First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
Tuesday afternoon's reserve success over Hearts brought a major boost with the 3-1 scoreline in no way understating Tony Docherty's side's superiority at Station Park, Forfar.
The team had a new shape, utilising a 3-5-2 formation. In front of keeper Euan McLean was the not inconsiderable presence of Garry Kenneth, Lee Wilkie and Lee Mair. The wingbacks were Stan Easton and Ross Gardiner with David Robertson, Marco Andreoni and Grant Smith in central midfield. Up front were David Goodwillie and Craig Conway.
Hearts full back Tiago Costa scored the opening goal but their lead couldn't have been more short-lived because Ross Gardiner immediately played the ball up the left to Craig Conway who wriggled past a defender close to the bye-line before his composed shot from a tight angle went in at the far post.
Sustained pressure led to United taking the lead on twenty minutes when Lee Wilkie was on the end of a great cross whipped in by Garry Kenneth from the right and his downward header fell to David Robertson who drove it high into the net from close range.
There were opportunities at both ends before the home side got a deserved third eleven minutes from the end when a Kenneth cross was headed home by Goodwillie, who almost added a fourth right at the death,
Apart from the obvious satisfaction of victory, there were plenty of plus points over and above the result as Lee Wilkie, Lee Mair and Garry Kenneth rarely gave the Hearts attack much scope while up front the partnership of Craig Conway and David Goodwillie never gave the Jambos' defence a moment's peace.
As coach Tony Docherty said, "All round, it was a very satisfactory afternoon's work."
The team had a new shape, utilising a 3-5-2 formation. In front of keeper Euan McLean was the not inconsiderable presence of Garry Kenneth, Lee Wilkie and Lee Mair. The wingbacks were Stan Easton and Ross Gardiner with David Robertson, Marco Andreoni and Grant Smith in central midfield. Up front were David Goodwillie and Craig Conway.
Hearts full back Tiago Costa scored the opening goal but their lead couldn't have been more short-lived because Ross Gardiner immediately played the ball up the left to Craig Conway who wriggled past a defender close to the bye-line before his composed shot from a tight angle went in at the far post.
Sustained pressure led to United taking the lead on twenty minutes when Lee Wilkie was on the end of a great cross whipped in by Garry Kenneth from the right and his downward header fell to David Robertson who drove it high into the net from close range.
There were opportunities at both ends before the home side got a deserved third eleven minutes from the end when a Kenneth cross was headed home by Goodwillie, who almost added a fourth right at the death,
Apart from the obvious satisfaction of victory, there were plenty of plus points over and above the result as Lee Wilkie, Lee Mair and Garry Kenneth rarely gave the Hearts attack much scope while up front the partnership of Craig Conway and David Goodwillie never gave the Jambos' defence a moment's peace.
As coach Tony Docherty said, "All round, it was a very satisfactory afternoon's work."
