DUTV
STORY OF THE MATCH | RANGERS (A)
25th November 2024
United showed their SPL superiority with a comfortable 3-0 win over Third Division Rangers. A Daly header and a double from Russell was the difference between the sides. To complete a miserable day for the visitors they finished with nine men with both Black and Naismith red carded.
Jackie McNamara took over the reigns at Tannadice and named an unchanged starting eleven for the visit of Rangers. With only two days to prepare it was perhaps unsurprising to see the same eleven that lined up against Ross County. Rangers started with a familiar face, Fran Sandaza leading the line for the visitors.
First Half:
The new Manager's first game got off to a dream start when, with only 16 seconds on the clock, Gunning cleared from the back, Daly flicked on and Russell fired the ball low past Alexander. Within a minute Rangers almost equalised but Templeton pulled his shot just wide of the target. United were the superior side and, with a quarter of an hour on the clock, Daly again flicked to Russell but this time the United hit-man's shot came back off the crossbar. Ten minutes later Sandaza failed to connect properly with a Wallace cross and the ball went wide of target. However ten minutes before the break United deservedly doubled their lead. After Mackay-Steven was fouled, Flood floated a free kick into the penalty box and Daly beat the offside trap and headed past a stranded Alexander.
Second Half:
With United well in control the second half started slowly with Rangers looking to find a way back into the match. With 53 minutes gone Templeton did well to turn the United defence but his shot was well wide. Fifteen minutes later Black then went very close with a stinging shot that just missed the target and then shortly after Templeton tested Cierzniak with a low shot. It was United though who always looked the more likely to increase their lead. The impressive Armstrong had a fine shot that narrowly missed the target and then Mackay-Steven caused havoc on the right but somehow Cribari managed to clear his cross. With just over ten minutes remaining United all but secured their place in the next round of the William Hill Scottish Cup. Once again Daly set up Russell and the United forward capped off a magnificent display by coolly slotting the ball past Alexander. The game became ugly in the dying minutes when first of all Naismith was given a straight red for a challenge on Flood and then Ian Black was given his marching orders after a second booking for a bad tackle on Rankin.
Summing Up: A great afternoon for United who had all the pressure on their shoulders being the SPL club. They dominated all over the park and Jackie McNamara will be a happy man after his first game in charge.
Man of the Match - Johnny Russell was different class all afternoon and was a constant menace to the Rangers defence. United fans must be delighted that he remained at the club beyond the transfer window and he combined brilliantly with fellow striker Jon Daly on a great afternoon for The Terrors.
Teams;
United: Cierzniak, Watson, Gunning, Dillon, Douglas, Flood, Rankin, Armstrong (Ryan 67), Mackay-Steven (Gardyne 67), Russell, Daly
Subs : Banks, Millar, McLean
Rangers: Alexander, Faure, Cribari, Perry (Hegarty 41), Wallace, Hutton, Little, Black, Sandaza (Naismith 46), Shiels (McKay 72), Templeton
Subs : Gallacher, Crawford
Referee : Euan Norris
Attendance : 9564
Jackie McNamara took over the reigns at Tannadice and named an unchanged starting eleven for the visit of Rangers. With only two days to prepare it was perhaps unsurprising to see the same eleven that lined up against Ross County. Rangers started with a familiar face, Fran Sandaza leading the line for the visitors.
First Half:
The new Manager's first game got off to a dream start when, with only 16 seconds on the clock, Gunning cleared from the back, Daly flicked on and Russell fired the ball low past Alexander. Within a minute Rangers almost equalised but Templeton pulled his shot just wide of the target. United were the superior side and, with a quarter of an hour on the clock, Daly again flicked to Russell but this time the United hit-man's shot came back off the crossbar. Ten minutes later Sandaza failed to connect properly with a Wallace cross and the ball went wide of target. However ten minutes before the break United deservedly doubled their lead. After Mackay-Steven was fouled, Flood floated a free kick into the penalty box and Daly beat the offside trap and headed past a stranded Alexander.
Second Half:
With United well in control the second half started slowly with Rangers looking to find a way back into the match. With 53 minutes gone Templeton did well to turn the United defence but his shot was well wide. Fifteen minutes later Black then went very close with a stinging shot that just missed the target and then shortly after Templeton tested Cierzniak with a low shot. It was United though who always looked the more likely to increase their lead. The impressive Armstrong had a fine shot that narrowly missed the target and then Mackay-Steven caused havoc on the right but somehow Cribari managed to clear his cross. With just over ten minutes remaining United all but secured their place in the next round of the William Hill Scottish Cup. Once again Daly set up Russell and the United forward capped off a magnificent display by coolly slotting the ball past Alexander. The game became ugly in the dying minutes when first of all Naismith was given a straight red for a challenge on Flood and then Ian Black was given his marching orders after a second booking for a bad tackle on Rankin.
Summing Up: A great afternoon for United who had all the pressure on their shoulders being the SPL club. They dominated all over the park and Jackie McNamara will be a happy man after his first game in charge.
Man of the Match - Johnny Russell was different class all afternoon and was a constant menace to the Rangers defence. United fans must be delighted that he remained at the club beyond the transfer window and he combined brilliantly with fellow striker Jon Daly on a great afternoon for The Terrors.
Teams;
United: Cierzniak, Watson, Gunning, Dillon, Douglas, Flood, Rankin, Armstrong (Ryan 67), Mackay-Steven (Gardyne 67), Russell, Daly
Subs : Banks, Millar, McLean
Rangers: Alexander, Faure, Cribari, Perry (Hegarty 41), Wallace, Hutton, Little, Black, Sandaza (Naismith 46), Shiels (McKay 72), Templeton
Subs : Gallacher, Crawford
Referee : Euan Norris
Attendance : 9564
