First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
A disappointing opening league performance saw United go down 3-1 to SPL newcomers Hamilton Accies at New Douglas Park.
Despite United taking the lead through a Mark McLaughlin own goal and a Tony Stevenson free kick, a controversial James McArthur handball and a great 20-yard strike from David Graham ensured Hamilton deservedly took all three points on their return to the big time.
Craig Levein handed United league debuts to Scott Robertson, Warren Feeney and Roy O'Donovan, pairing the latter two up front as they lined up 4-4-2.
The first 20 minutes were fairly even. Hamilton were first to threaten when David Graham found space on the right, cut inside and fired a shot at Zaluska which the 'keeper did well to turn round his left-hand post.
United's best chance in the opening stages fell to left-back Danny Grainger whose low deflected shot from the edge of the box was well held by Accies 'keeper Thomas Cerny.
United took a fortuitous lead after 23 minutes. Willo Flood sent over a menacing cross from the left and, with Feeney lurking at the back post, McLaughlin attempted a clearing header which went straight into the centre of the goal, leaving Cerny stranded and the United fans directly behind the net jubilant.
The lead lasted just six minutes. Teenage sensation James McCarthy was breaking through the centre when Prince Buaben fouled him just outside the box. Stevenson stepped up to take the free kick and fired his shot through the wall and past a wrong-footed Zaluska.
United tried to hit straight back and were awarded a free kick in a similar position after Stevenson this time held back the marauding Buaben. However, Feeney was unable to emulate Stevenson's finish as his 20-yard effort flew well over.
After 39 minutes, Hamilton were ahead. Lee Wilkie was adjudged to have gone in late on McCarthy and Stevenson again took the ball for the set piece. This time he dinked the ball to the back post from where McLaughlin put his header back across goal for McArthur to bundle into the net, apparently with his hand. Despite appeals from the United defence, referee Stuart Dougal pointed to his chest and allowed the goal to stand.
With United trailing 2-1 at half-time, Levein introduced Danny Swanson for the second 45, with the ex-Berwick Rangers man replacing Prince Buaben in central midfield.
Both teams knew the importance of the next goal and tempers began to run high after a physical challenge by Willo Flood on McCarthy left the 17-year-old on the ground and led to a minor scuffle in front of the home dugout. Flood was shown the yellow card and that match continued at a high tempo.
It was Hamilton who got the crucial strike when they went two clear after 63 minutes and this time there was no doubt about the goal. McArthur played in striker Richard Offiong but he slipped on the greasy pitch as he wound up to shoot. As the ball sat invitingly 18 yards out, Graham was quickest to react as he drove the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of Zaluska's goal.
Following a double substitution from Hamilton which saw Offiong and goalscorer Graham replaced by new signings Mark Corcoran and Lucas-Jordan Akins, Levein gave Francisco Sandanza his first taste of the SPL as he came on for O'Donovan.
However, most of the action remained in the United half and only a last-ditch sliding challenge from Sean Dillon denied Akins a clear shot from the penalty spot. Simon Mensing then found himself with space in the United box but his weak shot failed to trouble Zaluska.
United mounted a final challenge in the last 15 minutes and Sandaza came agonisingly close to his first SPL goal but his leaping header after 80 minutes was turned round the post by Cerny.
Time was running out and Wilkie joined Feeney and Sandaza up front as United pushed to get back into the game. Morgaro Gomis saw his 20-yard shot turned over by Cerny. From the resultant Swanson corner to the back post, Wilkie rose to knock the ball towards goal but Feeney's flick was palmed over by the accomplished Cerny.
United's final chance fell to Swanson but he couldn't keep his half-volley down and it flew harmlessly over, summing up a disappointing evening for a new-look United that never looked comfortable and the healthy travelling support who made the Monday night trip to Hamilton.
In a committed match, Stuart Dougal booked United men Buaben, Grainger, Flood and Swanson as well as Accies' McLaughlin and Graham.
Man of the Match
It wasn't a vintage outfield performance from United and the goals against column could have been further in the red if it hadn't been for the saves of Lucasz Zaluska. The Polish keeper produced a number of acrobatic and point-blank saves to keep United in the hunt till the end.
Teams:
Hamilton: Cerny, Stevenson, Easton, McLaughlin, Swailes, Mensing, McArthur, McCarthy (Lyle 90), Neil, Graham (Corcoran 67), Offiong (Akins 67)
Unused subs: Murdoch, Elebert, Sorsa, Taylor
Away: Zaluska, Dillon, Grainger, Wilkie, Dods, Flood, Feeney, S Robertson, O'Donovan (Sandaza 68), Gomis, Buaben (Swanson 46)
Unused subs: McGovern, Daly, Kenneth, Kovacevic, McCord
Click here for the full report by Ross Burns.
