DUTV
STORY OF THE MATCH | RANGERS (A)
25th November 2024
Gavin Gunning had United ahead in the first minute with a powerful header only for that to be cancelled out when Brian McLean turned the ball into his own net in the first minute of the second half. Both sides had chances to win the game but in the end they had to settle for a share of the spoils.
Peter Houston kept faith with the eleven that started the narrow defeat to Hearts on Sunday. Former United man David McCracken lined up for St Johnstone for the midday Boxing Day derby.
First Half
United got off to the best possible start when with only a minute on the clock Gunning headed home a Douglas cross after Cregg had fouled Russell. Saints came back into the game and twice in the space of a minute Cierzniak saved well from efforts from Cregg. Gunning then should have put United further ahead but he just failed to connect with a Douglas cross. The play was flowing from end to end and with a quarter of an hour on the clock Tade laid off to Maclean but Cierzniak saved well down to his right hand side. Five minutes later Armstrong tested Mannus with a long distance shot that the keeper managed to gather at the second time of asking. United's keeper was in fine form and he made his best save of the half on the 25 minute mark when he stopped a close range header from Liam Craig. United again went close just after the half hour mark. Skacel collected the ball in the area and his low shot deflected past Mannus and somehow Gunning failed to convert at the back post. Shortly before the break McKay and Maclean combined for the visitors but Watson did well to block for United and give the hosts a narrow half time lead.
Second Half
Within a minute of the restart the visitors were back on level terms. Steven Maclean broke down the right and played a threatening pass into the United box and the ball came of United's Brian McLean and deflected into his own net. A minute later Saints created another good chance when Pawlett crossed from the right and found Craig who saw a powerful header well saved by Cierzniak. United then went close when Skacel combined with Russell who saw his shot deflected over by Wright. Watson then teed up United's Rankin and the United midfielder shot from distance and just missed the target. With 20 minutes left on the clock Saints almost took the lead. A fine one two involving Davidson and Tade saw the Scotland midfielder burst into the United box and flick a shot over the advancing Cierzniak only for the ball to just scrape past the post. With 13 minutes remaining United twice went close when a Russell effort was well blocked by McCracken and from the resulting corner a Gunning header was cleared off the line by Cregg. Five minutes later substitute Mark Millar was denied when his fine shot was tipped wide by Mannus. In the dying minutes Tade managed to get in behind the United defence but with only the keeper to beat Cierzniak pulled off another fine save.
Summing Up - Another frustrating result for United after taking an early lead. Both sides did have their chances to win the game and in the end a draw was about right.
Man of the Match - Although United did offer a lot in an attacking sense they were kept in the game by a fine showing from Radoslaw Cierzniak who pulled off a string of fine saves.
Teams:
United: Cierzniak, Douglas, McLean, Gunning, Flood, Russell, Rankin, Daly, Watson (Gardyne 65), Armstrong (Ryan 73), Skacel (Millar 73)
Subs not used: Banks, Dow, Lacny, Petrie
St Johnstone: Mannus, McKay, McCracken, Wright, Scobbie, Pawlett (Vine 75), Cregg, Davidson, Craig, Maclean, Tade
Subs not used : Tuffy, Hasselbank, Miller, Moon, Caddis, Steeves
Referee : Calum Murray
Attendance : 7063
Peter Houston kept faith with the eleven that started the narrow defeat to Hearts on Sunday. Former United man David McCracken lined up for St Johnstone for the midday Boxing Day derby.
First Half
United got off to the best possible start when with only a minute on the clock Gunning headed home a Douglas cross after Cregg had fouled Russell. Saints came back into the game and twice in the space of a minute Cierzniak saved well from efforts from Cregg. Gunning then should have put United further ahead but he just failed to connect with a Douglas cross. The play was flowing from end to end and with a quarter of an hour on the clock Tade laid off to Maclean but Cierzniak saved well down to his right hand side. Five minutes later Armstrong tested Mannus with a long distance shot that the keeper managed to gather at the second time of asking. United's keeper was in fine form and he made his best save of the half on the 25 minute mark when he stopped a close range header from Liam Craig. United again went close just after the half hour mark. Skacel collected the ball in the area and his low shot deflected past Mannus and somehow Gunning failed to convert at the back post. Shortly before the break McKay and Maclean combined for the visitors but Watson did well to block for United and give the hosts a narrow half time lead.
Second Half
Within a minute of the restart the visitors were back on level terms. Steven Maclean broke down the right and played a threatening pass into the United box and the ball came of United's Brian McLean and deflected into his own net. A minute later Saints created another good chance when Pawlett crossed from the right and found Craig who saw a powerful header well saved by Cierzniak. United then went close when Skacel combined with Russell who saw his shot deflected over by Wright. Watson then teed up United's Rankin and the United midfielder shot from distance and just missed the target. With 20 minutes left on the clock Saints almost took the lead. A fine one two involving Davidson and Tade saw the Scotland midfielder burst into the United box and flick a shot over the advancing Cierzniak only for the ball to just scrape past the post. With 13 minutes remaining United twice went close when a Russell effort was well blocked by McCracken and from the resulting corner a Gunning header was cleared off the line by Cregg. Five minutes later substitute Mark Millar was denied when his fine shot was tipped wide by Mannus. In the dying minutes Tade managed to get in behind the United defence but with only the keeper to beat Cierzniak pulled off another fine save.
Summing Up - Another frustrating result for United after taking an early lead. Both sides did have their chances to win the game and in the end a draw was about right.
Man of the Match - Although United did offer a lot in an attacking sense they were kept in the game by a fine showing from Radoslaw Cierzniak who pulled off a string of fine saves.
Teams:
United: Cierzniak, Douglas, McLean, Gunning, Flood, Russell, Rankin, Daly, Watson (Gardyne 65), Armstrong (Ryan 73), Skacel (Millar 73)
Subs not used: Banks, Dow, Lacny, Petrie
St Johnstone: Mannus, McKay, McCracken, Wright, Scobbie, Pawlett (Vine 75), Cregg, Davidson, Craig, Maclean, Tade
Subs not used : Tuffy, Hasselbank, Miller, Moon, Caddis, Steeves
Referee : Calum Murray
Attendance : 7063
