FIXTURE INFORMATION | DUNDEE UNITED B V DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC B
26th November 2024
United secured a comfortable, well deserved 4-0 victory over St Mirren at Tannadice. Two first half goals from Ciftci and stunners from Gauld and Erskine in the second half earned United another three points at home.
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It was a much changed United side for the visit of St Mirren with Manager Jackie McNamara making four changes to the team that started against Aberdeen. Mark Wilson, John Souttar, Gary Mackay-Steven and Brian Graham all started at Tannadice. Dillon and Watson missed out completely whilst Armstrong and Goodwillie dropped to the bench. Familiar faces in the opposition line up were Steven Thompson and Lee Mair with Danny Grainger listed as a substitute.
First Half:
Within a minute of the game starting United won a free kick at the edge of the box. Ciftci took a fine right foot shot that went just wide of the target. Robertson then went down in the Saints box but despite a penalty appeal the referee waved play on. Robertson then had a chance in the box after a pass from Ciftci but the United defender shot over. United were looking in the mood with Gauld and Mackay-Steven looking dangerous. With 25 minutes on the clock United went close when a corner kick was cleared into the path of Rankin who saw his effort blocked, the ball then fell to Robertson who crossed to Ciftci who headed just over. Three minutes later Rankin won United a free kick. Souttar played a quick low pass to Gauld but the youngster dragged his shot wide. A minute later United did take a deserved lead. Rankin floated the ball into the visitors box and Ciftci was the most alert as he stole in between the defender and the goalkeeper and flicked the ball home. Ten minutes before the interval United extended their lead. Robertson floated the ball to the back post which Ciftci did well to control. He cut inside Sean Kelly who tripped him inside the box to hand United a penalty. United's summer signing Ciftci stepped up and took the spot kick himself, sending Kello the wrong way to double United's lead. Before the break Gauld curled a left foot shot that missed the target by inches and then on the stroke of half time Gauld once again went close when a run into the penalty area was halted by the St Mirren goalkeeper.
Second Half:
Two minutes after the break United had a chance to extend their lead further. Wilson found Mackay-Steven on the right and his low cross into the box was met first time by Graham but his shot was well over the crossbar. Shortly after Rankin and Gauld exchanged passes on the left. Gauld broke into the box but fired a right foot shot well wide of the target. With an hour on the clock United extended their lead in exceptional circumstances. The impressive Gauld collected the ball in the middle of the park and with no one closing him down he sent a 25 yard shot into the top corner to score the goal his play merited. It was all United now and a minute later Mackay-Steven squared the ball along the front of the goal but the ball was just out of the reach of Graham. With Graham desperate for a goal for United he was unlucky again when Kello saved well from his shot during a goalmouth scramble. With 20 minutes remaining the home support was delighted to see the return of Morgaro Gomis when he along with Chris Erskine replaced Paul Paton and the influential Gauld. Ciftci then set up Erskine but the former Partick man shot over. The visitors offered very little in attack but they had a great chance with ten minutes left. Thompson pounced on a slip by Souttar and after rounding the keeper Andrew Robertson blocked his effort and kept the scoreline at 3-0. With eight minutes left United wrapped up the three points. United broke from their own half and with Erskine in plenty space he powered in a 20 yard shot that gave the keeper no chance.
Full Time Summary: - A great win for United and they will go into the midweek cup tie full of confidence. Jackie McNamara will be delighted with the goal tally and another clean sheet.
Man of the match - a few candidates with both Rankin and Ciftci in fine form. However Gauld was full of tricks all afternoon and scored a superb goal which effectively put United out if sight.
Teams
United: Cierzniak,Wilson, Souttar, Gunning, Robertson, Paton (Gomis 70), Rankin, Gauld (Erskine 70) Mackay-Steven, Graham, Ciftci (Dow 70) Subs : McCallum, Butcher, Armstrong, Goodwillie,
St Mirren: Kello, Van Zanten (Harkins 63) Mair, Newton, Kelly, Goodwin (Naismith 63) McGregor, McGinn (Caprice 63), Thompson, McGowan, McLean Subs : Cornell, Grainger, McAusland, Stephane
Referee : I Brines
Attendance : 6331
Story continues below Gallery.
