MATCH REPORT | A PROMOTION PARTY AT TANNADICE
4th May 2024
The Under-21 side travelled to Broadwood Stadium to meet Rangers tonight. The side lined up in a 4-4-2 formation with Paul Jarvie in goal for his first outing of the season. The back four comprised Andy Hunter, also making his first start of the season, Steven Anderson, Gary Bollan and Jim Paterson. The midfield had Andy McLaren on the right alongside Mark Wilson and Craig Easton and Kenny Jarvis on the left, also for his first game this season. Up front, player Coach Owen Coyle partnered Stephen McGowan. The subs were Gavin McCann, Steven Bell, Graeme Holmes, Ross Gardiner and Aaron Conway.
In an entertaining first half United had a couple of good opportunities to go in front and eventually the young side gained a deserved lead through Coyle (pictured) who knocked the ball in at the back post from an Easton assist. The team were playing well but, when Rangers won a free-kick at the edge of the box, Brighton took the kick and scored. As the ball was played in Jarvie seemed to have it covered but he was unlucky enough to fumble the shot and it dropped into the net.
The Tangerines had chances in the second half to go back into the lead particularly through Conway who came on as a substitute but the match ended level at 1-1.
Owen Coyle said after the match "I was pleased with the performance from what was a young side tonight against a strong Rangers line-up including Ostenstad, Emerson, Hughes, Ross and Burke. I felt we were more than a match for Rangers and could have won the game. It was a young team and a lot of positives can be taken from this performance." He again stressed that the Under-21 arena is a learning experience and that the young players will learn from mistakes and be all the stronger for it.
Jarvie, Hunter, Anderson, Bollan, J Paterson, McLaren (Bell), Wilson, Easton, Jarvis (Holmes), Coyle, McGowan (Conway).
In an entertaining first half United had a couple of good opportunities to go in front and eventually the young side gained a deserved lead through Coyle (pictured) who knocked the ball in at the back post from an Easton assist. The team were playing well but, when Rangers won a free-kick at the edge of the box, Brighton took the kick and scored. As the ball was played in Jarvie seemed to have it covered but he was unlucky enough to fumble the shot and it dropped into the net.
The Tangerines had chances in the second half to go back into the lead particularly through Conway who came on as a substitute but the match ended level at 1-1.
Owen Coyle said after the match "I was pleased with the performance from what was a young side tonight against a strong Rangers line-up including Ostenstad, Emerson, Hughes, Ross and Burke. I felt we were more than a match for Rangers and could have won the game. It was a young team and a lot of positives can be taken from this performance." He again stressed that the Under-21 arena is a learning experience and that the young players will learn from mistakes and be all the stronger for it.
Jarvie, Hunter, Anderson, Bollan, J Paterson, McLaren (Bell), Wilson, Easton, Jarvis (Holmes), Coyle, McGowan (Conway).
