MATCH REPORT | TEN MAN UNITED DEFEATED AT TANNADICE

DUNDEE UNITED 0-1 MOTHERWELL
CINCH PREMIERSHIP

3PM SATURDAY 29TH OCTOBER 2022

?TANNADICE PARK

Attendance: 7581 (581 away)
 
Despite a strong start from the Terrors, Sondre Solholm’s first-half header was enough to secure all three points for Motherwell in Dundee.
 
In its first use at Tannadice, VAR played a part in Tony Watt’s dismissal just before the interval as ten-man United couldn’t find a way back.  

SMALL ROTATIONS

There were four changes to the United side that faced St Mirren in Paisley.
 
Arnaud Djoum, Ilmari Niskanen and Carljohan Eriksson were replaced in the starting 11 by Steven Fletcher, Kieran Freeman and Mark Birighitti.
 
The Australian shot-stopper returned to the fold after being out through injury and some strong performances from his counterpart Eriksson.
 

Dylan Levitt was also back involved from the start as Glenn Middleton started on the bench. 

POSITIVE START

United started the match on the front foot, with three corners in as many minutes.
 
Ryan Edwards went closest from the set piece with a header that floated just wide of Liam Kelly’s far post.
 
Fletcher almost broke the deadlock with an audacious acrobatic effort just before the ten-minute mark. Ryan Edwards got on the end of a corner before Tony Watt did enough to keep the ball alive inside the area. The ball sat up nicely for the United number nine, and his scissor kick flashed just past the post.
 

MOMENTUM SWITCH

The away side’s first chance came after a quarter of an hour. Matthew Penney carved open a gap with a driving run. He set up Connor Shields whose effort was well stopped by Birighitti.
 
Motherwell should have opened the scoring at the 20-minute mark. A counter-attack allowed Van Veen to break away down United’s left. After some strong hold-up play, he cut inside and teed up Connor Shields who sent a wild effort into the Shed.
 
However, the away side did have their opener just minutes later. Following a quick free-kick, Blair Spittal fashioned a teasing cross into the box which Solholm Johansen got on the end of. Birighitti looked to have pulled off a good save to deny him but the backspin on the ball did no favours for the United number one as it looped under the bar and over the line.
 

TONY WATT SEES RED 

United’s uphill task became more difficult as Watt was sent off for a challenge on Sean Goss.
 
Following a knockdown, the ball was there to be won in the middle of the pitch. With a leg out, Watt looked to have got some contact on the ball before stopping just short of following through on his man as United carried on down the other end of the pitch.
 
After the ball went out, referee John Beaton made his way over to the VAR monitor and after a quick check showed Watt a straight red card.
 
The decision meant United went in at the break both a goal and a man down.

SHOWING GRIT

A half-time substitution saw Levitt replaced by Harkes at the break.
 
He was involved in play minutes later as Aziz Behich did well to lift a clever ball into the area that Fletcher brought down. He brought Harkes into play but his first-time effort was well saved by Liam Kelly at his near post.
 
Despite being a man down, United showed bravery on the ball in the second half.
 
A fantastic driving run from Sibbald saw him skip away from a number of white shirts. He linked in with McGrath who played in Fletcher, but his effort was blocked wide from a corner.
 
Liam Fox made two quick changes replacing Fletcher and Freeman with Glenn Middleton and Sadat Anaku.

NOT TO BE 

Truth be told, there was a severe lack of chances for either side in the second 45.
 
Harkes’ aforementioned effort was the closest United came to drawing level.
 
There was a glimmer of hope following a miss-kicked clearance resulting in a United corner in the dying embers. Birighitti made his way into the Motherwell box but there was no United head on the end of Middleton’s ball into the box.

POST-MATCH THOUGHTS

Head Coach Liam Fox expressed his disappointment with the result but took pride in our performance after going a man down. 

I think the second-half performance when we go down to ten men is a positive. I thought we were brave in possession and we worked extremely hard out of possession so I'm pleased with that. 

TEAM LINES

Starting XI: Birighitti, Smith, McMann, Fletcher (Middleton 74’), Edwards, Sibbald, Behich, McGrath (Pawlett 82’), Levitt (Harkes 45’), Freeman (A.Sadat 76’), Watt
 
Unused substitutes: Eriksson, Graham, Niskanen, Djoum, Meekison
 

NEXT UP

With three matches to go until the break, you can join us on the road at Celtic Park and Pittodrie falling either side of a midweek match at home to Kilmarnock. 
 
CLICK HERE for full ticket information.