Club
SUMMER REGENERATION WORK UNDERWAY
20th May 2024
A goal five minutes from the end cruelly dashed the Youth team's hopes of taking at least a point from today's clash with Rangers at Glenesk Park. Two down and with Rangers very much in control in the opening half hour, they staged a remarkable recovery, and in the end either side could have won it. Unfortunately, it was Rangers who did.
It was no surprise when Jordan McMillan gave the visitors the lead with a 20-yard drive after nineteen minutes. Five minutes later, Billy Russell chopped down the lively Sammy Woods in the box and Lennon drilled home from the spot. Some 31 minutes were on the clock before United threatened for the first time when a Rangers defender's header from a Marco Andreoni free-kick was tipped onto the post for a corner by goalkeeper Callum Woodford.
The signs of a home revival had been there before the break and those foundations were cemented by a much-improved second half performance following the introduction of Ryan McCord and Sean Fleming for Billy Russell and David Gray, whilst Kieran McAleenan moved forward into the left-hand side of midfield.
Ten minutes into second half, Marco Andreoni rose to head in a Kieran McAleenan free-kick which Woodford touched on to the post before going in. Despite the Tannadice side having the upper hand in the second half, Rangers were still dangerous and a killer third goal was only averted by a fine John Gibson save as he collected John Johnston's powerful shot at the second attempt after the striker had run through from almost the halfway line.
The threat posed by the visitors was again emphasised when Jordan McMillan netted two minutes later, but that was ruled offside. With United still in search of an equaliser, Jamie Donnelly had a free header from a McAleenan free-kick only to head straight into the arms of Woodford after 65 minutes.
There was more activity from the United bench midway through the half when Chris Jeffrey replaced Robbie Feeney. Andreoni tested Woodford with twenty minutes left only keeping out his shot at the second attempt, but he was to enjoy better luck three minutes later.
Having won a free-kick out on the right, he was then on the end of an in-swinging McAleenan cross to power in a header for the equaliser. In the last quarter of an hour, both sides went hammer and tongs for a winner. Rangers withdrew Woods and N'Guessan who'd been as quiet in the second half as they had been dangerous before the break. There were chances for both sides.
Rangers Craig Frizzell fired wide from a good position at one end and immediately at the other, Woodford clattered Chris Jeffrey, whose goalbound lob was headed off the line by Chris Smith, but the whistle had already blown. From Andreoni's free-kick, Kieran McAleenan was literally a hair's breadth away from putting United in front.
Up at the other end, John Gibson was at full stretch to keep out a Lennon shot.
However, five minutes from the end, Lennon was to have the final say smashing a right-footed free-kick into the top left-hand corner for the winner.
Dundee United: Gibson, Russell (McCord 46), McAleenan, Flynn, Donnelly, Watson, O'Hara, Andreoni, Feeney (Jeffrey 67), Goodwillie, Gray. Sub not used: McMeechan.
Rangers: Woodford, McLaughlan, Ure, Frizzell, Smith, Emslie, McMillan, Lennon, Johnston, Woods (Agnew 77), N'Guessan (Murphy 77). Subs not used: Gallacher, Kinniburgh, Gallacher.
It was no surprise when Jordan McMillan gave the visitors the lead with a 20-yard drive after nineteen minutes. Five minutes later, Billy Russell chopped down the lively Sammy Woods in the box and Lennon drilled home from the spot. Some 31 minutes were on the clock before United threatened for the first time when a Rangers defender's header from a Marco Andreoni free-kick was tipped onto the post for a corner by goalkeeper Callum Woodford.
The signs of a home revival had been there before the break and those foundations were cemented by a much-improved second half performance following the introduction of Ryan McCord and Sean Fleming for Billy Russell and David Gray, whilst Kieran McAleenan moved forward into the left-hand side of midfield.
Ten minutes into second half, Marco Andreoni rose to head in a Kieran McAleenan free-kick which Woodford touched on to the post before going in. Despite the Tannadice side having the upper hand in the second half, Rangers were still dangerous and a killer third goal was only averted by a fine John Gibson save as he collected John Johnston's powerful shot at the second attempt after the striker had run through from almost the halfway line.
The threat posed by the visitors was again emphasised when Jordan McMillan netted two minutes later, but that was ruled offside. With United still in search of an equaliser, Jamie Donnelly had a free header from a McAleenan free-kick only to head straight into the arms of Woodford after 65 minutes.
There was more activity from the United bench midway through the half when Chris Jeffrey replaced Robbie Feeney. Andreoni tested Woodford with twenty minutes left only keeping out his shot at the second attempt, but he was to enjoy better luck three minutes later.
Having won a free-kick out on the right, he was then on the end of an in-swinging McAleenan cross to power in a header for the equaliser. In the last quarter of an hour, both sides went hammer and tongs for a winner. Rangers withdrew Woods and N'Guessan who'd been as quiet in the second half as they had been dangerous before the break. There were chances for both sides.
Rangers Craig Frizzell fired wide from a good position at one end and immediately at the other, Woodford clattered Chris Jeffrey, whose goalbound lob was headed off the line by Chris Smith, but the whistle had already blown. From Andreoni's free-kick, Kieran McAleenan was literally a hair's breadth away from putting United in front.
Up at the other end, John Gibson was at full stretch to keep out a Lennon shot.
However, five minutes from the end, Lennon was to have the final say smashing a right-footed free-kick into the top left-hand corner for the winner.
Dundee United: Gibson, Russell (McCord 46), McAleenan, Flynn, Donnelly, Watson, O'Hara, Andreoni, Feeney (Jeffrey 67), Goodwillie, Gray. Sub not used: McMeechan.
Rangers: Woodford, McLaughlan, Ure, Frizzell, Smith, Emslie, McMillan, Lennon, Johnston, Woods (Agnew 77), N'Guessan (Murphy 77). Subs not used: Gallacher, Kinniburgh, Gallacher.
