First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
A second half brace from Spaniard Francisco Sandaza and a scorcher from Scott Robertson handed United a hard fought 3-2 victory over First Division Dunfermline at East End Park. The Pars replied through efforts from Thompson and Phinn.
Craig Levein sent through a very strong squad to face SPL hopefuls Dunfermline. The starting eleven
was minus the injured Noel Hunt and therefore Warren Feeney, fresh from a hat trick against Raith and Andis Shala lined up in attack. Michael McGovern started between the posts with Lukasz Zaluska listed
amongst the substitutes. The Pars, now managed by former United favourite Jim McIntyre had plenty of
SPL experience in their line up which included ex-United goalkeeper Paul Gallacher.
United started the game brightly with some fine passing in the midfield involving Scott Robertson and Willo Flood in particular.
With only eight minutes gone the former Dundee man curled a fine effort just wide. Two minutes later he went close again when he exchanged passes with Feeney but this time his side foot effort was well blocked by the Pars defence.
Midway through the half United should have had the lead when a fine Gomis cross found the head of Feeney but the Northern Irishman headed down and the ball bounced over the crossbar. After 25 minutes, the hosts eventually created their first chance when Phinn pounced on a slack pass from David Robertson but Wilkie did well to charge down his shot. Muirfield then spurned a great chance for the Fifers when somehow he managed to screw his effort wide of target.On the stroke of half time United should have had the lead when Flood fed Wilkie who then found Feeney at the back post but the on loan striker found the side netting.
Both sides unsurprisingly rang the changes in the second half and with ten minutes of the half gone the game sprang to life.
The Pars were first to strike when Thomson rose to head a Burke corner home to give the hosts the lead. Two minutes later United were back on level terms when Prince Buaben squared to new boy Sandaza who turned in the box and fired in the equaliser. With an hour on the clock it was Sandaza again when he took advantage of a horrendous mistake from Thomson and calmly slotted the ball past Gallacher.
Amazingly United only held the lead for three minutes and this time after a Glass free kick was blocked by the United wall Phinn fired in a shot that somehow beat McGovern. Despite it being a friendly both sides looked keen to secure a win and it was a piece of brilliance that proved to be the difference between the sides. With only seven minutes left McCord squared to Scott Roberston and United's impressive new signing side stepped the home defence and sent a tremendous shot into the top corner of the net.
Full Time Summary: A great run out for United against a strong Dunfermline side. The Manager will be delighted with a victory and
it was great to see Sandaza get off the mark.
Teams:
Dunfermline: Gallacher, Woods, McCann, Phinn, Thomson, Shields, Harper, Glass, Bayne, Burke, Muirhead
Subs: McGregor, Wilson, McIntyre, Wallis, White, Thomspson
United: McGovern, Kovacevic, Dods, Wilkie, Grainger, Flood, S Robertson, D Robertson, Gomis, Feeney, Shala
Subs : Buaben, Dillon, Sandaza, Daly, McCord, Swanson, Gioodwillie, Zaluska, Dixon
Referee - S Finnie
Attendace - 1586
Craig Levein sent through a very strong squad to face SPL hopefuls Dunfermline. The starting eleven
was minus the injured Noel Hunt and therefore Warren Feeney, fresh from a hat trick against Raith and Andis Shala lined up in attack. Michael McGovern started between the posts with Lukasz Zaluska listed
amongst the substitutes. The Pars, now managed by former United favourite Jim McIntyre had plenty of
SPL experience in their line up which included ex-United goalkeeper Paul Gallacher.
United started the game brightly with some fine passing in the midfield involving Scott Robertson and Willo Flood in particular.
With only eight minutes gone the former Dundee man curled a fine effort just wide. Two minutes later he went close again when he exchanged passes with Feeney but this time his side foot effort was well blocked by the Pars defence.
Midway through the half United should have had the lead when a fine Gomis cross found the head of Feeney but the Northern Irishman headed down and the ball bounced over the crossbar. After 25 minutes, the hosts eventually created their first chance when Phinn pounced on a slack pass from David Robertson but Wilkie did well to charge down his shot. Muirfield then spurned a great chance for the Fifers when somehow he managed to screw his effort wide of target.On the stroke of half time United should have had the lead when Flood fed Wilkie who then found Feeney at the back post but the on loan striker found the side netting.
Both sides unsurprisingly rang the changes in the second half and with ten minutes of the half gone the game sprang to life.
The Pars were first to strike when Thomson rose to head a Burke corner home to give the hosts the lead. Two minutes later United were back on level terms when Prince Buaben squared to new boy Sandaza who turned in the box and fired in the equaliser. With an hour on the clock it was Sandaza again when he took advantage of a horrendous mistake from Thomson and calmly slotted the ball past Gallacher.
Amazingly United only held the lead for three minutes and this time after a Glass free kick was blocked by the United wall Phinn fired in a shot that somehow beat McGovern. Despite it being a friendly both sides looked keen to secure a win and it was a piece of brilliance that proved to be the difference between the sides. With only seven minutes left McCord squared to Scott Roberston and United's impressive new signing side stepped the home defence and sent a tremendous shot into the top corner of the net.
Full Time Summary: A great run out for United against a strong Dunfermline side. The Manager will be delighted with a victory and
it was great to see Sandaza get off the mark.
Teams:
Dunfermline: Gallacher, Woods, McCann, Phinn, Thomson, Shields, Harper, Glass, Bayne, Burke, Muirhead
Subs: McGregor, Wilson, McIntyre, Wallis, White, Thomspson
United: McGovern, Kovacevic, Dods, Wilkie, Grainger, Flood, S Robertson, D Robertson, Gomis, Feeney, Shala
Subs : Buaben, Dillon, Sandaza, Daly, McCord, Swanson, Gioodwillie, Zaluska, Dixon
Referee - S Finnie
Attendace - 1586
