United earn share of the spoils

By Ian Isbister

United went into today’s game looking to banish the memory of last week’s heavy defeat at home to league leaders Ayr United. With last night’s game between Ayr and Inverness falling foul of the bad weather, it gave United a chance to close the gap at the top of the table. The two sides met back in September in a hard fought 1-1 draw at Tannadice with United needing a late injury-time equaliser from Fraser Fyvie in what was Jonatan Johansson’s first game in charge of the Greenock side. 

Manager Robbie Neilson rang the changes from the Ayr game as Murdoch, Frans and Curran were all promoted from the bench into the starting line-up, whilst Rakovan stayed in goal after replacing Siegrist who was injured during last week’s match. King, Edjenguele and Watson drop down to the bench to make way.

Morton also made changes from last weekend’s away defeat against Dunfermline Athletic. Ex-United midfielder Charlie Telfer came on for the injured Waddell last week, and he retains his place in the side. Tiffoney and McKeown also step up from the bench, with McHugh dropping to the bench and Iredale out the squad altogether. 

Both managers will have still been smarting from their respective results last weekend and the changes were a clear indication from both that a drastic reaction was required to get their season’s back on track.

First Half

The opening exchanges were tense as both sides looked to establish themselves in the game. As such, the first 10 minutes were littered with niggly fouls and referee David Munro having no option but to continually stop start the game. United created the best opening of the game on the 10 minute mark when Craig Curran took a first time shot from the right hand side of the box. Although he took it well it didn’t trouble Gaston in the Morton goal as it flew by. 

The Greenock side then had their turn to look for an opener. First Thomson had a left-foot shot hit wide past Rakovan’s right-hand post, before a quick succession of free-kicks and corners in threatening areas had United on the back foot. The usual central pairing of Frans and Bouhenna was now back together after Frans's injury problems in the last few weeks. 

United were having the bulk of the possession in the opening 20 minutes and were showing their pressing game, but without having much to show for their efforts. Safranko and Curran in particular were defending from the front and putting plenty of pressure on the Morton rearguard to clear their lines. 

In 31 minutes United broke the deadlock. A free-kick by Paul McMullan played into the box was met by Frederic Frans who leapt the highest to head the ball past Gaston in the Morton net. A deserved lead for United who had certainly edged their west coast counterparts in the opening third of the game. The remainder of the first half was played out at a hectic pace as both sides tried to create chances amongst a congested midfield.

Telfer came closest to an equaliser for the home side in 42 minutes when his shot from a tight angle was watched by Rakovan as it flew over the bar. That was the last chance of the first half as referee David Munro blew his whistle for half-time.

H/T - Morton 0 United 1

United started the second half on the front foot and were clearly looking to add a quick second goal which would set them up nicely for the second 45. Aird was unlucky in 46 minutes to see his shot go just over the Morton crossbar, but was a sure indication of the positivity being shown by United to shoot on sight at any given opportunity. Similar to the first half, the referee was kept busy with the number of fouls being committed by both sides. None particularly reckless but enough to stop the game from flowing. 

Morton stepped up their game after 50 minutes with 2 good chances, first by Millar and then McKeown. Although both opportunities flew past Rakovan’s right-hand post, it showed that the Greenock side wouldn’t allow United to take the 3 points without putting up a fight. 

Morton substitute McHugh came closest next with a low shot which United keeper Rakovan dealt with comfortably as he saved down to his left-hand corner. 

The pressure from Morton finally paid dividends for the home side when in 78 minutes a set-piece was played into the box. Rakovan attempted to punch clear but instead it was  Buchanan who headed the ball straight into the United net to make it 1-1 with just over 10 minutes remaining. Just deserts for the home side although United will feel that they were handling the Morton pressure up to the equaliser. The remaining 10 minutes were tense for both sides and Robbie Neilson was sent to the stand by referee David Munro as things became heated on the touch line. United looked for the winner and were unlucky to see efforts from Booth, King and Stanton blocked, saved and blocked respectively. United certainly weren’t looking to accept the draw without a fight. 

As the referee blew for full-time at 1-1, both sides will feel they could have had all 3 points. United will be relieved to have steadied the ship after last week’s result against Ayr. They now travel away again next weekend, this time at Inverness, looking to keep the pressure on the league leaders.

Man of the Match - Fraser Fyvie. The tough tackling midfielder now looks back to his best and is showing the kind of ability that had Arabs desperate to see him return to the team.

Dundee United - Rakovan (GK), Murdoch, Booth, Frans, McMullan (Rabitsch 75), Fyvie (C),Curran, Stanton, Safranko, Bouhenna, Aird (King 65),
Subs not used - Donaldson (GK), Smith, , Edjenguele, Thomas, Watson, 

Morton - Gaston (GK), Kilday, Buchanan, Telfer (McHugh 60), Millar, McAlister (C),Thomson, Tidser, Tumilty, Tiffoney (MacLean 72), McKeown,
Subs not used - Scully (GK), Armour, Purdue, Lyon, Eardley, 

Referee - David Munro,
Assistants - Andrew McWilliam and Ryan Lee,

Bookings - 
United - Fyvie 42 mins,
Morton - Tumilty 23 mins, 

Attendance: 1,916