First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
Once again, an individual error cost United the match, when a fairly even, if scrappy, game looked to be heading for a scoreless draw until Alan Archibald's error let in Craig Dargo to fire home with virtually the last kick of the game.
Craig Brewster made two changes to the side which started last weekend's defeat at Livingston. Ross Gardiner came in to replace the suspended Barry Robson, while Garry Kenneth dropped to the bench with Paul Ritchie given a starting place. Gardiner - making his debut - played at left back, with Charlie Mulgrew moving into a left midfield role.
Inverness made four changes to the side which won at Motherwell last weekend, with Hastings, McBain, Hart and Wyness included at the expense of Munro, Duncan, Morgan and Bayne.
In a quiet first half, made all the more difficult for both sides by a fierce gusting cross-field wind, chances were few and far between, as was attractive football in all honesty. The first chance came through a 30-yard free kick from Charlie Mulgrew, which didn't quite bend enough as it went wide of Brown's goal.
Inverness's first opportunity came on nineteen minutes, when a low pass played across the edge of the penalty area found Richie Hart in space, but his low shot from 16 yards was saved well by Samson at his near post.
Despite the scrappy nature of the game, United were showing slightly more promise than the home side, and Mulgrew saw another free kick blocked on 21 minutes, before Brebner and Robertson saw efforts sail over the bar. Brebner's shot, which looked like it may cause Brown to save, was then blocked by Samuel, who was unable to get out of the path of the shot.
The only other real opportunity in the first half for the Caley Jags came on 36 minutes, when Dargo couldn't make contact with the bouncing ball after Dods had got his head to a deflected Keogh shot.
Referee Mike Tumilty showed two yellow cards in the first half, one to Ross Tokely after crunching challenges on Robertson and Samuel, and Mark Kerr got the other booking for a late tackle on Richie Hart on the half way line as Inverness broke forward.
Half Time: Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0-0 Dundee United.
Inverness came out the better side for the opening period of the second half, and were a whisker from taking the lead eight minutes into it, when Mulgrew cleared off the line to spare Samson's blushes, after the goalkeeper had dived over a Dargo header from Hart's corner.
Mulgrew was to again save United from falling behind two minutes later, as he slid to take the ball from Wilson as the Inverness winger was poised to pull the trigger in front of goal from Dargo's cross.
In between times, the on-loan defender was involved at the other end, as he crossed from the byline, but a carbon copy of last week's goal was not quite possible as Robertson was just unable to get the touch at the near post.
Another set piece opportunity for Mulgrew almost won the game inside the final ten minutes, this time after substitute David Goodwillie had been fouled by Darren Dods. However, despite a deflection off the defensive wall, Brown reacted well and saved.
Despite a seemingly certain draw, United were again made to pay for an individual error two minutes into stoppage time. A seemingly harmless through ball was toe-ended from the hesitant Archibald, and Craig Dargo made no mistake in pouncing to get into the box and fire a powerful shot into the far corner from twelve yards to score his 19th goal of the season.
A demoralising blow for United to take, but once again they can only blame themselves for the nature of the defeat. There was only one further booking in the second half, Paul Ritchie the recipient after his second foul on Dargo inside a few minutes.
Full Time: Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1-0 Dundee United
Summary: In the end, the seemingly certain point would have been a fair result on a day where both sides struggled to catch the eye in difficult windy conditions. However, another individual mistake cost the game, and also what would have been United's first clean sheet since December.
Man of the Match: Charlie Mulgrew. Once again, the on-loan player from Celtic seemed to be involved in virtually everything for United. Playing in a more advanced role on the left of midfield, his set pieces were the source of virtually all of United's chances. Defensively, he also showed his worth to the side by twice stopping seemingly certain goals for Inverness in the second half.
Teams:
Inverness Caledonian Thistle:
Brown, Tokely, Dods, Hastings, Golabek, Wilson, Keogh, McBain (Morgan 64), Hart, Wyness (McAllister 81), Dargo.
Subs Not Used:
Fraser (GK), McCaffrey, Parratt, Sutherland, Bayne.
Booked: Tokely (21)
Dundee United:
Samson, McCracken, Archibald, Ritchie, Gardiner, Brebner (Abbot 86), Kerr, Duff, Mulgrew, Robertson (Goodwillie 76), Samuel.
Subs Not Used:
McLean (GK), Kenneth, Easton, Cameron, Callaghan.