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
It was a much changed United side for the visit of St Mirren with Manager Jackie McNamara making four changes to the team that started against Aberdeen. Mark Wilson, John Souttar, Gary Mackay-Steven and Brian Graham all started at Tannadice. Dillon and Watson missed out completely whilst Armstrong and Goodwillie dropped to the bench. Familiar faces in the opposition line up were Steven Thompson and Lee Mair with Danny Grainger listed as a substitute.
First Half:
Within a minute of the game starting United won a free kick at the edge of the box. Ciftci took a fine right foot shot that went just wide of the target. Robertson then went down in the Saints box but despite a penalty appeal the referee waved play on. Robertson then had a chance in the box after a pass from Ciftci but the United defender shot over. United were looking in the mood with Gauld and Mackay-Steven looking dangerous. With 25 minutes on the clock United went close when a corner kick was cleared into the path of Rankin who saw his effort blocked, the ball then fell to Robertson who crossed to Ciftci who headed just over. Three minutes later Rankin won United a free kick. Souttar played a quick low pass to Gauld but the youngster dragged his shot wide. A minute later United did take a deserved lead. Rankin floated the ball into the visitors box and Ciftci was the most alert as he stole in between the defender and the goalkeeper and flicked the ball home. Ten minutes before the interval United extended their lead. Robertson floated the ball to the back post which Ciftci did well to control. He cut inside Sean Kelly who tripped him inside the box to hand United a penalty. United's summer signing Ciftci stepped up and took the spot kick himself, sending Kello the wrong way to double United's lead. Before the break Gauld curled a left foot shot that missed the target by inches and then on the stroke of half time Gauld once again went close when a run into the penalty area was halted by the St Mirren goalkeeper.
Second Half:
Two minutes after the break United had a chance to extend their lead further. Wilson found Mackay-Steven on the right and his low cross into the box was met first time by Graham but his shot was well over the crossbar. Shortly after Rankin and Gauld exchanged passes on the left. Gauld broke into the box but fired a right foot shot well wide of the target. With an hour on the clock United extended their lead in exceptional circumstances. The impressive Gauld collected the ball in the middle of the park and with no one closing him down he sent a 25 yard shot into the top corner to score the goal his play merited. It was all United now and a minute later Mackay-Steven squared the ball along the front of the goal but the ball was just out of the reach of Graham. With Graham desperate for a goal for United he was unlucky again when Kello saved well from his shot during a goalmouth scramble. With 20 minutes remaining the home support was delighted to see the return of Morgaro Gomis when he along with Chris Erskine replaced Paul Paton and the influential Gauld. Ciftci then set up Erskine but the former Partick man shot over. The visitors offered very little in attack but they had a great chance with ten minutes left. Thompson pounced on a slip by Souttar and after rounding the keeper Andrew Robertson blocked his effort and kept the scoreline at 3-0. With eight minutes left United wrapped up the three points. United broke from their own half and with Erskine in plenty space he powered in a 20 yard shot that gave the keeper no chance.
Full Time Summary: - A great win for United and they will go into the midweek cup tie full of confidence. Jackie McNamara will be delighted with the goal tally and another clean sheet.
Man of the match - a few candidates with both Rankin and Ciftci in fine form. However Gauld was full of tricks all afternoon and scored a superb goal which effectively put United out if sight.
Teams
United: Cierzniak,Wilson, Souttar, Gunning, Robertson, Paton (Gomis 70), Rankin, Gauld (Erskine 70) Mackay-Steven, Graham, Ciftci (Dow 70) Subs : McCallum, Butcher, Armstrong, Goodwillie,
St Mirren: Kello, Van Zanten (Harkins 63) Mair, Newton, Kelly, Goodwin (Naismith 63) McGregor, McGinn (Caprice 63), Thompson, McGowan, McLean Subs : Cornell, Grainger, McAusland, Stephane
Referee : I Brines
Attendance : 6331
