First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
United started their pre-season schedule in earnest this evening with a comfortable three goal win, but this was no stroll in the park against a hard working Airdrie side. Nevertheless, had it not been for another terrific performance from Airdrie keeper Robertson, the score line would have been much greater.
Lukasz Zaluska and Darren Dods made their first starts in Tangerine, and the Polish goalkeeper almost had to pick the ball out the net in the first minute, Kevin McDonald going close from 25 yards. With less than two minutes on the clock United did find the net - David Goodwillie powerfully heading home Craig Conway's cross from six yards.
While Airdrie had a decent share of the possession, they rarely threatened. United, in contrast, created a good number of chances. On twelve minutes Barry Robson - playing an unusual role at centre forward - went close with a curling twenty yard shot which was palmed away by Robertson. Soon after, Lee Wilkie failed to hit the target with a header, Robertson having been stranded in no-mans land. Robertson then denied Robson again, this time parrying away a close range header on 22 minutes. The keeper's busy evening continued as he rushed from goal to deny Robb. United suffered a blow with Lee Wilkie having to go off having taken a knock. And they almost gifted an equaliser on forty minutes when a slip by Kerr allowed Stuart Noble to force Zaluska into his first save of the afternoon. Noble felt aggrieved when his penalty claims for an infringement by Dods went unheeded on the stroke of half time - but United were well worth their interval lead on the basis of the chances created.
A quieter second half took on a similar pattern to the first with Airdrie knocking the ball around quite nicely, but United creating the bulk of the chances. On 54 minutes Craig Conway doubled the lead, cutting in from the left flank to send of powerful right foot drive high past Robertson from outside the box. A repeat attempt on 66 minutes was way over the bar, and soon after Johnny Russell was the first of four second half substitutes to take the field for United. His impact was immediate, winning a penalty from James Sharp - Barry Robson blasted home from the spot to make it 3 - 0. Robson should have grabbed his second two minutes later but blazed over from a similar range.
Zaluska had to wait until 75 minutes before seeing action again, blocking a Steve McEwan drive from the edge of the box. United finished strongly, with debutant Ryan Dow denied by the keeper Robertson after more good work by Russell. A Mark Kerr header was deflected over, before Robertson completed his busy evening's work saving a powerful Robson shot with his legs, just as full time approached.
A decent run out and comfortable win for United.
Teams:
Airdrie: Robertson, Soutar, Lovering, McDonald, Smyth, Sharp, McKenna, Noble, McEwan, Holmes, McDougall.
United: Zaluska, Dillon, Dods, Wilkie (Kenneth), Duff, Robb (Robertson), Kerr, Gomis (Andreoni), Conway (Dow), Goodwillie (Russell), Robson.
Referee: Steven Conroy
Click here for the full report by Stuart McDonald.
Lukasz Zaluska and Darren Dods made their first starts in Tangerine, and the Polish goalkeeper almost had to pick the ball out the net in the first minute, Kevin McDonald going close from 25 yards. With less than two minutes on the clock United did find the net - David Goodwillie powerfully heading home Craig Conway's cross from six yards.
While Airdrie had a decent share of the possession, they rarely threatened. United, in contrast, created a good number of chances. On twelve minutes Barry Robson - playing an unusual role at centre forward - went close with a curling twenty yard shot which was palmed away by Robertson. Soon after, Lee Wilkie failed to hit the target with a header, Robertson having been stranded in no-mans land. Robertson then denied Robson again, this time parrying away a close range header on 22 minutes. The keeper's busy evening continued as he rushed from goal to deny Robb. United suffered a blow with Lee Wilkie having to go off having taken a knock. And they almost gifted an equaliser on forty minutes when a slip by Kerr allowed Stuart Noble to force Zaluska into his first save of the afternoon. Noble felt aggrieved when his penalty claims for an infringement by Dods went unheeded on the stroke of half time - but United were well worth their interval lead on the basis of the chances created.
A quieter second half took on a similar pattern to the first with Airdrie knocking the ball around quite nicely, but United creating the bulk of the chances. On 54 minutes Craig Conway doubled the lead, cutting in from the left flank to send of powerful right foot drive high past Robertson from outside the box. A repeat attempt on 66 minutes was way over the bar, and soon after Johnny Russell was the first of four second half substitutes to take the field for United. His impact was immediate, winning a penalty from James Sharp - Barry Robson blasted home from the spot to make it 3 - 0. Robson should have grabbed his second two minutes later but blazed over from a similar range.
Zaluska had to wait until 75 minutes before seeing action again, blocking a Steve McEwan drive from the edge of the box. United finished strongly, with debutant Ryan Dow denied by the keeper Robertson after more good work by Russell. A Mark Kerr header was deflected over, before Robertson completed his busy evening's work saving a powerful Robson shot with his legs, just as full time approached.
A decent run out and comfortable win for United.
Teams:
Airdrie: Robertson, Soutar, Lovering, McDonald, Smyth, Sharp, McKenna, Noble, McEwan, Holmes, McDougall.
United: Zaluska, Dillon, Dods, Wilkie (Kenneth), Duff, Robb (Robertson), Kerr, Gomis (Andreoni), Conway (Dow), Goodwillie (Russell), Robson.
Referee: Steven Conroy
Click here for the full report by Stuart McDonald.
