DUTV
STORY OF THE MATCH | MOTHERWELL (H)
31st October 2024
DUNDEE UNITED 4-0 KILMARNOCK
CINCH PREMIERSHIP
7:45PM WEDNESDAY 9TH NOVEMBER 2022
TANNADICE PARK
Attendance: 7,430 (including 388 away)
Goals from Kieran Freeman, Jamie McGrath, Glenn Middleton and Dylan Levitt wrapped up the points in style as we moved clear of Kilmarnock in the cinch Premiership following a comfortable 4-0 victory on Tayside.
TRIPLE CHANGE
Liam Fox made three changes to the side that started at Celtic Park last Saturday.
Ross Graham and Glenn Middleton were introduced from the start in place of Scott McMann and Craig Sibbald.
Fresh off the back of his World Cup call-up, Dylan Levitt also featured in the starting eleven with Ian Harkes taking a place on the bench.
OPENING EXCHANGES
It was an opening quarter of an hour in which United dominated.
The closest we came in the first 10 minutes was through Middleton - almost stabbing home from inside the area but Zach Hemming was equal to it.
United looked menacing down Kilmarnock’s right and our pressure soon paid off!
TURNING IT ON
A first-cinch Premiership goal at Tannadice for Freeman gave us a well-deserved lead after just 11 minutes.
Graham’s clearance flew over the Killie defence and our number 22 latched onto it down the flank. The full-back drove into the penalty area, looked up and calmly slotted a low finish into the far corner.
The young defender almost had his second of the evening just minutes later. This time it was Aziz Behich who took the ball in his stride and cut the ball across the face of goal - but the Kilmarnock defence did just enough to see the ball clear.
The Terrors did have their second after 23 minutes. A double flick-on first by Fletcher and then McGrath found Middleton inside the box. Hemming fumbled the powerful drive into the path of McGrath who made no mistake to send the ball home on the follow-up.
HITTING A THIRD
Our third of the evening came through a sublime free-kick from Middleton.
Graham did well to carry the ball forward - fizzing a pass into McGrath. Our number 18 swivelled and was pulled down by Liam Donnelly giving us a shooting opportunity from 25-yards.
Middleton stepped up and curled a left-footed free-kick straight into the top corner to give United a comfortable lead heading into the break.
KILLIE CLOSE
The visitors did have chances towards the end of the first half to pull one back.
Joe Wright’s header from a corner came back off the post before the ball spun off Edwards and clipped the post once more before the skipper cleared.
Donnelly's snapshot from the corner of the box also looked troublesome but it flew just over the crossbar.
SHOWING SILK
A sublime dummy from Behich left his man for dead as he raced away down the left flank. The Australian cut the ball across the box which Fletcher also cleverly stepped over but there was no one inside the area to apply a finishing touch.
United made their first change of the evening with McMann replacing Behich. The change came just after Donnelly was booked for hauling down McGrath in the middle of the park.
Following his international call-up, Levitt’s night was topped off with a superb strike in the 73rd minute.
McGrath was involved again - doing extremely well to hold the ball up as he edged towards the Kilmarnock penalty area. Creating an opening, he slid the ball across to Levitt who rasped a curling first-time effort into the bottom right corner - giving Hemming no chance.
FRESH LEGS
United were afforded the luxury of reshuffling the pack as the game edged to a close.
A.Sadat, Sibbald, Meekison and Ilmari Niskanen were all on in place of Fletcher, Djoum, Freeman and Middleton across two stoppages.
The changes helped contribute to a United side that finished the game strong.
A COMFORTABLE CONCLUSION
A VAR intervention for a potential Kilmarnock penalty was United’s only real scare in the second half - as our resolute defence saw off Kilmarnock’s attacks without threat.
POST-MATCH REACTION
Liam Fox outlined the importance of tonight's three points but insists it must be a building block for the remainder of the season.
We're delighted with the performance and the three points. We've had a few kicks in the teeth over the last few weeks but tonight we managed to put a full 90 minutes together which is really pleasing. I saw a real focus and ruthlessness tonight which has been missing - but we need to continue to build.
TEAMLINE
Starting XI: Birighitti, Smith, Graham, Fletcher (A.Sadat 76'), Djoum (Sibbald 76'), Edwards, Middleton (Meekison 86'), Behich (McMann 67'), McGrath, Levitt, Freeman (Niskanen 86')
Unused subs: Eriksson, Pawlett, Harkes, Watt
NEXT UP
We’re heading North this coming Saturday to take on Aberdeen at Pittodrie. The 6pm kick-off is the final dose of cinch Premiership action before the World Cup break.
CLICK HERE for full ticket details!
