DUTV
STORY OF THE MATCH | MOTHERWELL (H)
31st October 2024
ROSS COUNTY 1-1 DUNDEE UNITED
CINCH PREMIERSHIP
3PM SATURDAY 15TH OCTOBER 2022?
GLOBAL ENERGY STADIUM
Goals from Ross Callachan and Tony Watt ensure the spoils are shared in Dingwall.
Callachan gave the home side the lead just before the break with a cool finish into the top corner.
Tony Watt was on hand to grab his third goal in as many games to secure a point on the road.
CONSISTENCY
Liam Fox named an unchanged starting eleven for the third match running as the team that defeated Aberdeen and Hibernian took to the field once more.
Back from injury, Charlie Mulgrew and Steven Fletcher were back amongst the squad this afternoon.
New signing Arnaud Djoum was also on the bench for the Terrors after his work permit was expedited.
TAME START
The opening 15 seemed to fly in with both sides enjoying spells of possession.
The closest we came to a goal in the early stages was a speculative effort from Jordan Tillson - but his 25-yard volley sailed comfortably wide.
United did give themselves a slight scare on the 17-minute mark as Kieran Freeman’s back-pass caught Carljohan Eriksson off guard but our ‘keeper recovered well to clear.
UNITED THREATNING
Six corners in the first half told the tale of United’s intent, however our best spell of the half came just after the 30-minute mark.
Dylan Levitt started a United move that saw Aziz Behich finding room high up the left flank. His teasing cross almost found a tangerine shirt, but the ball was cleared for a corner.
The recycled ball came back out to the Australian international, but his powerful drive sailed over the bar.
Some neat link-up between Tony Watt and Jamie McGrath allowed the Irishman to burst into the County penalty area but a last-ditch challenge by Ben Purrington denied him a clear shot at goal.
Our best chance of the half came shortly after. A Kieran Freeman found Tony Watt but his looping header was inches wide of finding the top corner.
STAGGIES BREAK THE DEADLOCK
The hosts opened the scoring after our best spell of the first half.
Sustained pressure down United’s right resulted in a ball into the penalty area which found Ross Callachan. The midfielder gained control of the ball before cushioning a smart finish into the top corner.
Half chances fell the way of Middleton and Watt before the whistle but Callachan’s strike meant the visitors were a goal to the good at the break.
PERSISTENCE PAYING OFF
Liam Fox made two changes at half-time, with Djoum and Archie Meekison taking the places of Jamie McGrath and Craig Sibbald.
It was Djoum's first appearance after putting pen to paper yesterday.
United almost had the equaliser less than five minutes into the second period. Levitt picked out Middleton with a delicate dink into the area. The midfielder chested the ball onto Watt who fired an effort just wide of the post.
Moments later, Watt did bring United level. Excellent work from Middleton allowed him to edge his way forwards down the left flank. Retaining the ball well, he squared a cross to Watt at the second attempt, and our number 32 made no mistake, blasting home from close range.
CLOSE CALLS
Levitt was extremely unlucky not to add another cracker to his collection. The Welshman got on the ball 35 yards from goal and cracked the crossbar with a fierce effort. It would have given United a well-deserved lead after some sustained pressure in the County final third.
The home side also went close to winning it in the final moments as Alex Iacovitti flicked a header just over the bar deep into injury time.
It’s a point that sees our unbeaten run continue as we look to take momentum into Tuesday’s Premier Sports Cup Quarter-Final.
TEAM LINES
Starting XI: Eriksson, Smith, McMann, Edwards, Sibbald (Djoum 46’), Middleton (Fletcher 81'), Behich, McGrath (Meekison 46’), Levitt, Freeman, Watt
Subs: Birighitti, Mulgrew, Niskanen, Pawlett, A.Sadat, Harkes
NEXT UP
With a place at Hampden up for grabs, United travel to Ayrshire to take on Kilmarnock in the Premier Sports Cup Quarter-Final.
Tuesday’s match is a 7:45pm kick-off and tickets are available online directly from Kilmarnock.
We return to cinch Premiership action on Saturday with an away trip to Paisley to face St Mirren.
Tickets for that one are also available directly from the away club, online only.
