FIXTURE INFORMATION | DUNDEE UNITED B V DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC B
26th November 2024
All good things come to an end. After six straight wins United and a large travelling support went to Paisley full of hope of continuing that great run. However after a hard fought match United went down 4-1 to a strong and physical St Mirren team with two goals from Thompson and one each for McGinn and Naismith, with United's reply scored by Ciftci. To complete a disappointing day for United, Keith Watson was shown a straight red card after a lunging tackle on Kelly.
First Half:
On 13 minutes a cross from the left was nodded down by Newton and Thompson was given time to control, turn and shoot past Cierzniak to put St Mirren 1-0 up. A minute later United could have equalised when a Watson cross was met by Armstrong six yards out but his header was saved by Kello at point blank range.
As the game ebbed and flowed United had a claim for a penalty waved away when Gauld was nudged to the ground in the penalty area.
Then on 26 minutes, Mackay-Steven did well on the right before cutting back to Ciftci, but his shot was straight at Kello.
With St Mirren battling for everything, they took a 2-0 lead when the ball broke to McGinn after a Gunning slip in the penalty area. He worked space before shooting past Cierzniak.
One minute later it was 2-1 when Rankin put Ciftci through on goal; the latter managed to reach the ball before the advancing Kello and prod into the net with the St Mirren defence unable to stop it going over the line.
Just before the break, following an earlier booking and several fouls the St Mirren captain Jim Goodwin was tactically substituted by Danny Lennon.
Second Half:
United started the second half strongly but found it difficult to work openings in the St Mirren defence, but almost equalised in 55 minutes when a blistering drive from John Rankin was tipped over the bar one handed by Kello.
McGinn was booked for a dangerous tackle on Paton, then on 60 minutes United almost got the breakthrough their early second half play deserved. A beautiful through ball from Armstrong was collected by Gary Mackay-Steven who tried to chip the keeper.
Unfortunately for United, Kello got his finger tips to the ball to prevent a certain goal. The ball broke back to Mackay Steven to cross but there were no takers.
From 69 minutes, there were three pivotal points. First, a deep cross was met by Ciftci with a controlled volley but Kello again pulled off a great save to prevent the equaliser. Then Keith Watson was given a straight red card after lunging into a tackle with McGinn. Within a minute of the sending off, St Mirren broke and scored when Naismith slotted the third and game clinching goal.
To United's credit, they continued to battle and drive forward when possible. On 84 minutes another Rankin 30 yard shot was saved by Kello, then a spectacular overhead effort from Graham flew just over the bar. On 87 minutes, fantastic effort from Robertson deserved a goal. He controlled the ball in the penalty area, turned and lobbed over the keeper but it fell just wide of the far post.
With United pressing and down to 10 men, St Mirren broke and after a good passing move finished off the scoring with a fourth goal. The ball broke to Thompson at the back post and he rifled past Cierzniak.
United continued to battle to the end with the score-line not really reflecting the even nature of the game. They can count themselves unfortunate not to have taken something from the game on a day when St Mirren keeper Marian Kello had several outstanding saves.
However, St Mirren must also be given credit for taking their chances at pivotal times to secure their first win in four matches.
Man of the Match: On a day when St Mirren's physical approach prevented United's flair players being at their best, John Rankin played very well and was unfortunate not to get on the score-sheet with two excellent long range drives which were well saved by Kello.
St Mirren: Kello, Naismith, McAusland, Newton, Kelly (Harkins), Goodwin (Van Zanten), McGregor, McGinn,Thompson, McGowan, McLean (Grainger)
Subs: Dilo, Reilly, Brady, Mair.
Dundee United: Cierzniak, Watson, Souttar, Gunning, Robertson, Paton, Rankin, Mackay-Steven, Gauld, (Goodwillie), Armstrong (Graham), Ciftci
Subs: McCallum, Dillon, Gomis, Dow, Erskine.
Referee B Madden
Att 4780
First Half:
On 13 minutes a cross from the left was nodded down by Newton and Thompson was given time to control, turn and shoot past Cierzniak to put St Mirren 1-0 up. A minute later United could have equalised when a Watson cross was met by Armstrong six yards out but his header was saved by Kello at point blank range.
As the game ebbed and flowed United had a claim for a penalty waved away when Gauld was nudged to the ground in the penalty area.
Then on 26 minutes, Mackay-Steven did well on the right before cutting back to Ciftci, but his shot was straight at Kello.
With St Mirren battling for everything, they took a 2-0 lead when the ball broke to McGinn after a Gunning slip in the penalty area. He worked space before shooting past Cierzniak.
One minute later it was 2-1 when Rankin put Ciftci through on goal; the latter managed to reach the ball before the advancing Kello and prod into the net with the St Mirren defence unable to stop it going over the line.
Just before the break, following an earlier booking and several fouls the St Mirren captain Jim Goodwin was tactically substituted by Danny Lennon.
Second Half:
United started the second half strongly but found it difficult to work openings in the St Mirren defence, but almost equalised in 55 minutes when a blistering drive from John Rankin was tipped over the bar one handed by Kello.
McGinn was booked for a dangerous tackle on Paton, then on 60 minutes United almost got the breakthrough their early second half play deserved. A beautiful through ball from Armstrong was collected by Gary Mackay-Steven who tried to chip the keeper.
Unfortunately for United, Kello got his finger tips to the ball to prevent a certain goal. The ball broke back to Mackay Steven to cross but there were no takers.
From 69 minutes, there were three pivotal points. First, a deep cross was met by Ciftci with a controlled volley but Kello again pulled off a great save to prevent the equaliser. Then Keith Watson was given a straight red card after lunging into a tackle with McGinn. Within a minute of the sending off, St Mirren broke and scored when Naismith slotted the third and game clinching goal.
To United's credit, they continued to battle and drive forward when possible. On 84 minutes another Rankin 30 yard shot was saved by Kello, then a spectacular overhead effort from Graham flew just over the bar. On 87 minutes, fantastic effort from Robertson deserved a goal. He controlled the ball in the penalty area, turned and lobbed over the keeper but it fell just wide of the far post.
With United pressing and down to 10 men, St Mirren broke and after a good passing move finished off the scoring with a fourth goal. The ball broke to Thompson at the back post and he rifled past Cierzniak.
United continued to battle to the end with the score-line not really reflecting the even nature of the game. They can count themselves unfortunate not to have taken something from the game on a day when St Mirren keeper Marian Kello had several outstanding saves.
However, St Mirren must also be given credit for taking their chances at pivotal times to secure their first win in four matches.
Man of the Match: On a day when St Mirren's physical approach prevented United's flair players being at their best, John Rankin played very well and was unfortunate not to get on the score-sheet with two excellent long range drives which were well saved by Kello.
St Mirren: Kello, Naismith, McAusland, Newton, Kelly (Harkins), Goodwin (Van Zanten), McGregor, McGinn,Thompson, McGowan, McLean (Grainger)
Subs: Dilo, Reilly, Brady, Mair.
Dundee United: Cierzniak, Watson, Souttar, Gunning, Robertson, Paton, Rankin, Mackay-Steven, Gauld, (Goodwillie), Armstrong (Graham), Ciftci
Subs: McCallum, Dillon, Gomis, Dow, Erskine.
Referee B Madden
Att 4780
