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1st Team - Fixtures / Results
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| Dundee United v Rangers |
| Season 2009/2010 |
Date 15 December 2009 |
| Venue Tannadice, 7.45pm |
Score L 0 - 3 |
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| Dundee United 0 - |
| Rangers 3 - Beasley 26, Miller 57 & 74 |
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| Author Ally Stewart; Pics Kara Griffiths |
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Craig Levein made four changes to the side which had earned a point at Tynecastle at the weekend, with Scott Robertson, Myrie-Williams and Casalinuovo all dropping onto the bench while Andy Webster was unavailable for selection due to the terms of his loan. In came Darren Dods and Danny Cadamarteri as well as both Prince Buaben and Morgaro Gomis who shook off injury concerns to feature. There was much hype surrounding the game with there being so much at stake for both sides. A win for United would see them rise up to third place in the table and just one point behind their opponents whilst the visitors knew a win would see them replace Celtic at the top. An absorbing game looked in prospect as a bumper home crowd packed into Tannadice.
First Half:
There was an understandably nervy opening from both teams but after 11 minutes United had to thank Nicky Weaver for preventing a shock early lead for the west coast side. Seemingly in no position to cause any danger Rangers midfielder Demarcus Beasley struck a blistering right foot drive which the United keeper did superbly well to block not once, but a second time as Boyd and Miller both looked to pounce on the rebound. Next to try his luck was Rangers’ Lee McCulloch, again from long range, but this time his well struck half volley sailed wide of Weaver’s right post. United looked shaky for a spell at the back and Nacho Novo wove his way into the box before passing inside but luckily for United there were no takers as Weaver snuffed out the threat. United tried to get something going in an attacking sense and for a moment it seemed as though Jon Daly was clean through on goal but the striker was tumbled to the ground amid mild appeals for a penalty. Despite the Rangers pressure it was United who came closest to scoring on 25 minutes when Craig Conway floated in a free kick giving Daly the chance of a free header. If the Irishman had directed the ball anywhere else a goal seemed certain but much to the despair of the United fans massed behind the goal, Alexander was able to gather as the ball was powered right into his arms. The hosts were then made to pay for this miss two minutes later as Beasley struck a stunning left foot curler from a wide right position which floated high into the net with Weaver completely helpless. As the game was nearing half time, Beasley caused United more bother down the right before playing through on the angle for Kenny Miller in the box. United were to escape the chance however as his low right foot drive just missed the reach of Boyd in front of goal then slid wide of the post. Moments later Boyd curled a decent shot from the edge of the box wide as United again came under attack. The main target at this time for the home team was to get to half time with the score still level but Daly tried to change this with an audacious attempt at a long range half volley which Alexander had to watch carefully before holding.
Half Time Summary:
After a nervous opening ten minutes it was Rangers who had made most of the running and deserved to be a goal to the good. While United had seen chances at the other end limited Daly had looked a threat and things could have been very different had his 25th minute header found the net.
 Second Half:
United were straight on the attack as they set about levelling up the game and twice in as many moments Jon Daly was the target in the box but both times the ball ran just too far ahead for him to deliver a shot on goal. After 55 minutes Daly rose to meet a Dixon corner but couldn’t place his glancing header on target before United were again made to pay when Rangers went 2-0 up. Novo got the break of the ball as he took on Dillon on the left wing and crossed for Kenny Miller who had a simple free header 6 yards out which was despatched with ease. There was a further moment of panic shortly after as a back header from Darren Dods came close to catching out Weaver before he adjusted to block the ball comfortably. Boyd and Miller then had half chances before the game became more and more of a scrappy affair as United tried to work their way back into things and threw on Myrie-Williams and Goodwillie. Conway then tried a repeat of his goal against St Mirren recently but this time Alexander was not going to be caught out as the ball curled towards the near post. Weaver then saved again from a Boyd header as United had to defend again before Miller sealed the game with a killer 3rd goal after 74 minutes. Beasley played the ball inside from the right before the Rangers striker turned past Robertson with the aid of a deflection before slotting past Weaver from eight yards. With the game all but lost the Tangerines did keep plugging away and their most notable effort in the latter stages was a Buaben shot which was only a couple of feet wide, but it was simply not their day as the game ended in defeat.
Full Time Summary:
It was a disappointing evening for United after a surprisingly flat performance. While the effort was clearly there the home team just didn’t do enough on the night to get anything out of the game and must learn from this as they move into the busy festive period.
Man of the Match:
The clear winner of the award has to be Nicky Weaver as he was stranded at all three goals and but for several fine saves the score line could have been even worse.
United: Weaver, Dillon, Dods, Conway, Daly, Cadamarteri (Myrie-Williams 58), Buaben, Gomis (Goodwillie 66), Kenneth, Kovacevic (S Robertson 45), Dixon. Subs not used – Banks, D Robertson, Swanson, Casalinuovo.
Rangers: Alexander, Weir, Papac, McCulloch, Davis, Boyd (Lafferty 81), Novo (Fleck 84), Miller, Beasley (Naismith 81), Broadfoot, Bougherra. Subs not used – Gallacher, Whittaker, Little, Wilson.
Referee – Mike Tumilty
Attendance – 10,037
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"Copyright © and Database Right 2010 The Scottish Premier League Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way or by any means, (including photocopying, recording or storing it in any medium by electronic means), without the written permission of the copyright/database right owner. Applications for written permission should be addressed c/o Football DataCo Ltd, 30 Gloucester Place, London W1U 8PL.
Notes:
1. All fixtures subject to change.
2. Fixtures 34 - 38 will be published at a later date.
© Scottish Premier League
Licence Number IND/CLUBS/133
Unless otherwise stated, matches kick off at 3pm.
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