Booked: Kerr (40), Ritchie (69)
Referee: Mike Tumilty
Attendance: 3,609
Click here for the full match report by Scott Simpson.
Craig Brewster made two changes to the side which started last weekend's defeat at Livingston. Ross Gardiner came in to replace the suspended Barry Robson, while Garry Kenneth dropped to the bench with Paul Ritchie given a starting place. Gardiner - making his debut - played at left back, with Charlie Mulgrew moving into a left midfield role.
Inverness made four changes to the side which won at Motherwell last weekend, with Hastings, McBain, Hart and Wyness included at the expense of Munro, Duncan, Morgan and Bayne.
In a quiet first half, made all the more difficult for both sides by a fierce gusting cross-field wind, chances were few and far between, as was attractive football in all honesty. The first chance came through a 30-yard free kick from Charlie Mulgrew, which didn't quite bend enough as it went wide of Brown's goal.
Inverness's first opportunity came on nineteen minutes, when a low pass played across the edge of the penalty area found Richie Hart in space, but his low shot from 16 yards was saved well by Samson at his near post.
Despite the scrappy nature of the game, United were showing slightly more promise than the home side, and Mulgrew saw another free kick blocked on 21 minutes, before Brebner and Robertson saw efforts sail over the bar. Brebner's shot, which looked like it may cause Brown to save, was then blocked by Samuel, who was unable to get out of the path of the shot.
The only other real opportunity in the first half for the Caley Jags came on 36 minutes, when Dargo couldn't make contact with the bouncing ball after Dods had got his head to a deflected Keogh shot.
Referee Mike Tumilty showed two yellow cards in the first half, one to Ross Tokely after crunching challenges on Robertson and Samuel, and Mark Kerr got the other booking for a late tackle on Richie Hart on the half way line as Inverness broke forward.
Half Time: Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0-0 Dundee United.
Inverness came out the better side for the opening period of the second half, and were a whisker from taking the lead eight minutes into it, when Mulgrew cleared off the line to spare Samson's blushes, after the goalkeeper had dived over a Dargo header from Hart's corner.
Mulgrew was to again save United from falling behind two minutes later, as he slid to take the ball from Wilson as the Inverness winger was poised to pull the trigger in front of goal from Dargo's cross.
In between times, the on-loan defender was involved at the other end, as he crossed from the byline, but a carbon copy of last week's goal was not quite possible as Robertson was just unable to get the touch at the near post.
Another set piece opportunity for Mulgrew almost won the game inside the final ten minutes, this time after substitute David Goodwillie had been fouled by Darren Dods. However, despite a deflection off the defensive wall, Brown reacted well and saved.
Despite a seemingly certain draw, United were again made to pay for an individual error two minutes into stoppage time. A seemingly harmless through ball was toe-ended from the hesitant Archibald, and Craig Dargo made no mistake in pouncing to get into the box and fire a powerful shot into the far corner from twelve yards to score his 19th goal of the season.
A demoralising blow for United to take, but once again they can only blame themselves for the nature of the defeat. There was only one further booking in the second half, Paul Ritchie the recipient after his second foul on Dargo inside a few minutes.
Full Time: Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1-0 Dundee United
Summary: In the end, the seemingly certain point would have been a fair result on a day where both sides struggled to catch the eye in difficult windy conditions. However, another individual mistake cost the game, and also what would have been United's first clean sheet since December.
Man of the Match: Charlie Mulgrew. Once again, the on-loan player from Celtic seemed to be involved in virtually everything for United. Playing in a more advanced role on the left of midfield, his set pieces were the source of virtually all of United's chances. Defensively, he also showed his worth to the side by twice stopping seemingly certain goals for Inverness in the second half.
Teams:
Inverness Caledonian Thistle:
Brown, Tokely, Dods, Hastings, Golabek, Wilson, Keogh, McBain (Morgan 64), Hart, Wyness (McAllister 81), Dargo.
Subs Not Used:
Fraser (GK), McCaffrey, Parratt, Sutherland, Bayne.
Booked: Tokely (21)
Dundee United:
Samson, McCracken, Archibald, Ritchie, Gardiner, Brebner (Abbot 86), Kerr, Duff, Mulgrew, Robertson (Goodwillie 76), Samuel.
Subs Not Used:
McLean (GK), Kenneth, Easton, Cameron, Callaghan.
Booked: Kerr (40), Ritchie (69)
Referee: Mike Tumilty
Attendance: 3,609
Click here for the full match report by Scott Simpson.
