First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
Stevie Campbell's side's impressive start to the season continued at North End on Saturday morning as they posted a highly professional and polished victory over Hibs.
Two first half goals won the game, but it was the fact that even although the Edinburgh side did come back at them in the second half, there was never any real danger that they would lose a goal.
The opener came after 19 minutes when Sean Fleming's cross wasn't cleared properly and Ryan McCord first timed a raging shot into the back of the net from fifteen yards.
Fourteen minutes later, another cross from the left fell to Scott Paterson who swept home from 12 yards.
Three minutes from the interval, Hibs threatened for the one and only time in the match, a Gerrard Rossi shot clipping the post.
Although Hibs had more of the play in the second half, they never got in behind the back of the United defence, with a handful of long range shots the best that they could muster.
Indeed, the visitors had to play out the last twenty minutes with only ten men after substitute Neil Crawford was carried off after utilising all three subs.
And Hibs had keeper David Grof to thank for not losing a third, denying Ryan McCord with a fine save seventeen minutes from the end.
There was also the bonus for United of David goodwillie playing his first half hour of the season after recovering from a broken foot.
United: Gibson, Milligan, Pope, McMechan, O'Byrne, McCord, Paterson, Andreoni, Feeney, Jeffrey (Mathieson 76), Fleming (Goodwillie 57). Substitutes not used: Gray, Russell, O;Hara, Allan
Stevie said: "First half we were excellent, in fact, I would rate it the best of the season.
"And even although Hibs came back at us strongly in the second half, we still had the best chance. It was good to see two midfield men get the goals, because we have been encouraging them to get forward.
"Though it has to be said that the forwards worked well to create the space for them.
"Most pleasing of all is that the defence kept a clean sheet for third game in a row and have only lost one goal in the opening four games."
Two first half goals won the game, but it was the fact that even although the Edinburgh side did come back at them in the second half, there was never any real danger that they would lose a goal.
The opener came after 19 minutes when Sean Fleming's cross wasn't cleared properly and Ryan McCord first timed a raging shot into the back of the net from fifteen yards.
Fourteen minutes later, another cross from the left fell to Scott Paterson who swept home from 12 yards.
Three minutes from the interval, Hibs threatened for the one and only time in the match, a Gerrard Rossi shot clipping the post.
Although Hibs had more of the play in the second half, they never got in behind the back of the United defence, with a handful of long range shots the best that they could muster.
Indeed, the visitors had to play out the last twenty minutes with only ten men after substitute Neil Crawford was carried off after utilising all three subs.
And Hibs had keeper David Grof to thank for not losing a third, denying Ryan McCord with a fine save seventeen minutes from the end.
There was also the bonus for United of David goodwillie playing his first half hour of the season after recovering from a broken foot.
United: Gibson, Milligan, Pope, McMechan, O'Byrne, McCord, Paterson, Andreoni, Feeney, Jeffrey (Mathieson 76), Fleming (Goodwillie 57). Substitutes not used: Gray, Russell, O;Hara, Allan
Stevie said: "First half we were excellent, in fact, I would rate it the best of the season.
"And even although Hibs came back at us strongly in the second half, we still had the best chance. It was good to see two midfield men get the goals, because we have been encouraging them to get forward.
"Though it has to be said that the forwards worked well to create the space for them.
"Most pleasing of all is that the defence kept a clean sheet for third game in a row and have only lost one goal in the opening four games."
