DUTV
STORY OF THE MATCH | RANGERS (A)
25th November 2024
In a remarkably entertaining game, United twice fought back from two goals down to secure a deserved point courtesy of an injury time header from Jon Daly. Cillian Sheridan had scored twice in the first half, while Gary Mackay-Steven and Daly again for United scored after the break as they launched a rousing comeback, this in spite of a Paul Heffernan goal which made it 3-1 to Kilmarnock early in the second half which, at the time, seemed as though it could have knocked the stuffing out of this spirited home side.
The visitors threatened twice in the opening minutes, first when a speculative curling shot from Borja Perez dropped just over Cierzniak's goal and then it was Perez again who had an opening, this time after a mix up in the home defence, but fortunately for the Tangerines he snatched at the ball and ballooned over from 7 yards. If United were looking to make a quick start they suffered a massive blow when after 8 minutes they fell behind. After a free kick had been conceded 25 yards out, up stepped in form Killie striker Cillian Sheridan who curled an unstoppable left foot shot high into the corner of the net beyond Cierzniak. Johnny Russell blasted over from 5 yards out after Mackay-Steven had drilled across the area having won back possession, before the hosts upped the pressure and a flurry of corners followed. In the 20th minute Daly looked ready to head home at the back post if it wasn't for a last ditch deflection off a Kilmarnock head then Bell was equal to Daly's downward header after 24 minutes following a cross from McLean.
Although the hosts had reacted well to going a goal behind they were to suffer a further blow with half an hour gone when the Ayrshire side doubled their lead. Gary Harkins broke from midfield and fed the ball to Sheridan who calmly dinked the ball over Cierzniak to make it 2-0. Good inter play down the left between Rankin, Armstrong and Douglas ended with the latter playing a dangerous ball into the box which evaded everyone. McLean picked up on the right flank and floated a cross back in which broke to Mackay-Steven who got under the shot as he fired high over from 15 yards out. With 39 minutes played the Tangerines ought to have been right back in the game as Bell saved miraculously from Mackay-Steven from point blank range, after Russell had done very well to chase a lost cause and lift the ball back for Daly to head into the winger's path.
If there was any hope for the Terrors they needed an immediate reaction after half time and they were to get just that as Mackay-Steven halved the deficit 3 minutes after the break. Stuart Armstrong had already shot over the bar before Douglas showed tremendous skill to break forward from defence and play in the United winger. Mackay-Steven then drove at the heart of the Killie defence, beating all in his way, before steering a powerful right foot drive into the top corner beyond Bell. Douglas again was at the heart of things as he set up Armstrong inside the box only for Bell to block the youngster's effort with his legs. Just as the home side were looking like grabbing an equaliser, they suffered another blow on 52 minutes as they again fell two goals behind. Perez headed the ball into the United box and as Cierzniak came out he was beaten to the ball by Paul Heffernan who nodded into the empty net. United were in no mood to give up however and in a game that was fast becoming a classic they again closed to within a goal of the visitors. This time a cross from the left saw the slightest touch off Russell in the 6 yard box but Daly was lying in wait to head the ball into the bottom corner right behind him to put the comeback firmly back on track again. There was a sequence of meaty challenges which resulted in bookings for both sides before there were appeals for a United penalty as Russell drilled the ball into the box, but a corner was rightly awarded instead. Armstrong then stung the palms of Bell with a fierce long range drive after 64 minutes before Mackay-Steven saw his cut back for substitute Rudi Skacel just blocked as the pressure again mounted on the Killie goal. There was constant probing from the Terrors, especially from Douglas, Russell and Mackay-Steven, but all too often a last ditch block or a deflection was thwarting United. A warning that another goal for the visitors would all but kill the game off in the late stages was given after 78 minutes when Sheridan again slotted into the net, this time from close range, but the offside flag had already been raised. It was then continued home pressure and inside the last 5 minutes Armstrong broke past a defender and drilled a low and inviting ball across goal that had no takers, but as the game reached injury time the goal the hosts undoubtedly deserved finally arrived. Barry Douglas, who had been outstanding, delivered yet another pin point cross from the left flank which Gunning directed into the goalmouth for Daly to nod home his second of the night, sending the home fans into raptures. They continued to push in the remaining moments but couldn't find the winner that would have further capped what was a remarkable evening.
Full Time Summary: It was one of the most entertaining games of football seen at Tannadice of late and what was particularly notable was that in spite of twice finding themselves two goals down, the Tangerines fought on and in the end the point which was secured could possibly have ended up being more although visitors Kilmarnock, who had led for the majority of the game, will rightly feel that they were also deserving of their point. In the end both sides deserve immense credit for the way they attacked and the fact honours ended even was probably a fair outcome.
Man of the Match - There were a few who stood out for United, with special praise due to Barry Douglas, but as is usually the case the opposition had no answer to the direct running and trickery of Gary Mackay Steven who capped a fine return to the starting side with the goal of the night thrown into the bargain.
United - Cierzniak, Dillon, Douglas, Gunning, Flood, Russell, Rankin (Skacel 56), Daly (C), Mackay-Steven, Watson, Armstrong. Subs not used - Banks, McLean, Ryan, Millar, Gardyne.
