FIXTURE INFORMATION | DUNDEE UNITED B V DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC B
26th November 2024
The hosts were looking to make it three straight home wins as third placed Motherwell visited Tannadice tonight. Recent encounters between the two had yielded a number of goals and the signs pointed to this again following the last weekend when they produced seven goals between them.
Jackie McNamara made two changes to the line up which came from behind to win 3-2 against Kilmarnock. John Souttar and Ryan Gauld missed out through injury with Gavin Gunning coming in at the centre of defence. Ryan Dow also gained a starting berth after impressing as a substitute the last time out.
First Half:
The first threat came from the visitors after a minute when a rather dubious looking free kick was awarded in a dangerous area. Ian Vigurs's resulting set piece clipped the wall and sailed out safely for a corner. Fresh from scoring the winner last week John Rankin came within inches of repeating the feat minutes later. After Nadir Ciftci superbly turned defence into attack he fed Keith Watson on the right flank. An exchange of passes with Mackay-Steven allowed the right back to swing in a dangerous ball which fell to Rankin at the opposite side of the box. The midfielder drilled a low left foot shot towards the bottom corner which had Motherwell keeper Neilson scrambling. Andy Robertson was next to threaten as he broke into the box but Stephen McManus was on hand to clear before the left back could get a shot away. United were starting to apply the pressure and a neat move between Dow and Armstrong almost put the latter in and but for a last ditch challenge from Francis-Angol he might have opened the scoring. The goal one sensed was coming did arrive after 21 minutes for the hosts, and just like last week a big defensive error played a part. Mackay-Steven nodded the ball forward and Hutchinson misjudged his back pass to goalkeeper Neilson. This allowed Ryan Dow to speed clear before emphatically guiding the ball into the net from 12 yards. Confidence was flowing through the Tangerines at this point and the visitors were struggling to hold on. Ciftci was causing all manner of problems and his speculative effort from distance earned a corner before Gunning headed into the arms of Neilson from six yards. Cierzniak did come to the rescue in the 35th minute as a rare attack from Motherwell saw Ian Vigurs with an opportunity from close range. Thankfully for United the goalkeeper produced a marvellous one handed save to deny the former Ross County man. The next goal was going to be an important one and Dow again caused panic in the Motherwell defence on the break. From his centre both Armstrong and then Ciftci saw efforts blocked which forced a corner. From Dow's delivery Ciftci glanced a header to the back post which left Gunning with the easiest of tasks in tapping home to double the advantage. There were appeals for a penalty at the other end as Vigurs went down in the box under the challenge of Gunning but play was waved on and the 2-0 advantage was maintained into half time.
Second Half:
Both teams knew the next goal could be decisive in terms of the outcome of the match and right from the kick off the tangerines forced the issue their way. Ciftci took the ball forward from the restart and won a free kick deep in the Motherwell half. From the free kick Gunning struck the ball powerfully past the wall and into the net off the far post to secure what was the perfect start to the half. The visitors forced a couple of free kicks from the edge of the area and from the second were given a route back into the game. McFadden's free kick was adjudged to have been handled by Ciftci and a penalty was awarded in 56 minutes. From the spot John Sutton sent Cierzniak the wrong way to narrow the deficit. From this point the game became more of a scrappy affair compared to the free flowing open football on display from the hosts earlier. With the visitors trying to mount a comeback the Terrors' attacking moments were more fleeting with both Armstrong and Mackay-Steven having attempts from long range which didn't trouble the goalkeeper. Ciftci weaved his way deep into the box on 75 minutes and shot fiercely into the side netting before Mackay-Steven and then Armstrong forced Neilson into a double save. At the other end the home defence was keeping the visitors largely at bay. A rare mix up in the latter stages presented Anier with a chance but he tamely headed wide of the post. In the end there was nothing the Steelmen could do to prevent a third successive home win for United.
Full Time Summary: - It was a terrific performance from the Tangerines which fully merited the comfortable winning margin. The football in the first half in particular was great to watch but the way the dug in late on to keep the visitors at bay was equally impressive.
Man of the Match:
On a good night for United there were several contenders however from early on Nadir Ciftci looked intent on causing problems for Motherwell. Although he was unfortunate not to get on the score sheet his overall contribution to the team tonight couldn't be overlooked.
United - Cierzniak, Watson, Gunning, Good, Robertson, Paton, Rankin (C), Mackay-Steven, Dow (El Alagui 77), Armstrong (Connolly 88), Ciftci. Subs not used - McCallum, Dillon, Wilson, Gomis, Graham.
Motherwell - Neilson, Hammell, Hutchinson, McManus, Francis-Angol, Ainsworth (Reid 66), Lasley (C), Carswell, Vigurs (Anier 77), McFadden, Sutton. Subs not used - Hollis, Murray, Leitch, Shirkie, Thomas.