Despite United taking the lead through a Mark McLaughlin own goal and a Tony Stevenson free kick, a controversial James McArthur handball and a great 20-yard strike from David Graham ensured Hamilton deservedly took all three points on their return to the big time.
Craig Levein handed United league debuts to Scott Robertson, Warren Feeney and Roy O'Donovan, pairing the latter two up front as they lined up 4-4-2.
The first 20 minutes were fairly even. Hamilton were first to threaten when David Graham found space on the right, cut inside and fired a shot at Zaluska which the 'keeper did well to turn round his left-hand post.
United's best chance in the opening stages fell to left-back Danny Grainger whose low deflected shot from the edge of the box was well held by Accies 'keeper Thomas Cerny.
United took a fortuitous lead after 23 minutes. Willo Flood sent over a menacing cross from the left and, with Feeney lurking at the back post, McLaughlin attempted a clearing header which went straight into the centre of the goal, leaving Cerny stranded and the United fans directly behind the net jubilant.
The lead lasted just six minutes. Teenage sensation James McCarthy was breaking through the centre when Prince Buaben fouled him just outside the box. Stevenson stepped up to take the free kick and fired his shot through the wall and past a wrong-footed Zaluska.
United tried to hit straight back and were awarded a free kick in a similar position after Stevenson this time held back the marauding Buaben. However, Feeney was unable to emulate Stevenson's finish as his 20-yard effort flew well over.
After 39 minutes, Hamilton were ahead. Lee Wilkie was adjudged to have gone in late on McCarthy and Stevenson again took the ball for the set piece. This time he dinked the ball to the back post from where McLaughlin put his header back across goal for McArthur to bundle into the net, apparently with his hand. Despite appeals from the United defence, referee Stuart Dougal pointed to his chest and allowed the goal to stand.
With United trailing 2-1 at half-time, Levein introduced Danny Swanson for the second 45, with the ex-Berwick Rangers man replacing Prince Buaben in central midfield.
Both teams knew the importance of the next goal and tempers began to run high after a physical challenge by Willo Flood on McCarthy left the 17-year-old on the ground and led to a minor scuffle in front of the home dugout. Flood was shown the yellow card and that match continued at a high tempo.
It was Hamilton who got the crucial strike when they went two clear after 63 minutes and this time there was no doubt about the goal. McArthur played in striker Richard Offiong but he slipped on the greasy pitch as he wound up to shoot. As the ball sat invitingly 18 yards out, Graham was quickest to react as he drove the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of Zaluska's goal.
Following a double substitution from Hamilton which saw Offiong and goalscorer Graham replaced by new signings Mark Corcoran and Lucas-Jordan Akins, Levein gave Francisco Sandanza his first taste of the SPL as he came on for O'Donovan.
However, most of the action remained in the United half and only a last-ditch sliding challenge from Sean Dillon denied Akins a clear shot from the penalty spot. Simon Mensing then found himself with space in the United box but his weak shot failed to trouble Zaluska.
United mounted a final challenge in the last 15 minutes and Sandaza came agonisingly close to his first SPL goal but his leaping header after 80 minutes was turned round the post by Cerny.
Time was running out and Wilkie joined Feeney and Sandaza up front as United pushed to get back into the game. Morgaro Gomis saw his 20-yard shot turned over by Cerny. From the resultant Swanson corner to the back post, Wilkie rose to knock the ball towards goal but Feeney's flick was palmed over by the accomplished Cerny.
United's final chance fell to Swanson but he couldn't keep his half-volley down and it flew harmlessly over, summing up a disappointing evening for a new-look United that never looked comfortable and the healthy travelling support who made the Monday night trip to Hamilton.
In a committed match, Stuart Dougal booked United men Buaben, Grainger, Flood and Swanson as well as Accies' McLaughlin and Graham.
Man of the Match
It wasn't a vintage outfield performance from United and the goals against column could have been further in the red if it hadn't been for the saves of Lucasz Zaluska. The Polish keeper produced a number of acrobatic and point-blank saves to keep United in the hunt till the end.
Teams:
Hamilton: Cerny, Stevenson, Easton, McLaughlin, Swailes, Mensing, McArthur, McCarthy (Lyle 90), Neil, Graham (Corcoran 67), Offiong (Akins 67)
Unused subs: Murdoch, Elebert, Sorsa, Taylor
Away: Zaluska, Dillon, Grainger, Wilkie, Dods, Flood, Feeney, S Robertson, O'Donovan (Sandaza 68), Gomis, Buaben (Swanson 46)
Unused subs: McGovern, Daly, Kenneth, Kovacevic, McCord
Click here for the full report by Ross Burns.
