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NINE TROPHIES SCOOPED AT DUNDEE UNITED'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS
6th May 2024
The pre-season build-up was finally over as 12 weeks of SPL football famine was put right by this afternoon's game played in glorious sunshine at East End Park, Dunfermline.
United Manager Ian McCall fielded a 4 - 4 - 2 formation with Tony Bullock in goal, a back four of Mark Wilson, David McCracken, Chris Innes and Alan Archibald, a midfield quartet of Mark Kerr, Billy Dodds, Derek McInnes and Barry Robson with James Grady and Jason Scotland being partnered up front. McCall's most recent, yet still provisional, signing, Scotland defender Paul Ritchie, was given a place on the bench.
Last year's beaten cup finalists were happy to see the return of club skipper Scott Thomson who endured a nightmare season last year due to injury. Craig Brewster recovered sufficiently from recent knee surgery to get a place on the bench. Andy Tod, who played as a loan signing for Ian McCall's United whilst still on the books at Bradford, started up front thanks to his pre-season goal scoring exploits.
The game started brightly with both teams well up for the contest. Dunfermline forced an early corner when Kerr brilliantly denied Hunt a shooting opportunity. United's midfield then took a grip of the game and began to dictate proceedings in a manner that would be carried on throughout the half. United's first real chance at goal came in five minutes when Wilson's cross was knocked down by Kerr into the path of Grady. The striker stretched to get his foot to the ball and hammered a volley just past the far post.
Ten minutes into the game, the good-sized United support was well in the mood to give Paul Ritchie a welcoming cheer as the United Manager sent his subs out to warm up.
United put together a few great one-touch passing moves but the final ball just seemed to let them down. The Pars were being kept well back in their own half, relying on the pace of Hunt on the break to trouble the United defence.
Jason Scotland was continuing to show the great form of last season making telling runs at the Pars defence, only to be denied by last-gasp tackles and clearances to his final ball into the box.
United's dominance continued as half time approached and Jason Scotland and Barry Robson were both subjected to some rather heavy challenges, however, all resultant free kicks were being dealt with by the defensive Pars' wall.
As the half time whistle approached, James Grady and Scott Thomson clashed heads, and the Pars man was taken from the field for stitches.
The Pars immediately set about breaking up United's dominance of the game at the start of the second half. Their new-found energy and vigour paid dividends just 3 minutes into the half, when makeshift centre forward Andy Tod bundled the ball home after a Dempsey shot had been blocked. They could have gone further ahead a couple of minutes later when Nicholson blasted over from the edge of the box.
United's response to the setback was quick, Stillie just managed to tip a Dodds header over after some great wing play on the left by Scotland. Despite the Pars' advantage, the game was still in United's sights and from a corner McCracken saw a near post header bundled away by Stillie.
The United gaffer made an inspired substitution in 73 minutes when he replaced Robson with United's top scorer last season, Jim McIntyre. Two minutes on the park and Jim side-footed a Scotland cross into the net after a great dummy from Samuel and a neat flick from Grady had put Scotland in the clear on the right.
The game continued at a frantic pace with both sides probing for what would be the decisive goal.
The match finished all square with both teams probably happy with a point. United will regret not turning their dominance into goals in a commanding first half performance but the Pars will also rue the missed chances from early in the second half when they could have put the game beyond United.
Teams:
Dunfermline Athletic:
Stillie, Shields, Scott Wilson, Skerla, Scott Thomson (Darren Young 45), Nicholson, Mason, Dempsey, Byrne, Hunt (Brewster 73), Tod (Mehmet 73).
Subs Not Used: Langfield, Donnelly, Labonte, Campbell
Dundee Utd:
Bullock, Wilson, McCracken, Innes, Archibald, McInnes, Kerr, Robson (McIntyre 73), Dodds (Samuel 59), Grady, Scotland (Duff 82).