Kilmarnock - Bell, Tesselaar, Fowler, O'Leary, Nelson, Kelly, Harkins, Sheridan, Heffernan, Perez (Johnson 65), Pascuali. Subs not used - Letheren, Dayton, McKeown, Taylor, O'Hara, Sissoko.
Referee - Alan Muir
Attendance - 6287
The visitors threatened twice in the opening minutes, first when a speculative curling shot from Borja Perez dropped just over Cierzniak's goal and then it was Perez again who had an opening, this time after a mix up in the home defence, but fortunately for the Tangerines he snatched at the ball and ballooned over from 7 yards. If United were looking to make a quick start they suffered a massive blow when after 8 minutes they fell behind. After a free kick had been conceded 25 yards out, up stepped in form Killie striker Cillian Sheridan who curled an unstoppable left foot shot high into the corner of the net beyond Cierzniak. Johnny Russell blasted over from 5 yards out after Mackay-Steven had drilled across the area having won back possession, before the hosts upped the pressure and a flurry of corners followed. In the 20th minute Daly looked ready to head home at the back post if it wasn't for a last ditch deflection off a Kilmarnock head then Bell was equal to Daly's downward header after 24 minutes following a cross from McLean.
Although the hosts had reacted well to going a goal behind they were to suffer a further blow with half an hour gone when the Ayrshire side doubled their lead. Gary Harkins broke from midfield and fed the ball to Sheridan who calmly dinked the ball over Cierzniak to make it 2-0. Good inter play down the left between Rankin, Armstrong and Douglas ended with the latter playing a dangerous ball into the box which evaded everyone. McLean picked up on the right flank and floated a cross back in which broke to Mackay-Steven who got under the shot as he fired high over from 15 yards out. With 39 minutes played the Tangerines ought to have been right back in the game as Bell saved miraculously from Mackay-Steven from point blank range, after Russell had done very well to chase a lost cause and lift the ball back for Daly to head into the winger's path.
If there was any hope for the Terrors they needed an immediate reaction after half time and they were to get just that as Mackay-Steven halved the deficit 3 minutes after the break. Stuart Armstrong had already shot over the bar before Douglas showed tremendous skill to break forward from defence and play in the United winger. Mackay-Steven then drove at the heart of the Killie defence, beating all in his way, before steering a powerful right foot drive into the top corner beyond Bell. Douglas again was at the heart of things as he set up Armstrong inside the box only for Bell to block the youngster's effort with his legs. Just as the home side were looking like grabbing an equaliser, they suffered another blow on 52 minutes as they again fell two goals behind. Perez headed the ball into the United box and as Cierzniak came out he was beaten to the ball by Paul Heffernan who nodded into the empty net. United were in no mood to give up however and in a game that was fast becoming a classic they again closed to within a goal of the visitors. This time a cross from the left saw the slightest touch off Russell in the 6 yard box but Daly was lying in wait to head the ball into the bottom corner right behind him to put the comeback firmly back on track again. There was a sequence of meaty challenges which resulted in bookings for both sides before there were appeals for a United penalty as Russell drilled the ball into the box, but a corner was rightly awarded instead. Armstrong then stung the palms of Bell with a fierce long range drive after 64 minutes before Mackay-Steven saw his cut back for substitute Rudi Skacel just blocked as the pressure again mounted on the Killie goal. There was constant probing from the Terrors, especially from Douglas, Russell and Mackay-Steven, but all too often a last ditch block or a deflection was thwarting United. A warning that another goal for the visitors would all but kill the game off in the late stages was given after 78 minutes when Sheridan again slotted into the net, this time from close range, but the offside flag had already been raised. It was then continued home pressure and inside the last 5 minutes Armstrong broke past a defender and drilled a low and inviting ball across goal that had no takers, but as the game reached injury time the goal the hosts undoubtedly deserved finally arrived. Barry Douglas, who had been outstanding, delivered yet another pin point cross from the left flank which Gunning directed into the goalmouth for Daly to nod home his second of the night, sending the home fans into raptures. They continued to push in the remaining moments but couldn't find the winner that would have further capped what was a remarkable evening.
Full Time Summary: It was one of the most entertaining games of football seen at Tannadice of late and what was particularly notable was that in spite of twice finding themselves two goals down, the Tangerines fought on and in the end the point which was secured could possibly have ended up being more although visitors Kilmarnock, who had led for the majority of the game, will rightly feel that they were also deserving of their point. In the end both sides deserve immense credit for the way they attacked and the fact honours ended even was probably a fair outcome.
Man of the Match - There were a few who stood out for United, with special praise due to Barry Douglas, but as is usually the case the opposition had no answer to the direct running and trickery of Gary Mackay Steven who capped a fine return to the starting side with the goal of the night thrown into the bargain.
United - Cierzniak, Dillon, Douglas, Gunning, Flood, Russell, Rankin (Skacel 56), Daly (C), Mackay-Steven, Watson, Armstrong. Subs not used - Banks, McLean, Ryan, Millar, Gardyne.
Kilmarnock - Bell, Tesselaar, Fowler, O'Leary, Nelson, Kelly, Harkins, Sheridan, Heffernan, Perez (Johnson 65), Pascuali. Subs not used - Letheren, Dayton, McKeown, Taylor, O'Hara, Sissoko.
Referee - Alan Muir
Attendance - 6287
