DUTV
STORY OF THE MATCH | RANGERS (A)
25th November 2024
United secured a deserved win as a double from man of the match Danny Cadamarteri was enough to see off a physical Hearts side in an absorbing encounter at Tannadice. Hearts' misery was compounded by the sending off of Michael Stewart early in the 2nd half.
United made a dream start as they found themselves ahead after being awarded a penalty in the 4th minute. Paul Dixon found Danny Swanson in acres of space on the left and as the midfield man drove into the area his progress was halted by a clear trip from Hearts defender Eggert Jonsson. The new man took responsibility for the penalty and gave the Terrors the perfect start as his well placed kick squirmed past the hands of Marian Kello into the bottom corner of the net. There was then another loud appeal for a United penalty in the 17th minute and again Cadamarteri was involved. This time it was the former Everton man himself who was upended under the challenge of Ismail Bouzid, and although it wasn't completely clear whether the incident was inside or outside the area, there did appear to most inside the ground to have been clear contact but referee Steve Conroy waved play on. Nicky Weaver kept United ahead following good saves from first from Palazuelos then Obua before David Goodwillie and Prince Buaben got in each others way following a teasing ball across the area from Cadamarteri right on half time.
Goodwillie missed a glorious opportunity early in the 2nd half after a searching ball from Dixon cleared the defence and left Goodwillie in behind on the angle. With the goal gaping he tried to curl the ball into the top corner only to miss the target by a yard or so. Hearts were then reduced to 10 men with 51 minutes played after a second yellow card was awarded to Michael Stewart following a rash challenge from behind on Scott Robertson which was very similar to his earlier tackle on Swanson. United were not keeping the ball as long as they would like to at this stage and with Hearts also becoming frustrated tempers boiled over following a harsh challenge by Ian Black on Danny Swanson. Swanson reacted angrily to the incident with Santana also then becoming involved with the result being a booking for all three parties. After a tense spell from both sides Goodwillie almost made up for his earlier miss when he brought out the save of the match from Kello who superbly turned away the strikers close range shot following a cross from substitute Craig Conway. United then all but sealed the game in the 85th minute with a counter attack move which started deep inside their own half. Morgaro Gomis took possession and knocked the ball sideways to Buaben who put Cadamarteri clean through on Kello. As the Hearts keeper raced out to close the angle Cadamarteri showed great cool by simply passing the ball past him and into the empty net from midway inside the half. There was still time for Weaver to again show his capabilities as he expertly turned a late Jonsson header over the bar from point blank range.
Full Time Summary - It was the perfect start for United as they ran out worthy winners following an absorbing encounter. Despite some moments of panic you always felt this was a game United were going to win and in the end the Stewart sending off told its own story about the frustration Hearts felt as a result of the quality the home performance.
Man of the Match - It was a great team effort however Danny Cadamarteri gets the nod for a match winning debut performance. Apart from the goals he was also a constant menace and showed that he can go on to be a major thorn in the side of SPL defences this season. Just beaten to the award was Danny Swanson whose direct approach to the game was also greatly significant in helping United to victory.
United - Weaver, Kovacevic (Dillon 79), Webster, Dods, Dixon, Buaben, S Robertson, Gomis, Swanson (Conway), Cadamarteri (Shala 86), Goodwillie.
Hearts - Kello, Kucharski, Bouzid, Goncalves, Jonsson, Santana, Palazuelos, Stewart, Obua, Witteveen (Black 54), Nade (Novikovas 78).
Referee - Steve Conroy
Read the full report by Ally Stewart.
United made a dream start as they found themselves ahead after being awarded a penalty in the 4th minute. Paul Dixon found Danny Swanson in acres of space on the left and as the midfield man drove into the area his progress was halted by a clear trip from Hearts defender Eggert Jonsson. The new man took responsibility for the penalty and gave the Terrors the perfect start as his well placed kick squirmed past the hands of Marian Kello into the bottom corner of the net. There was then another loud appeal for a United penalty in the 17th minute and again Cadamarteri was involved. This time it was the former Everton man himself who was upended under the challenge of Ismail Bouzid, and although it wasn't completely clear whether the incident was inside or outside the area, there did appear to most inside the ground to have been clear contact but referee Steve Conroy waved play on. Nicky Weaver kept United ahead following good saves from first from Palazuelos then Obua before David Goodwillie and Prince Buaben got in each others way following a teasing ball across the area from Cadamarteri right on half time.
Goodwillie missed a glorious opportunity early in the 2nd half after a searching ball from Dixon cleared the defence and left Goodwillie in behind on the angle. With the goal gaping he tried to curl the ball into the top corner only to miss the target by a yard or so. Hearts were then reduced to 10 men with 51 minutes played after a second yellow card was awarded to Michael Stewart following a rash challenge from behind on Scott Robertson which was very similar to his earlier tackle on Swanson. United were not keeping the ball as long as they would like to at this stage and with Hearts also becoming frustrated tempers boiled over following a harsh challenge by Ian Black on Danny Swanson. Swanson reacted angrily to the incident with Santana also then becoming involved with the result being a booking for all three parties. After a tense spell from both sides Goodwillie almost made up for his earlier miss when he brought out the save of the match from Kello who superbly turned away the strikers close range shot following a cross from substitute Craig Conway. United then all but sealed the game in the 85th minute with a counter attack move which started deep inside their own half. Morgaro Gomis took possession and knocked the ball sideways to Buaben who put Cadamarteri clean through on Kello. As the Hearts keeper raced out to close the angle Cadamarteri showed great cool by simply passing the ball past him and into the empty net from midway inside the half. There was still time for Weaver to again show his capabilities as he expertly turned a late Jonsson header over the bar from point blank range.
Full Time Summary - It was the perfect start for United as they ran out worthy winners following an absorbing encounter. Despite some moments of panic you always felt this was a game United were going to win and in the end the Stewart sending off told its own story about the frustration Hearts felt as a result of the quality the home performance.
Man of the Match - It was a great team effort however Danny Cadamarteri gets the nod for a match winning debut performance. Apart from the goals he was also a constant menace and showed that he can go on to be a major thorn in the side of SPL defences this season. Just beaten to the award was Danny Swanson whose direct approach to the game was also greatly significant in helping United to victory.
United - Weaver, Kovacevic (Dillon 79), Webster, Dods, Dixon, Buaben, S Robertson, Gomis, Swanson (Conway), Cadamarteri (Shala 86), Goodwillie.
Hearts - Kello, Kucharski, Bouzid, Goncalves, Jonsson, Santana, Palazuelos, Stewart, Obua, Witteveen (Black 54), Nade (Novikovas 78).
Referee - Steve Conroy
Read the full report by Ally Stewart.
