credit, were not giving an inch and battling away to preserve their lead. Some of these battling qualities almost cost an unfortunate goal in the 57th minute when industrious defending by Brebner in midfield saw the ball ricochet off the United man and almost set McBreen through on the goalkeeper. Luckily Samson was alert enough and raced from his box to clear the danger. What appeared to be a pivotal moment in the game came in the 58th minute when Ritchie was caught late and high by the challenge of Lawrie. Despite initially playing on, the captain was forced to admit defeat and was substituted in the 61st minute with Kenneth replacing him. As the new look United defence tried to adjust they gifted Falkirk a free kick 20 yards out in the 67th minute. Although the initial free kick hit the wall the ball was played back into the United area and Archibald's attempted clearance only succeeded in skying the ball high in the air. Milne reacted first to head the ball back across the goalmouth. McBreen was the first to react and powered home from 8 yards. Much like last week, at this point, United were in danger of conceding more goals. Just two minutes later, McBreen was sent through one on one with the goalkeeper and his attempted lob landed on the top of the net much to the relief of the home support. In the 74th minute a Latapy 25 yard strike looked a goal all the way until Samson flung himself full length to tip the ball round his right hand post. Crucially, departing caretaker manager Billy Dodds made two substitutions on the back of that chance for Falkirk. Miller came on to replace McIntyre and McInnes came on to replace the jaded Brebner.
As the game entered the final stages with Falkirk looking the more likely to steal the points, a dream goal clinched the points for United. Mulgrew's 88th minute cross initially looked too high and too long but it was collected at the back post by Miller, who was clever enough to knock the ball back to the inrushing McInnes who met the ball 20 yards from goal and unleashed a rocket of a drive high into the top corner of the Falkirk net. The club captain showed by his animated celebration just what the goal meant to him and the club. United then comfortably held out until the referee's whistle blew in the 93rd minute to signal the end of the game. As the players and staff left the pitch, an emotional looking Billy Dodds was awarded a standing ovation by the ecstatic United faithful as he waved goodbye.
Dundee Utd: Samson, McCracken, Ritchie (Kenneth 63), Archibald, Duff, Kerr, Brebner (McInnes 75), Mulgrew, Samuel, McIntyre (Miller 75), Fernandez.
Subs Not Used: McLean, Robertson, Cameron, Goodwillie.
Booked: Fernandez.
Goals: Fernandez 36, McInnes 89.
Falkirk: Ferguson, Lawrie, Rodrigues, Ireland, Milne, O'Donnell, Lima (Steven Thomson 84), Latapy (Cregg 87), Scally (Moutinho 67), McBreen, Gow.
Subs Not Used: Glennon, McPherson, Ross, Barr.
Booked: Scally.
Goal: McBreen 69.
Att: 7,948
Ref: M McCurry
Click here to read the full match report by Joe Rice.
