We got back to winning ways in a dramatic Paisley showdown!

St Mirren 0

Dundee United 1 (Moult 88')

3pm Saturday 11 January 2025

The SMiSA Stadium

William Hill Premiership

Images: Richard Wiseman (Club Photographer)

The Team Talk

With a chance for upcoming respite and no midweek fixture, Jim Goodwin made five changes to the side that put in a stubborn display at Celtic Park on Wednesday evening. 

IN: Ryan Strain, Kevin Holt, Luca Stephenson, Sam Dalby and Ross Docherty

OUT: Ross Graham, Kristijan Trapanovski, Richard Odada, Kai Fotheringham and Jort van der Sande

There was welcome news on the injury front as Louis Moult returned to the matchday squad - his first involvement since our mid-December trip to Fir Park.  

Under the Kosh

The hosts had the better of it from the off with some forays forward and several early corners.

One of them almost spelt immediate danger, but a vital intervention from Stephenson on the line denied the towering Richard Taylor a certain opener.

Chances then fell at both ends as Zach Hemming was equal to a sweetly struck Kevin Holt volley before Roland Idowu sliced an effort wide of the mark as we ticked over 20 minutes.

Vicko Ševelj then almost found his second United goal with a rasping effort in search of the top corner - narrowly deflected wide in the end by the head of a black and white shirt.

A Killian Phillips long throw looked the best tool in the St Mirren arsenal, but we stood tall to drown out any aerial threats before David Dickinson drew close to a fairly cagey first half. 

All to Play For

We looked to have broken the deadlock just moments into the second period as a short corner was whipped across by Will Ferry, glanced on by Emmanuel Adegboyega and turned home at the back post by Ševelj in front of the Tangerine Army. 

It wasn't to be, however, as a quick VAR check confirmed the linesman's early call for offside against our number five.

We had certainly made strides - as another cross, this time from Adegboyega, was deflected into the six-yard box where Hemming did well to react and get there ahead of Stephenson.

Woodwork Drama

Both sides had efforts off of the crossbar within a minute as we approached the hour mark. 

It was Mikael Mandron who had the first bite of the cherry, taking a neat touch to open up space in the box before firing a fierce effort off the underside of the bar.

United immediately cantered forward through Dalby who found Middleton by way of Stephenson on the charge. Our number 15 took one touch to set himself before his deflected effort looped up and onto the bar as both sides went inches away from the opener. 

It was to be his last involvement as Moult was called upon from the bench.

Throwing Our Weight

The league's top target man was then only denied the opener courtesy of a big near-post stop by Hemming just over fifteen minutes from time.

There was more drama as Walton was on hand to make a huge save as Olutoyosi Olusasnya raced clear one-on-one after we threw bodies forward for a long throw. 

A ding-dong affair continued as Ferry's cross was kept alive by Strain at the back post before Hemming looked to bring Dalby to the ground as he gathered the ball - nothing given after a brief VAR check.

 

A Grandstand Finish

It was an onslaught of pressure as we threw everything at it in search of a winner in the dying embers. 

Late substitute van der Sande was incredibly unlucky not to open his United account as his close-range effort was blocked on the line before several penalty box stramashes left us wanting. 

However, there was time yet for pandemonium as Moult was back with a bang to grab a spectacular winner. 

It came as Ferry's long throw was flicked into the heart of the box and reacting quickest was our number nine - who took one touch to set himself before executing a stunning overhead kick that found the far corner!

The tension wasn't over yet as into six minutes of additional time the hosts were awarded a spot-kick. 

It looked incredibly harsh as Olusanya jinked past Holt to work a cross and went down all too easy over an outstretched leg. 

Justice was done however as Walton again got the better of Olusanya, diving low to his left to keep a well-earned clean sheet intact. It wasn't without a scare as a long check for encroachment was eventually waved away.

We dug in for all three points on the road once more - a victory that maintains our 100% record over The Buddies this season while giving us daylight in third for the time being. 

Post-Match Thoughts

Teamlines

St Mirren

Starting XI: Hemming, Tanser, Iacovitti, Taylor, O’Hara (c), Mandron, Kiltie, Idowu, Fraser, Bwomono, Phillips

Subs: Urminsky, Smyth, Gogic, Boyd-Munce, Oseni, Olusanya, John, Penman, Mooney

Dundee United

Starting XI: Walton, Strain, Holt, Ševelj, Ferry, Middleton, Adegboyega, Stephenson, Dalby, Docherty (c), Gallagher

Subs: Richards, Graham, Trapanovski, Moult, Fotheringham, van der Sande, Thomson, Cleall-Harding, Stirton 

Next Up

Attention turns to another Dundee Derby as we cross the road once more with our sights set on Scottish Cup progression. 

Limited places are still available in DUFC Hospitality - which guarantees your match ticket! 

CLICK HERE for more details!

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