First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
The Tannadice second string dominated throughout and cruised to any easy win against a Gretna side forced to field coach Andy Smith in central defence.
Apart from a long-overdue victory, the big bonus for boss Craig Levein was winger Steven Robb coming through his first ninety minutes following his groin injury.
But the Tangerines did have to come from behind going behind after thirteen minutes. Home keeper Euan McLean was adjudged to have handled outside his box as he cleared the ball upfield and from a short-free-kick Henry Makinwa blasted home.
Their lead was short-lived, however. Two minutes later, a clever chip from Mihael Kovacevic found Jonny Russell who took a great first touch before a neat right-foot finish.
Though playing against the strong wind, United increased their lead with ten minutes of the half remaining, Russell toe-poking home a magnificent through ball from Ryan McCord.
Before the break, United might well have scored twice more.
Russell might have had a hat-trick, skying over after Robb sent him clear and Kovacevic knocked the ball past from a Robb free-kick.
With the wind at their backs, United added to their total, Ryan McCord harnessing the elements to great effect to score direct from a corner five minutes after the restart.
Continuing to dominate, a fourth goal was hardly unexpected and it came midway through the second period when Fraser Milligan latched on to Scott Paterson's fine pass to drill the ball across the keeper.
Ten minutes from the end, substitute Ryan Dow was unlucky not to add a fifth, his curling effort hitting the bar.
Dundee United: McLean, Kovacevic (Ross McCord 77), Fleming, McGrath, Pope, Ryan McCord, Paterson, Milligan, Russell (Dow 75), Anderson, Robb, Subs not used: Gibson, Brophy.
Gretna: Krysiak, Shultz-Eklund, Hogg, O'Hara, Sharples, Smith, Fisher (McKinlay 25), Osman (Moffet 60), Makinwa (Cusack 46), Taylor, Robinson. Sub not used: Grant.
Apart from a long-overdue victory, the big bonus for boss Craig Levein was winger Steven Robb coming through his first ninety minutes following his groin injury.
But the Tangerines did have to come from behind going behind after thirteen minutes. Home keeper Euan McLean was adjudged to have handled outside his box as he cleared the ball upfield and from a short-free-kick Henry Makinwa blasted home.
Their lead was short-lived, however. Two minutes later, a clever chip from Mihael Kovacevic found Jonny Russell who took a great first touch before a neat right-foot finish.
Though playing against the strong wind, United increased their lead with ten minutes of the half remaining, Russell toe-poking home a magnificent through ball from Ryan McCord.
Before the break, United might well have scored twice more.
Russell might have had a hat-trick, skying over after Robb sent him clear and Kovacevic knocked the ball past from a Robb free-kick.
With the wind at their backs, United added to their total, Ryan McCord harnessing the elements to great effect to score direct from a corner five minutes after the restart.
Continuing to dominate, a fourth goal was hardly unexpected and it came midway through the second period when Fraser Milligan latched on to Scott Paterson's fine pass to drill the ball across the keeper.
Ten minutes from the end, substitute Ryan Dow was unlucky not to add a fifth, his curling effort hitting the bar.
Dundee United: McLean, Kovacevic (Ross McCord 77), Fleming, McGrath, Pope, Ryan McCord, Paterson, Milligan, Russell (Dow 75), Anderson, Robb, Subs not used: Gibson, Brophy.
Gretna: Krysiak, Shultz-Eklund, Hogg, O'Hara, Sharples, Smith, Fisher (McKinlay 25), Osman (Moffet 60), Makinwa (Cusack 46), Taylor, Robinson. Sub not used: Grant.
