DUTV
STORY OF THE MATCH | RANGERS (A)
25th November 2024
United and Hibs went into today's game with both sides in need of a victory. United welcomed Danny Swanson back into his squad.
The match kicked off in bright autumn sunshine. United were first to threaten when Goodwillie went through inside the first minute but the ball was cleared. The first real chance fell to Hibs' Lewis Stevenson who shot wide when a Hart cross wasn't cleared.
Good work by Gomis led to Goodwillie being played in but he was again thwarted before he could shoot or play in Gomis. Rankin shot over from distance after United gave the ball away and he was to save his team when United's first corner was headed goalwards by Daly but the Hibs player was on the line to clear with Brown well beaten.
Neither team was dominating; Riordan had a speculative shot from distance that Pernis saved easily. Garry Kenneth drove forward to shoot from distance. A Douglas free kick from wide caused confusion in the Hibs defence but the danger was cleared. Jon Daly headed over from 12 yards as United tried to take the lead and Morgaro Gomis shot over as United looked to take a hold on the game.
Barry Douglas was fortunate not to be booked for an 'enthusiastic' challenge on Miller as he attempted to retain control of the ball. Riordan showed willingness to shoot at goal but as yet none of his efforts had really troubled Pernis. Good play by Gomis saw Barry Douglas have an opportunity to warm Brown's gloves with a shot and Goodwillie was thwarted by the Hibs keeper before he managed to hold a downward header from Daly. Garry Kenneth headed over as chances came thick and fast at the Hibs goalmouth.
Half time came with neither team having really tested the opposition goalkeeper and both sides had chances from which they probably should have scored so all square was probably fair.
The second half saw Goodwillie involved in the first minute again, the striker being clattered on the head by Hanlon. Barry Douglas was the first player to have his name taken after a foul on Galbraith and the full back tested the referee minutes later with another clumsy challenge on the striker. Galbraith took matters into his own hands and he soon added his name to the referee's collection for getting his own back.
Goodwillie had a great chance to put United ahead when he ran on to a Daly flick but the in-form striker only found the side netting. The game flowed from end to end and Stevenson had a chance with a header but failed to make proper connection with the cross.
Galbraith went down in the box looking for a penalty when perhaps a better option would have been to shoot. Prince Buaben needed treatment after a heavy challenge and the resulting free kick saw Brown saving comfortably from Douglas. Tenacity from Goodwillie saw him win the ball but Buaben's attempt to play Daly in went astray.
Buaben was then penalised as Gailbraith went clear in the box and there was little doubt that the referee's decision to award a penalty was correct. Dusan Pernis dived to his left to brilliantly save Rankin's effort, the Hibs striker making a hash of converting the rebound.
A loud cheer went up when Danny Swanson was called back to the dug out and he replaced Prince Buaben in the midfield. The midfielder was making his first appearance in tangerine since late August.
Jon Daly was replaced by Danny Cadamarteri as Peter Houston showed willingness to push on and grab the victory.
Both sides continued to probe each other but without any real conviction - not losing seemed to be more important than securing victory. Enter The Swan - he showed how much he's been missed - with five minutes to go he clipped an exquisite ball through to Goodwillie and there was no way he was going to miss. He poked the ball past the advancing goalkeeper and fired it in to the empty net. His work done - Swanson was replaced by Dixon as time ran out - hopefully as a precaution to prevent further injury to the player.
United fans left the ground happy - a hard fought game rewarded them with three points when it could so easily have gone against them. This could be the start of the rest of our season.
Teams:
United:Pernis, Dillon, Kenneth, Watson, Douglas, S Robertson, D Robertson, Buaben, Gomis, Daly Goodwillie.
Substitutes: Banks, Dixon, Cadamarteri, Swanson, Shala, Russell, Dow.
Hibs: Brown, Hart, Grounds, De Graaf, Riordan, Rankin, Stevenson, Hanlon, Galbraith, Bamba, Miller.
