DUTV
STORY OF THE MATCH | RANGERS (A)
25th November 2024
The Tangerines second string disappointed as they went down to their Tynecastle counterparts at Forthbank today.
They failed to strike any real rhythm and therefore can have no complaints at the outcome.
From a Tannadice perspective, the plusses were Danny Swanson coming through 90 minutes and newcomer James Wesolowski, getting another hour under his belt.
However, on the debit side left-back Danny Grainger picked up a knee injury that forced him to come off five minutes from half-time.
Although there wasn't too much between the sides in the first half, Hearts always carried the greater threat.
However, their opener only came just before the break, Lithuanian Marius Zaliukas hammering home from 12-yards after the United rearguard failed to deal with a David Templeton corner.
Dominating the second half, both Calum Elliot and Matthew Park went close for the hosts, so it was no surprise when they finally increased their lead with 15 minutes left.
Stephen Husband collected the ball 25 yards out before evading a challenge to tuck the ball into the far corner.
However, ten minutes from time, United hit Hearts on the break to reduce the leeway.
Danny Swanson received the ball on the half way line before skipping past a weak Hearts challenge and feeding the ball through for David Goodwillie to race onto. The striker may have missed a similar chance to equalise earlier on, but made no mistake this time sneaking past Matthew Park before burying the ball in the far corner.
Though United pushed forward in pursuit of an equaliser, that never looked likely.
Hearts: Kello; Thomson, Brown, Zaliukas, Park; Mikoliunas, R McGowan, Husband, Cesnauskis; Templeton, Elliot. Subs not used: Ridgers, Stewart, Wallace, Mulrooney, Novikovas, D McGowan.
United: McGovern, Dillon, Kenneth, R Smith, Grainger (Lee 40), Wesolowski (Ross McCord 60), Swanson, Ryan McCord, Dow (Allan 60), Shala, Goodwillie. Sub not used: Grant.
They failed to strike any real rhythm and therefore can have no complaints at the outcome.
From a Tannadice perspective, the plusses were Danny Swanson coming through 90 minutes and newcomer James Wesolowski, getting another hour under his belt.
However, on the debit side left-back Danny Grainger picked up a knee injury that forced him to come off five minutes from half-time.
Although there wasn't too much between the sides in the first half, Hearts always carried the greater threat.
However, their opener only came just before the break, Lithuanian Marius Zaliukas hammering home from 12-yards after the United rearguard failed to deal with a David Templeton corner.
Dominating the second half, both Calum Elliot and Matthew Park went close for the hosts, so it was no surprise when they finally increased their lead with 15 minutes left.
Stephen Husband collected the ball 25 yards out before evading a challenge to tuck the ball into the far corner.
However, ten minutes from time, United hit Hearts on the break to reduce the leeway.
Danny Swanson received the ball on the half way line before skipping past a weak Hearts challenge and feeding the ball through for David Goodwillie to race onto. The striker may have missed a similar chance to equalise earlier on, but made no mistake this time sneaking past Matthew Park before burying the ball in the far corner.
Though United pushed forward in pursuit of an equaliser, that never looked likely.
Hearts: Kello; Thomson, Brown, Zaliukas, Park; Mikoliunas, R McGowan, Husband, Cesnauskis; Templeton, Elliot. Subs not used: Ridgers, Stewart, Wallace, Mulrooney, Novikovas, D McGowan.
United: McGovern, Dillon, Kenneth, R Smith, Grainger (Lee 40), Wesolowski (Ross McCord 60), Swanson, Ryan McCord, Dow (Allan 60), Shala, Goodwillie. Sub not used: Grant.
