The Terrors stay with the pack, as the victory on Matchday 27 ensures we’ve earned points against every Premiership opponent.

Dundee United 1 (Dalby 31')

Motherwell 0

3pm Saturday 22 February 2025

The CalForth Construction Arena at Tannadice Park

William Hill Premiership

Attendance: 9,044

Images: Richard Wiseman (Club Photographer)

The Team Talk

Jim Goodwin made three changes following our loss at Celtic Park, switching to a favoured back three. Ryan Strain and Will Ferry returned to the flanks, while Ruari Paton partnered the league's top scorer Sam Dalby up front. Luca Stephenson, Glenn Middleton, and Kai Fotheringham were named on the bench.

Three DUFC Academy graduates were involved in our 20-man squad. 

Nip and Tuck

Chances were scarce in a first half that never truly sparked into life.

Handbags between Declan Gallagher and Tawanda Maswanhise was about the only talking point in the opening exchanges as the Motherwell forward looked to stop us from taking an early throw in our defensive third. 

The Motherwell forward will then feel he should have done better in the following minutes as he latched onto a long, route-one ball from the visiting shot-stopper but couldn't gain control as he nipped in behind the United rearguard. 

Dalby had a rare misfire - skewing a shot wide before Ferry passed up a golden opportunity to break the deadlock, bringing down a cross on his chest but firing over from close range as we ticked towards the half-hour mark. 

Like Clockwork

It was none other than our number 19 who notched his 12th of the season. 

Simple in nature, a United move was rounded off by a superb cross from Strain and Dalby rose highest to nod the ball beyond Ellery Balcombe just after 30 minutes. 

We were forced into an early change before the restart Docherty made way for Luca Stephenson. 

Paton, who was a constant threat throughout the half, came close to capping his performance with a goal. The ball sat up perfectly for our number 21 at the corner of the box, but his fierce effort crashed behind and we went in a goal to the good. 

Missing the Bite

The second half opened in much the same vein as the first.

It wasn't until after the hour mark when a Motherwell corner looked cause for concern but a combination of Ross Graham and Jack Walton eventually ensured safety. 

Dalby was denied a brace on 68 minutes as he again climbed highest and nodded goalwards - a super, fingertip save from Balcombe needed to deny our talisman. 

We made our second switch of the afternoon as Jort van der Sande took the place of Paton. Our number 20 kept us ticking with some neat and tidy hold-up play in what remained. 

Standing Tall and Digging In

Ferry seemed to inherit a second wind to turn in an electric second-half display, creating a number of chances for the men in Tangerine as we searched for a second. 

At the other end, we were resolute as some big blocks from Declan Gallagher and one off the line from Ross Graham ensured our lead stayed intact and we held out for a massive three points. 

Post-Match Thoughts

Teamlines

Dundee United

Starting XI: Walton, Strain, Sevelj, Graham, Ferry, Adegboyega, Dalby, Paton, Campbell, Docherty (c) Gallagher

Subs: Richards, Trapanovski, Fiorini, Babunski, Middleton, Stephenson, Fotheringham, van der Sande, Cleall-Harding

Motherwell

Starting XI: Balcombe, O’Donnell (c), Gordon, Sparrow, Halliday, Casey, Koutroumbis, Wilson, Miller, Maswanhise, Armstrong

Subs: Ward, Balmer, Zdravkovski, Slattery, Paton, Moses, Andrews, Thompson, Plange

Next Up

It's tightening up at the top end and Hibernian make the mid-week journey to Tannadice. 

CLICK HERE for full ticket details!

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