First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
The Reserves opened their league programme with a terrific win over Rangers, especially as they had to come from behind.
The lads eventually ran out winners by the odd goal in three against an extremely strong Rangers eleven.
Coach Tony Docherty was absolutely delighted with the performance of his side.
Observed Tony, "You only had to look at the teamlines to see how strong a side Rangers fielded. But the lads showed great character to come from behind.
"The great thing for me is that the core of the team has come through the Under-19s and they are developing that all important winning mentality.
"Okay, Rangers played for just under an hour with ten men, and whilst that brings with it problems, they had the huge advantage of being so much more experienced.
"After their keeper was sent off, I asked the players to play the ball quickly and into the wide areas and they did that very effectively.
"David Robertson did very well playing off the front, but if I had to single out any player it has to be Stan Easton who was excellent.
"The goal we lost came from a mistake by Ross Gardiner, but that was the only blemish to his performance.
"Whilst pleased with the result, I have to say that was even more delighted by the performance and it was brilliant to start the new season the same way that we finished the last and long may that continue."
For the opening game, Tony Docherty's team formation was (4-4-2) McLean; Abbot (c), Kenneth, Gardiner, Easton; Conway, Callaghan, Trialist, Robb, Robertson, Miller.
The visitors opened the stronger with Euan McLean pulling off a good save early on. New striker Filip Sebo who had made his debut in the first team game at Ibrox twice hit the woodwork, crashing one against the bar after 8 minutes and grazing it four minutes later.
On 19 minutes Nacho Novo wriggled his way through the left but delayed shooting and he was closed down by Euan McLean, who blocked his low drive.
The pivotal point of the game came after 32 minutes when Barry Callaghan played the ball through for Steven Robb who nicked the ball past McGregor before being brought down by the keeper from well outside the area.
The Moroccan midfield trialist took the kick forcing a good save out of new keeper Joseph Sagar.
Ironically, it was after Rangers were reduced to ten men that they took the lead.
Five minutes of the first half remained when Nacho Novo raced on to Hamed Namouchi's through pass and the Spaniard belted the ball past Euan McLean from just inside the area.
United's best chance of the half came two minutes from the interval, with both Steven Robb and David Robertson unable to direct a superb William Easton cross goalward the ball eventually being scrambled to safety by Sagar.
However, eight minutes into a second half in which United were growing in confidence, Robertson bundled in a Craig Conway cross for the equaliser.
And on 64 minutes Robertson set up the home side's winner with a curling cross from the left that Lee Miller turned in at the far post.
Ross Gardiner and Willie Easton both had chances to extend that lead, but with two minutes of normal time remaining, Euan McLean made a great save from Novo low down to his left to preserve his side's lead.
Teams:
Dundee United: McLean, Abbot, Easton, Trialist, Kenneth, Gardiner, Conway, Callaghan (Burnett 77), Miller, Robertson, Robb.
Subs not used (only two): Feeney, O'Byrne.
Rangers: McGregor, Fanfan, Ponpoy, Bernard, Rae, Namouchi, Burke (Davidson 64), N'Diaye (Sagar 32), Malcolm, Sebo (Ashikodi 64), Novo.
Subs not used: Andrews, Gilmour, Campbell, Carcary.
Referee: Neil Watters
The lads eventually ran out winners by the odd goal in three against an extremely strong Rangers eleven.
Coach Tony Docherty was absolutely delighted with the performance of his side.
Observed Tony, "You only had to look at the teamlines to see how strong a side Rangers fielded. But the lads showed great character to come from behind.
"The great thing for me is that the core of the team has come through the Under-19s and they are developing that all important winning mentality.
"Okay, Rangers played for just under an hour with ten men, and whilst that brings with it problems, they had the huge advantage of being so much more experienced.
"After their keeper was sent off, I asked the players to play the ball quickly and into the wide areas and they did that very effectively.
"David Robertson did very well playing off the front, but if I had to single out any player it has to be Stan Easton who was excellent.
"The goal we lost came from a mistake by Ross Gardiner, but that was the only blemish to his performance.
"Whilst pleased with the result, I have to say that was even more delighted by the performance and it was brilliant to start the new season the same way that we finished the last and long may that continue."
For the opening game, Tony Docherty's team formation was (4-4-2) McLean; Abbot (c), Kenneth, Gardiner, Easton; Conway, Callaghan, Trialist, Robb, Robertson, Miller.
The visitors opened the stronger with Euan McLean pulling off a good save early on. New striker Filip Sebo who had made his debut in the first team game at Ibrox twice hit the woodwork, crashing one against the bar after 8 minutes and grazing it four minutes later.
On 19 minutes Nacho Novo wriggled his way through the left but delayed shooting and he was closed down by Euan McLean, who blocked his low drive.
The pivotal point of the game came after 32 minutes when Barry Callaghan played the ball through for Steven Robb who nicked the ball past McGregor before being brought down by the keeper from well outside the area.
The Moroccan midfield trialist took the kick forcing a good save out of new keeper Joseph Sagar.
Ironically, it was after Rangers were reduced to ten men that they took the lead.
Five minutes of the first half remained when Nacho Novo raced on to Hamed Namouchi's through pass and the Spaniard belted the ball past Euan McLean from just inside the area.
United's best chance of the half came two minutes from the interval, with both Steven Robb and David Robertson unable to direct a superb William Easton cross goalward the ball eventually being scrambled to safety by Sagar.
However, eight minutes into a second half in which United were growing in confidence, Robertson bundled in a Craig Conway cross for the equaliser.
And on 64 minutes Robertson set up the home side's winner with a curling cross from the left that Lee Miller turned in at the far post.
Ross Gardiner and Willie Easton both had chances to extend that lead, but with two minutes of normal time remaining, Euan McLean made a great save from Novo low down to his left to preserve his side's lead.
Teams:
Dundee United: McLean, Abbot, Easton, Trialist, Kenneth, Gardiner, Conway, Callaghan (Burnett 77), Miller, Robertson, Robb.
Subs not used (only two): Feeney, O'Byrne.
Rangers: McGregor, Fanfan, Ponpoy, Bernard, Rae, Namouchi, Burke (Davidson 64), N'Diaye (Sagar 32), Malcolm, Sebo (Ashikodi 64), Novo.
Subs not used: Andrews, Gilmour, Campbell, Carcary.
Referee: Neil Watters