Subs Not Used: Jarvie, Holmes, Ritchie, Conway
Attendance: 6512
Referee: D McDonald
Click here for a full match report by Grant Letham.
United Manager Ian McCall fielded a 4 - 4 - 2 formation with Tony Bullock in goal, a back four of Mark Wilson, David McCracken, Chris Innes and Alan Archibald, a midfield quartet of Mark Kerr, Billy Dodds, Derek McInnes and Barry Robson with James Grady and Jason Scotland being partnered up front. McCall's most recent, yet still provisional, signing, Scotland defender Paul Ritchie, was given a place on the bench.
Last year's beaten cup finalists were happy to see the return of club skipper Scott Thomson who endured a nightmare season last year due to injury. Craig Brewster recovered sufficiently from recent knee surgery to get a place on the bench. Andy Tod, who played as a loan signing for Ian McCall's United whilst still on the books at Bradford, started up front thanks to his pre-season goal scoring exploits.
The game started brightly with both teams well up for the contest. Dunfermline forced an early corner when Kerr brilliantly denied Hunt a shooting opportunity. United's midfield then took a grip of the game and began to dictate proceedings in a manner that would be carried on throughout the half. United's first real chance at goal came in five minutes when Wilson's cross was knocked down by Kerr into the path of Grady. The striker stretched to get his foot to the ball and hammered a volley just past the far post.
Ten minutes into the game, the good-sized United support was well in the mood to give Paul Ritchie a welcoming cheer as the United Manager sent his subs out to warm up.
United put together a few great one-touch passing moves but the final ball just seemed to let them down. The Pars were being kept well back in their own half, relying on the pace of Hunt on the break to trouble the United defence.
Jason Scotland was continuing to show the great form of last season making telling runs at the Pars defence, only to be denied by last-gasp tackles and clearances to his final ball into the box.
United's dominance continued as half time approached and Jason Scotland and Barry Robson were both subjected to some rather heavy challenges, however, all resultant free kicks were being dealt with by the defensive Pars' wall.
As the half time whistle approached, James Grady and Scott Thomson clashed heads, and the Pars man was taken from the field for stitches.
The Pars immediately set about breaking up United's dominance of the game at the start of the second half. Their new-found energy and vigour paid dividends just 3 minutes into the half, when makeshift centre forward Andy Tod bundled the ball home after a Dempsey shot had been blocked. They could have gone further ahead a couple of minutes later when Nicholson blasted over from the edge of the box.
United's response to the setback was quick, Stillie just managed to tip a Dodds header over after some great wing play on the left by Scotland. Despite the Pars' advantage, the game was still in United's sights and from a corner McCracken saw a near post header bundled away by Stillie.
The United gaffer made an inspired substitution in 73 minutes when he replaced Robson with United's top scorer last season, Jim McIntyre. Two minutes on the park and Jim side-footed a Scotland cross into the net after a great dummy from Samuel and a neat flick from Grady had put Scotland in the clear on the right.
The game continued at a frantic pace with both sides probing for what would be the decisive goal.
The match finished all square with both teams probably happy with a point. United will regret not turning their dominance into goals in a commanding first half performance but the Pars will also rue the missed chances from early in the second half when they could have put the game beyond United.
Teams:
Dunfermline Athletic:
Stillie, Shields, Scott Wilson, Skerla, Scott Thomson (Darren Young 45), Nicholson, Mason, Dempsey, Byrne, Hunt (Brewster 73), Tod (Mehmet 73).
Subs Not Used: Langfield, Donnelly, Labonte, Campbell
Dundee Utd:
Bullock, Wilson, McCracken, Innes, Archibald, McInnes, Kerr, Robson (McIntyre 73), Dodds (Samuel 59), Grady, Scotland (Duff 82).
Subs Not Used: Jarvie, Holmes, Ritchie, Conway
Attendance: 6512
Referee: D McDonald
Click here for a full match report by Grant Letham.
