DUTV
STORY OF THE MATCH | RANGERS (A)
25th November 2024
A spirited United went down to a heavy defeat at the hands of SPL leaders Celtic. Hooper and Wanyama had the hosts two up at the end of an exciting first half. The second half was slightly less of a spectacle but Hooper added his second with Scott Brown completing the scoring. United had a couple of great chances with the score at 0-0 with Gary Mackay-Steven in particular missing a glorious opportunity.
Peter Houston kept faith with the eleven that started the impressive win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park three days earlier when they visited the home of the Champions. Johnny Russell was hoping to take off from where he left on Saturday with former United man Lucas Zaluska continuing to deputise between the posts for Celtic.
First Half:
The opening ten minutes of the match were frantic and United had a great chance to open the scoring when Russell sent through Mackay-Steven who shot inches wide. That incident came a minute after Samaras had headed wide from six yards out. With five minutes on the clock Hooper shot wide after a good cross from the right from Lustig. United then went up the park and from the edge of the area Flood just missed the target. Russell then again found Mackay-Steven in a good position in the box but the United man hesitated and the ball was cleared. After eight minutes Daly charged down a Zaluska clearance but unfortunately for the United skipper the ball hit his back and deflected wide of the target. A minute later Samaras crossed into the United box and the in demand Hooper looped in a header that landed on the roof of the net. This hugely entertaining period of play ended when Douglas crossed into the hosts' penalty box that found Russell who took a swipe at the ball but Mulgrew blocked his effort and cleared. With 18 minutes gone the deadlock was broken. United had a corner on the left and from that the hosts broke up the park. Lassad fed Samaras who in turn picked out Hooper who swept the ball past the helpless Cierzniak. With 32 minutes gone United disappointingly fell further behind. Hooper and Lassad combined and just as the Tunisian was about to shoot Gunning blocked to give the hosts a corner. The resulting corner was cleared by the United defence but the ball fell at the feet of Lustig who swung in an inch perfect cross that was headed home by the unmarked Wanyama. United did all they could to hit back and within minutes of each other Daly was unlucky not to connect with a Russell cross and then Douglas shot wide from a Mackay-Steven pass. In the latter stages of the half Celtic could have gone further ahead. Firstly Kayal blasted over with only the keeper to beat and then Sean Dillon deflected a Samaras header over the bar. Just before the break United were lucky to still be in the game when firstly Wanyama hit the post and from the rebound Lassad missed the target with the goal gaping.
Second Half:
Two minutes after the restart Ledley floated a ball into the United box but this time Lassad headed over the crossbar. Ten minutes into the half Watson won a free kick for United and Douglas sent in a trademark free kick that just failed to find the head of Russell. With an hour on the clock United won a corner that was taken by Mackay-Steven. His cross found the head of Daly who saw his header parried by Zaluska and cleared by the home defence. With 20 minutes remaining Izaguirre burst down the left and sent in a low cross that found Samaras and his first time effort was excellently saved by Cierzniak. Samaras then himself tried to turn provider when he broke down the left but his cross was cleared off the six yard line by Barry Douglas. With 12 minutes remaining the game was put beyond United. It was typical of United's night as the passage of play started with Skacel having a weak shot cleared off the line by Rogne and then play broke up to the other end of the park with eventually Samaras crossing to the feet of Hooper who cleverly beat Cierzniak. Six minutes later United were punished further when Hooper was given far too much time on the edge of the box and he laid the ball into the path of Brown who shot high into the corner of the net. However United did not give up and with a couple of minutes remaining Skacel shot from 30 yards out only to see his effort flash inches wide of the target.
Summing Up: United were deservedly beaten on the night but perhaps the 4-0 score line was a bit harsh. The game perhaps could have been different had United capitalised early on with the chances they created.
Man of the match - John Rankin. He put in a shift for United and never stopped trying until the final whistle.