Substitutes Smith McBride Dickoh Hogg Currie Trakys Murray
Att: 7377
Ref: Stephen Finnie
The match kicked off in bright autumn sunshine. United were first to threaten when Goodwillie went through inside the first minute but the ball was cleared. The first real chance fell to Hibs' Lewis Stevenson who shot wide when a Hart cross wasn't cleared.
Good work by Gomis led to Goodwillie being played in but he was again thwarted before he could shoot or play in Gomis. Rankin shot over from distance after United gave the ball away and he was to save his team when United's first corner was headed goalwards by Daly but the Hibs player was on the line to clear with Brown well beaten.
Neither team was dominating; Riordan had a speculative shot from distance that Pernis saved easily. Garry Kenneth drove forward to shoot from distance. A Douglas free kick from wide caused confusion in the Hibs defence but the danger was cleared. Jon Daly headed over from 12 yards as United tried to take the lead and Morgaro Gomis shot over as United looked to take a hold on the game.
Barry Douglas was fortunate not to be booked for an 'enthusiastic' challenge on Miller as he attempted to retain control of the ball. Riordan showed willingness to shoot at goal but as yet none of his efforts had really troubled Pernis. Good play by Gomis saw Barry Douglas have an opportunity to warm Brown's gloves with a shot and Goodwillie was thwarted by the Hibs keeper before he managed to hold a downward header from Daly. Garry Kenneth headed over as chances came thick and fast at the Hibs goalmouth.
Half time came with neither team having really tested the opposition goalkeeper and both sides had chances from which they probably should have scored so all square was probably fair.
The second half saw Goodwillie involved in the first minute again, the striker being clattered on the head by Hanlon. Barry Douglas was the first player to have his name taken after a foul on Galbraith and the full back tested the referee minutes later with another clumsy challenge on the striker. Galbraith took matters into his own hands and he soon added his name to the referee's collection for getting his own back.
Goodwillie had a great chance to put United ahead when he ran on to a Daly flick but the in-form striker only found the side netting. The game flowed from end to end and Stevenson had a chance with a header but failed to make proper connection with the cross.
Galbraith went down in the box looking for a penalty when perhaps a better option would have been to shoot. Prince Buaben needed treatment after a heavy challenge and the resulting free kick saw Brown saving comfortably from Douglas. Tenacity from Goodwillie saw him win the ball but Buaben's attempt to play Daly in went astray.
Buaben was then penalised as Gailbraith went clear in the box and there was little doubt that the referee's decision to award a penalty was correct. Dusan Pernis dived to his left to brilliantly save Rankin's effort, the Hibs striker making a hash of converting the rebound.
A loud cheer went up when Danny Swanson was called back to the dug out and he replaced Prince Buaben in the midfield. The midfielder was making his first appearance in tangerine since late August.
Jon Daly was replaced by Danny Cadamarteri as Peter Houston showed willingness to push on and grab the victory.
Both sides continued to probe each other but without any real conviction - not losing seemed to be more important than securing victory. Enter The Swan - he showed how much he's been missed - with five minutes to go he clipped an exquisite ball through to Goodwillie and there was no way he was going to miss. He poked the ball past the advancing goalkeeper and fired it in to the empty net. His work done - Swanson was replaced by Dixon as time ran out - hopefully as a precaution to prevent further injury to the player.
United fans left the ground happy - a hard fought game rewarded them with three points when it could so easily have gone against them. This could be the start of the rest of our season.
Teams:
United:Pernis, Dillon, Kenneth, Watson, Douglas, S Robertson, D Robertson, Buaben, Gomis, Daly Goodwillie.
Substitutes: Banks, Dixon, Cadamarteri, Swanson, Shala, Russell, Dow.
Hibs: Brown, Hart, Grounds, De Graaf, Riordan, Rankin, Stevenson, Hanlon, Galbraith, Bamba, Miller.
Substitutes Smith McBride Dickoh Hogg Currie Trakys Murray
Att: 7377
Ref: Stephen Finnie
