DUTV
STORY OF THE MATCH | RANGERS (A)
25th November 2024
United draw 1-1 with Alloa but lose out on penalties.
By Ian Isbister
First Half - Dundee United kicked off their third Betfred Cup game with four changes from the side that narrowly lost 1-0 to Ross County in midweek. Robson, Keatings, Edjenguele and Aird came into the starting eleven, with Booth, McMullan, Smith and Wardrop making way. Alloa kept to the same starting line-up that beat Arbroath 4-2 in midweek including two-goal hero Greig Spence.
Alloa kicked off the game in their blue change strip due to a clash with United’s familiar tangerine.
The Wasps started the livelier of the two sides, with Brown and Hastie looking lively up front and causing problems for the United defence. United’s first chance came in seven minutes, courtesy of a whipped in cross from Stanton which Keatings, finding himself unmarked in the box, was unlucky not to get on the end of.
The game was now evenly poised with both teams looking to create chances at every opportunity. Alloa came close again when a Cawley flick was met by Spence. In turn, his flick was just past Rakovan’s left hand post. Aird was next to create for United, his surging run down the left wing resulting in United’s first corner. The set piece was well placed and Edjenguele was unlucky to see his header saved by Parry in the Alloa goal.
New signing Adam Barton was looking comfortable in the holding midfield position and was the instigator of many a United move.
In 21 minutes United were unlucky not to go ahead. Good work down the right by Aird found Clark in the box but unfortunately his header hit the post to keep the scoreline at 0-0.
Straight up the park for Alloa, Trouten found himself one on one with the advancing Rakovan.
United took the lead in 24 minutes. A Frans effort was saved by Parry and the resulting corner was again met by United’s new No.4 to head past Parry in the Alloa goal. This was Frans's first goal for United and the tall Belgian showed his aerial prowess when rising above the Alloa defence.
Alloa reacted well to going behind. Hastie in particular was using his pace to try to get in behind the United back line but Frans and Murdoch joined forces to keep their lines clear.
As the first half wore on, United’s new look side were beginning to gel. The forward line of Keatings and Clark, assisted by Aird and Robson down the left, was paying dividends. In the 42nd minute a snapshot was parried by Parry in the Alloa goal and United were unlucky not to be further ahead as referee Steven McLean brought the first half to a close with just the one goal advantage for United.
Second Half - United made one change going into the second half with Declan Glass replacing Rabitsch.
The youngster was involved quickly and his pace instantly upped the tempo up front for United.
The second half started in similar fashion to the first with both sides sizing each other up. Alloa, chasing the equaliser, were livelier and were unlucky to see several moves by Spence and Hastie on the edge of the box come to nothing.
United were finding the Alloa defence hard to break down and by the hour mark were now seeing most of the action just outside box. Alloa’s Dick and Karadachki in particular were keeping United at bay.
In 74 minutes youngster Glass did well to create space on the edge of the box and his right foot shot was palmed by Parry right into the path of McMullan who was unlucky to see his angled shot go into the side netting.
In 79 minutes Alloa were awarded a penalty. Barton lost the ball on the edge of the box and as Hastie looked to capitalise on the mistake, Frans edged him off the ball. Referee McLean had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Trouten made no mistake from 12 yards as his spot-kick was firmly placed past Rakovan’s right hand. 1-1, and all to play for.
Alloa were now on the front foot and were unlucky to see a goal bound shot by Spence cleared off the line by McMullan in 83 minutes. Moments later it was Flannigan’s turn for Alloa. His dink past the keeper was slowed down by Rakovan just enough for Frans to clear off the line.
The game was held up for a few minutes when Alloa’s Graham needed treatment for a bad head knock involving a clash with Rakovan in the United box in the 90th minute. This was the last major action of the game as for the second week in a row United’s game finished 1-1 and the game going to penalties.
Murdoch missed the opening penalty for United to give Alloa the advantage. Aird, Barton and Glass all converted but McMullan saw the final penalty saved to make it 4-3 to Alloa.
Man of the Match - Adam Barton. On a day when there were no clear standouts for United, new signing Barton just edges it with his control of the midfield for much of the game.
Dundee United - Rakovan, Murdoch (C), Frans, Barton, Clark (Smith 72), Stanton, Robson, Keatings (McMullan 65), Rabitsch (Glass 46), Edjenguele, Aird, Subs not used - Siegrist (GK), Allardice, Wardrop, Scobbie
Alloa Athletic - Parry, Taggart, Dick, Karadachki, Graham (C), Flannigan, Cawley (Robertson 58mins),Brown, Spence, Trouten, Hastie, Subs not used - Henry (GK), Peggie, Hetherington, Goodwin
Referee - Steven McLean
Assistants - Calum Spence and Graham McNeillie
Attendance: 1,659
