First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
For the game at Easter Road, coach Tony Docherty went with a 4-4-2 formation.
The back four in front of Euan McLean was Burnett, Kenneth, Mair, Gardiner.
The midfield was Robb, Robertson, newcomer Grant Smith and Easton, with boss Craig Brewster and Goodwillie upfront.
Hibs showed their attacking intentions in the very first minute with Stephen Glass firing in a first minute drive that Euan McLean fielded comfortably.
The early initiative remained with Hibs with Campbell heading a McCann cross just past after five minutes.
And a minute later McCluskey side-stepped a defender to fire in a shot, which Euan McLean held.
United's first real foray upfield saw Craig Brewster and Stan Easton combine well on the left and when Stan drilled in a low cross, it flew across the face of the goal with no takers.
Hibs continued to make the running and McLean had to tip over a Glass shot on twenty minutes.
However, midway through the first period a Brewster effort from Goodwilie's cross was blocked.
On 29 minutes the home side had the ball in the net, Smith eventually netting after being sent clear, but fortunately it wasn't to count.
Although the linesman had raised his flag, the ref waved play on, but a later consultation between the officials saw Smith rued offside and the goal disallowed.
Three minutes later the ball was in the back of the net again and this time the score did stand.
Stan Easton drove a free-kick into the defensive wall and from the rebound, Smith's controlled waist high volley from 22-yards was diverted past the stranded home keeper, Andy McNeil, by the head of Craig Brewster.
The nearest Hibs came to going in level at the break came with seven minutes left - Lee Mair almost slicing a clearance into his own net!
The early stages of the second half was when the United defence came under its greatest pressure.
Indeed, immediately on the restart, Ryan Campbell was right through, but Euan McLean brilliantly blocked his shot with the ball careering into the ground and up and over the bar.
Campbell again found himself in a great position twelve minutes later, but failed to hit the target.
But United were to miss an even better chance to seal victory when they were awarded a penalty.
There seemed little doubt that David Goodwillie had been hauled to the ground by Jay Shields, but the standside linesman who had been involved in chalking off Hibs goal in the first half, again stood with his flag upraised after ref had pointed to the spot.
The consultation this time only produced a yellow card for the offending Hibs defender, but David Robertson failed to take advantage, clipping the wrong side of the right-hand post from the spot.
Thereafter, Hibs had a lot of the ball, but failed to really trouble Euan McLean.
The introduction of Marco Andreoni for Stan Easton saw Steven Robb move over to the left with Marco playing wide right and bar Garry Kenneth deflecting a Konte shot just past the post, the Hibs threat had passed.
Indeed, United finished the stronger and would have added to their lead had home keeper Andy McNeil not finger-tipped over Marco Andreoni's shot from the edge of the box.
The win at Easter Road extended Tony Docherty's side to an impressive six games without defeat.
Team:- McLean, Burnett, Gardiner, Robertson, Kenneth, Mair, Robb, Smith, Brewster, Goodwillie (Feeney 85), Easton (Andreoni 71). Substitutes not used: Gibson, McMechan, McCord.
The back four in front of Euan McLean was Burnett, Kenneth, Mair, Gardiner.
The midfield was Robb, Robertson, newcomer Grant Smith and Easton, with boss Craig Brewster and Goodwillie upfront.
Hibs showed their attacking intentions in the very first minute with Stephen Glass firing in a first minute drive that Euan McLean fielded comfortably.
The early initiative remained with Hibs with Campbell heading a McCann cross just past after five minutes.
And a minute later McCluskey side-stepped a defender to fire in a shot, which Euan McLean held.
United's first real foray upfield saw Craig Brewster and Stan Easton combine well on the left and when Stan drilled in a low cross, it flew across the face of the goal with no takers.
Hibs continued to make the running and McLean had to tip over a Glass shot on twenty minutes.
However, midway through the first period a Brewster effort from Goodwilie's cross was blocked.
On 29 minutes the home side had the ball in the net, Smith eventually netting after being sent clear, but fortunately it wasn't to count.
Although the linesman had raised his flag, the ref waved play on, but a later consultation between the officials saw Smith rued offside and the goal disallowed.
Three minutes later the ball was in the back of the net again and this time the score did stand.
Stan Easton drove a free-kick into the defensive wall and from the rebound, Smith's controlled waist high volley from 22-yards was diverted past the stranded home keeper, Andy McNeil, by the head of Craig Brewster.
The nearest Hibs came to going in level at the break came with seven minutes left - Lee Mair almost slicing a clearance into his own net!
The early stages of the second half was when the United defence came under its greatest pressure.
Indeed, immediately on the restart, Ryan Campbell was right through, but Euan McLean brilliantly blocked his shot with the ball careering into the ground and up and over the bar.
Campbell again found himself in a great position twelve minutes later, but failed to hit the target.
But United were to miss an even better chance to seal victory when they were awarded a penalty.
There seemed little doubt that David Goodwillie had been hauled to the ground by Jay Shields, but the standside linesman who had been involved in chalking off Hibs goal in the first half, again stood with his flag upraised after ref had pointed to the spot.
The consultation this time only produced a yellow card for the offending Hibs defender, but David Robertson failed to take advantage, clipping the wrong side of the right-hand post from the spot.
Thereafter, Hibs had a lot of the ball, but failed to really trouble Euan McLean.
The introduction of Marco Andreoni for Stan Easton saw Steven Robb move over to the left with Marco playing wide right and bar Garry Kenneth deflecting a Konte shot just past the post, the Hibs threat had passed.
Indeed, United finished the stronger and would have added to their lead had home keeper Andy McNeil not finger-tipped over Marco Andreoni's shot from the edge of the box.
The win at Easter Road extended Tony Docherty's side to an impressive six games without defeat.
Team:- McLean, Burnett, Gardiner, Robertson, Kenneth, Mair, Robb, Smith, Brewster, Goodwillie (Feeney 85), Easton (Andreoni 71). Substitutes not used: Gibson, McMechan, McCord.
