First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
United lost their unbeaten home record as a first half 30 yard shot from Ian Black proved to be the difference between the teams. It was a day when nothing broke for the Terrors and despite having a real go in the second half they just couldn't find the equaliser they deserved.
Craig Levein was forced to make four changes to the team which drew with Hibernian last week, with Steven Robb, Greg Cameron, Garry Kenneth and Jordan Robertson replacing Prince Buaben, Noel Hunt, Christian Kalvenes and Sean Dillon. Lee Wilkie was deployed as a striker with Robb and Flood starting the game as wing backs.
After a quiet opening Morgaro Gomis strode forward from halfway before lashing a left foot drive inches over the junction of post and bar with the Caley keeper beaten. United were then dealt a big blow in 19 minutes as Inverness took a surprise lead. Garry Kenneth was dispossessed around 30 yards from goal and Ian Black looped a wicked shot over Szamotulski and into the net. Jordan Robertson tested Fraser with a low left foot shot towards the corner before Robb was withdrawn on 37 minutes due to injury, with Stuart Duff coming on to fill the void at left back. United mounted a late push for an equaliser, with a Flood cross from the right coming back off the bar before Kenneth met the Irishman's corner with a header at the back post which bounced just wide.
United were first to threaten after half time when Mark Kerr neatly worked the ball to Jordan Roberson on the right. The on loan striker then cut inside and lofted a shot towards the back post which was not too far off target. With 56 minutes gone Kenneth then missed a glorious chance with a free header from a Duff free kick, but much to the agony of the United supporters flashed the effort just wide. In a rare Caley attack goalscorer Black forced Szamotulski into a save down low to his right after his shot was deflected. Moments later the Polish keeper did even better to touch a John Rankin shot round the post after the midfielder was played in by sub Barry Wilson. United threw everything they could at Inverness as full time approached and at one point the ball appeared to be blocked by the hand of a defender as David Robertson tried to work an opening but claims for a penalty were turned away. Wilkie then rose to meet a Duff cross and in the end just missed the ball which put off Russell, who would otherwise have had a good opportunity. The result was that the ball simply hit the substitute and landed fortuitously in the ends of Fraser.
Full Time Summary:
Despite a better performance in the second half it just wasn't United's day, as their unbeaten home record ended in slightly unfortunate fashion. It was significant that there were so many men missing for United however, and heads shouldn't go down too much as this result can simply be put down as a bad day at the office.
Man of the Match:
For an energetic and assured performance the award goes to Mark Kerr. On a day when it just didn't happen for United the midfielder kept going right up until the last whistle.
United: Szamotulski, Wilkie, Dods, Flood (Milligan 79), Kerr, D Robertson, Robb (Duff 37), Gomis, Cameron, Kenneth, J Robertson (Russell 79). Subs Not Used: McLean, Buaben, Pope, Dow.
Inverness: Fraser, McGuire, McBain, Black, Duncan, Munro, Cowie, Hastings (Wilson 70), Niculae (Bayne 83), Rankin (Vigurs), Proctor. Subs Not Used: Malkowski, McCaffrey, McAllister, Kerr.
Attendance: 5845
Referee: Iain Brines
Click here for the full report by Ally Stewart.
Craig Levein was forced to make four changes to the team which drew with Hibernian last week, with Steven Robb, Greg Cameron, Garry Kenneth and Jordan Robertson replacing Prince Buaben, Noel Hunt, Christian Kalvenes and Sean Dillon. Lee Wilkie was deployed as a striker with Robb and Flood starting the game as wing backs.
After a quiet opening Morgaro Gomis strode forward from halfway before lashing a left foot drive inches over the junction of post and bar with the Caley keeper beaten. United were then dealt a big blow in 19 minutes as Inverness took a surprise lead. Garry Kenneth was dispossessed around 30 yards from goal and Ian Black looped a wicked shot over Szamotulski and into the net. Jordan Robertson tested Fraser with a low left foot shot towards the corner before Robb was withdrawn on 37 minutes due to injury, with Stuart Duff coming on to fill the void at left back. United mounted a late push for an equaliser, with a Flood cross from the right coming back off the bar before Kenneth met the Irishman's corner with a header at the back post which bounced just wide.
United were first to threaten after half time when Mark Kerr neatly worked the ball to Jordan Roberson on the right. The on loan striker then cut inside and lofted a shot towards the back post which was not too far off target. With 56 minutes gone Kenneth then missed a glorious chance with a free header from a Duff free kick, but much to the agony of the United supporters flashed the effort just wide. In a rare Caley attack goalscorer Black forced Szamotulski into a save down low to his right after his shot was deflected. Moments later the Polish keeper did even better to touch a John Rankin shot round the post after the midfielder was played in by sub Barry Wilson. United threw everything they could at Inverness as full time approached and at one point the ball appeared to be blocked by the hand of a defender as David Robertson tried to work an opening but claims for a penalty were turned away. Wilkie then rose to meet a Duff cross and in the end just missed the ball which put off Russell, who would otherwise have had a good opportunity. The result was that the ball simply hit the substitute and landed fortuitously in the ends of Fraser.
Full Time Summary:
Despite a better performance in the second half it just wasn't United's day, as their unbeaten home record ended in slightly unfortunate fashion. It was significant that there were so many men missing for United however, and heads shouldn't go down too much as this result can simply be put down as a bad day at the office.
Man of the Match:
For an energetic and assured performance the award goes to Mark Kerr. On a day when it just didn't happen for United the midfielder kept going right up until the last whistle.
United: Szamotulski, Wilkie, Dods, Flood (Milligan 79), Kerr, D Robertson, Robb (Duff 37), Gomis, Cameron, Kenneth, J Robertson (Russell 79). Subs Not Used: McLean, Buaben, Pope, Dow.
Inverness: Fraser, McGuire, McBain, Black, Duncan, Munro, Cowie, Hastings (Wilson 70), Niculae (Bayne 83), Rankin (Vigurs), Proctor. Subs Not Used: Malkowski, McCaffrey, McAllister, Kerr.
Attendance: 5845
Referee: Iain Brines
Click here for the full report by Ally Stewart.