Attendance - 7029
Referee - Robert Madden
Jackie McNamara made two changes to the line up which came from behind to win 3-2 against Kilmarnock. John Souttar and Ryan Gauld missed out through injury with Gavin Gunning coming in at the centre of defence. Ryan Dow also gained a starting berth after impressing as a substitute the last time out.
First Half:
The first threat came from the visitors after a minute when a rather dubious looking free kick was awarded in a dangerous area. Ian Vigurs's resulting set piece clipped the wall and sailed out safely for a corner. Fresh from scoring the winner last week John Rankin came within inches of repeating the feat minutes later. After Nadir Ciftci superbly turned defence into attack he fed Keith Watson on the right flank. An exchange of passes with Mackay-Steven allowed the right back to swing in a dangerous ball which fell to Rankin at the opposite side of the box. The midfielder drilled a low left foot shot towards the bottom corner which had Motherwell keeper Neilson scrambling. Andy Robertson was next to threaten as he broke into the box but Stephen McManus was on hand to clear before the left back could get a shot away. United were starting to apply the pressure and a neat move between Dow and Armstrong almost put the latter in and but for a last ditch challenge from Francis-Angol he might have opened the scoring. The goal one sensed was coming did arrive after 21 minutes for the hosts, and just like last week a big defensive error played a part. Mackay-Steven nodded the ball forward and Hutchinson misjudged his back pass to goalkeeper Neilson. This allowed Ryan Dow to speed clear before emphatically guiding the ball into the net from 12 yards. Confidence was flowing through the Tangerines at this point and the visitors were struggling to hold on. Ciftci was causing all manner of problems and his speculative effort from distance earned a corner before Gunning headed into the arms of Neilson from six yards. Cierzniak did come to the rescue in the 35th minute as a rare attack from Motherwell saw Ian Vigurs with an opportunity from close range. Thankfully for United the goalkeeper produced a marvellous one handed save to deny the former Ross County man. The next goal was going to be an important one and Dow again caused panic in the Motherwell defence on the break. From his centre both Armstrong and then Ciftci saw efforts blocked which forced a corner. From Dow's delivery Ciftci glanced a header to the back post which left Gunning with the easiest of tasks in tapping home to double the advantage. There were appeals for a penalty at the other end as Vigurs went down in the box under the challenge of Gunning but play was waved on and the 2-0 advantage was maintained into half time.
Second Half:
Both teams knew the next goal could be decisive in terms of the outcome of the match and right from the kick off the tangerines forced the issue their way. Ciftci took the ball forward from the restart and won a free kick deep in the Motherwell half. From the free kick Gunning struck the ball powerfully past the wall and into the net off the far post to secure what was the perfect start to the half. The visitors forced a couple of free kicks from the edge of the area and from the second were given a route back into the game. McFadden's free kick was adjudged to have been handled by Ciftci and a penalty was awarded in 56 minutes. From the spot John Sutton sent Cierzniak the wrong way to narrow the deficit. From this point the game became more of a scrappy affair compared to the free flowing open football on display from the hosts earlier. With the visitors trying to mount a comeback the Terrors' attacking moments were more fleeting with both Armstrong and Mackay-Steven having attempts from long range which didn't trouble the goalkeeper. Ciftci weaved his way deep into the box on 75 minutes and shot fiercely into the side netting before Mackay-Steven and then Armstrong forced Neilson into a double save. At the other end the home defence was keeping the visitors largely at bay. A rare mix up in the latter stages presented Anier with a chance but he tamely headed wide of the post. In the end there was nothing the Steelmen could do to prevent a third successive home win for United.
Full Time Summary: - It was a terrific performance from the Tangerines which fully merited the comfortable winning margin. The football in the first half in particular was great to watch but the way the dug in late on to keep the visitors at bay was equally impressive.
Man of the Match:
On a good night for United there were several contenders however from early on Nadir Ciftci looked intent on causing problems for Motherwell. Although he was unfortunate not to get on the score sheet his overall contribution to the team tonight couldn't be overlooked.
United - Cierzniak, Watson, Gunning, Good, Robertson, Paton, Rankin (C), Mackay-Steven, Dow (El Alagui 77), Armstrong (Connolly 88), Ciftci. Subs not used - McCallum, Dillon, Wilson, Gomis, Graham.
Motherwell - Neilson, Hammell, Hutchinson, McManus, Francis-Angol, Ainsworth (Reid 66), Lasley (C), Carswell, Vigurs (Anier 77), McFadden, Sutton. Subs not used - Hollis, Murray, Leitch, Shirkie, Thomas.
Attendance - 7029
Referee - Robert Madden