Celtic: Zaluska, Izaguirre, Samaras, Lassad (Stokes 79), Ledley, Mulgrew, Lustig (Matthews 70), Rogne, Kayal (Brown 61), Wanyama, Hooper
Subs : Thomson, Gershon, McGeouch, Watt
United: Cierzniak, Dillon, Douglas, Gunning, Flood, Russell, Rankin, Daly, Mackay-Steven (Skacel 69), Watson, Millar (Armstrong 50)
Subs : Banks, McLean, Ryan, Gardyne, Dow
Referee : Euan Norris
Peter Houston kept faith with the eleven that started the impressive win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park three days earlier when they visited the home of the Champions. Johnny Russell was hoping to take off from where he left on Saturday with former United man Lucas Zaluska continuing to deputise between the posts for Celtic.
First Half:
The opening ten minutes of the match were frantic and United had a great chance to open the scoring when Russell sent through Mackay-Steven who shot inches wide. That incident came a minute after Samaras had headed wide from six yards out. With five minutes on the clock Hooper shot wide after a good cross from the right from Lustig. United then went up the park and from the edge of the area Flood just missed the target. Russell then again found Mackay-Steven in a good position in the box but the United man hesitated and the ball was cleared. After eight minutes Daly charged down a Zaluska clearance but unfortunately for the United skipper the ball hit his back and deflected wide of the target. A minute later Samaras crossed into the United box and the in demand Hooper looped in a header that landed on the roof of the net. This hugely entertaining period of play ended when Douglas crossed into the hosts' penalty box that found Russell who took a swipe at the ball but Mulgrew blocked his effort and cleared. With 18 minutes gone the deadlock was broken. United had a corner on the left and from that the hosts broke up the park. Lassad fed Samaras who in turn picked out Hooper who swept the ball past the helpless Cierzniak. With 32 minutes gone United disappointingly fell further behind. Hooper and Lassad combined and just as the Tunisian was about to shoot Gunning blocked to give the hosts a corner. The resulting corner was cleared by the United defence but the ball fell at the feet of Lustig who swung in an inch perfect cross that was headed home by the unmarked Wanyama. United did all they could to hit back and within minutes of each other Daly was unlucky not to connect with a Russell cross and then Douglas shot wide from a Mackay-Steven pass. In the latter stages of the half Celtic could have gone further ahead. Firstly Kayal blasted over with only the keeper to beat and then Sean Dillon deflected a Samaras header over the bar. Just before the break United were lucky to still be in the game when firstly Wanyama hit the post and from the rebound Lassad missed the target with the goal gaping.
Second Half:
Two minutes after the restart Ledley floated a ball into the United box but this time Lassad headed over the crossbar. Ten minutes into the half Watson won a free kick for United and Douglas sent in a trademark free kick that just failed to find the head of Russell. With an hour on the clock United won a corner that was taken by Mackay-Steven. His cross found the head of Daly who saw his header parried by Zaluska and cleared by the home defence. With 20 minutes remaining Izaguirre burst down the left and sent in a low cross that found Samaras and his first time effort was excellently saved by Cierzniak. Samaras then himself tried to turn provider when he broke down the left but his cross was cleared off the six yard line by Barry Douglas. With 12 minutes remaining the game was put beyond United. It was typical of United's night as the passage of play started with Skacel having a weak shot cleared off the line by Rogne and then play broke up to the other end of the park with eventually Samaras crossing to the feet of Hooper who cleverly beat Cierzniak. Six minutes later United were punished further when Hooper was given far too much time on the edge of the box and he laid the ball into the path of Brown who shot high into the corner of the net. However United did not give up and with a couple of minutes remaining Skacel shot from 30 yards out only to see his effort flash inches wide of the target.
Summing Up: United were deservedly beaten on the night but perhaps the 4-0 score line was a bit harsh. The game perhaps could have been different had United capitalised early on with the chances they created.
Man of the match - John Rankin. He put in a shift for United and never stopped trying until the final whistle.
Celtic: Zaluska, Izaguirre, Samaras, Lassad (Stokes 79), Ledley, Mulgrew, Lustig (Matthews 70), Rogne, Kayal (Brown 61), Wanyama, Hooper
Subs : Thomson, Gershon, McGeouch, Watt
United: Cierzniak, Dillon, Douglas, Gunning, Flood, Russell, Rankin, Daly, Mackay-Steven (Skacel 69), Watson, Millar (Armstrong 50)
Subs : Banks, McLean, Ryan, Gardyne, Dow
Referee : Euan Norris
