DUTV
STORY OF THE MATCH | MOTHERWELL (H)
31st October 2024
Goals on either side of half-time earned the visitors three points in a game of fine margins.
Dundee United 1 (Dalby 36')
Motherwell 2 (Maswanhise 23' 74')
7.45pm Wednesday 30 October 2024
The CalForth Construction Arena at Tannadice Park
William Hill Premiership
Attendance: 8,415
Images: Richard Wiseman (Club Photographer)
Team News
There were no changes to the DUFC roll call following Saturday's narrow defeat at Pittodrie.
A number of niggling injuries over the course of the month left us light, with Ross Docherty, Louis Moult, Ross Graham and Craig Sibbald all missing from the matchday squad.
There were four DUFC Academy graduates involved in this evening's squad.
In The Balance
A tightly contested opening left much to be desired in front of goal - neither 'keeper being forced into any sort of action until Jack Walton got a hand to Steven Seddon's free-kick as we approached a quarter of an hour.
There were glimpses of United's intent in that time as a number of deliveries were flashed across the face before a low piercing strike from David Babunski was blocked en route to goal.
Kristian Trapanovski was then dealt the same fate as he caught a half-volley that was nodded behind for a corner before it would have called Aston Oxborough into action.
Against the Run of Play
After a long VAR check, the visitors were awarded the lead on 23 minutes.
It again came too easy as Lennon Miller's deep freekick was nodded back across goal by Dan Casey and bundled home at the back post by Tawanda Maswanhise.
Not Backing Down
Declan Gallagher almost restored parity after the half-hour mark, twisting inside the box to get a shot away that was well blocked by a white shirt.
Trapanovski, cutting inside on his weaker left foot, then let fly from the edge of the area. It looked comfortable for the 'keeper initially but he was fortunate a Motherwell defender was there to clear as he palmed it back into the danger area.
Our leveller came just a few minutes later as Sam Dalby scored for the second match running on home soil.
Patience paid off in the end as Trapanovski did extremely well to keep the ball in play initially before it was recycled to him by way of Kevin Holt and Babunski. A telling left-footed delivery was then expertly met in the air by our number 19, who glanced the ball beyond Oxborough and into the top corner!
In on Terms
Chances to lead at the break didn't lack as Trapanovski had a header cleared off the line before Will Ferry skewed an effort towards goal which was well cleared in the end.
Glenn Middleton had our final first-half opportunity with a freekick 20 yards from goal, but his well-struck effort was palmed clear by Oxborough and Lloyd Wilson brought close to a stop-start first-half.
Switching the Shape
After a stale start to second-half proceedings, we made a double switch as Ryan Strain and Jort van der Sande replaced Middleton and Trapanovski.
Loud appeals for a United penalty were waved away as Vicko Ševelj looked to be impeded inside the area - but it was waved away after a quick check.
Good link-up between van der Sande and Dalby then almost led to a chance as the latter decided against pulling the trigger before Luca Stephenson's tame effort was dealt with comfortably.
A Brace for Maswanhise
After more slack defending, Motherwell's number 55 put them back in front with a clever finish. Adegboyega was the man caught in possession allowing Maswanhise to race clear and clip the ball over Walton to retake the lead.
Our final threats were to no avail as the visitors took all three points.
TEAMLINES
Dundee United
Starting XI: Walton, Holt, Ševelj, Trapanovski, Babunski (c), Ferry, Middleton, Adegboyega, Stephenson, Dalby, Gallagher
Subs: Richards, Strain, Odada, Fotheringham, van der Sande, Thomson, Constable, Stirton, Meshack
Motherwell
Starting XI: Oxborough, O’Donnell, Seddon, Balmer, Sparrow, Stamatelopoulos, Casey, Kaleta, Wilson, Miller, Maswanhise
Subs: Hegyi, Zdravkovski, Robinson, Halliday, Blaney, Koutroumbis, Moses, Gillies, Tavares
POST-MATCH THOUGHTS
Jim Goodwin's thoughts:
?? Sore result to accept
— Dundee United FC (@dundeeunitedfc) October 30, 2024
?? Error frustrating but part of football
?? Dominated second period after changes
?? Hopeful for Easter Road reinforcements
Post-match reaction from #DUFC Manager Jim Goodwin following this evening's @WilliamHill Premiership defeat ????????? pic.twitter.com/sYxLi6JpGQ
NEXT UP
It's a trip to the capital on Sunday as we clash with Hibernian in a rearranged fixture.
