Club
SUMMER REGENERATION WORK UNDERWAY
20th May 2024
Coach Stevie Campbell was able to call upon the services of first team squad members Kenneth, Cameron and Goodwillie for this Tannadice tie. Whilst the youngsters got off to the perfect start with an early goal, there can be no denying that Rangers were full value for their victory.
Kenneth, Cameron and Goodwillie formed the spine of the team that lined up 4-4-2. The back four comprised of Burnett, O'Byrne and Kenneth and Fleming; the midfield Flynn, Cameron, Andreoni and Russell with Feeney and Goodwillie up front.
The Tannadice outfit made an early breakthrough with a goal after only three minutes.Greg Burnett hoisted a towering cross into the six-yard box which visiting keeper Callum Reidford, under the challenge of Robbie Feeney, failed to collect and Billy Russell slotted home the loose ball. Rangers then hemmed United back in their own box but had to wait half an hour before equalising with Steve Lennon teeing up Andy Shinnie to drill home a low shot into the bottom left hand corner from just inside the box.
Three minutes later, United fell behind when Gibson palmed away Steve Lennon's low right wing cross and the unfortunate Michael O'Byrne unwittingly turned the ball into his own net. Rangers then turned up the heat and the powerful N'Guessan fired just past seven minutes from half-time. There was a further blow for the home side when Greg Cameron limped off to be replaced by O'Hara.
And United were lucky not to go in at the break further behind, because, with a minute left, John Gibson touched a Steve Lennon free-kick on to the post and Chris Smith blazed over with the goal apparently at his mercy.
With Greg Burnett in midfield and Matti Flynn going to right-back, it was far from one-way traffic in the second-half though United rarely threatened. Rangers always looked the likelier side to score and only a superb last gasp tackle by Garry Kenneth prevented N'Guessan putting the game beyond United's reach after 66 minutes.
Two minutes later Goodwilie fired over and then tried an audacious first time effort from thirty yards as United threatened for the first time in the second half. Goodwillie's runs were causing Rangers problems, but too often he found himself crowded out or taking the wrong option. It was after trying to check one of his runs that Rangers keeper Callum Reidford went off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury to be replaced by Scott Gallacher.
Stevie Campbell went for broke in trying to salvage the tie bringing on Jamie Donnelly and moved Garry Kenneth up front, but with United unable to get the ball forward, the ploy never had a chance of working.
Dundee United: Gibson, Burnett, Fleming, O'Byrne, Kenneth, Andreoni, Flynn, Cameron (O'Hara 41), Feeney, Goodwillie, Russell (Donnelly 81). Subs not used: Newman, Pope, McMeechan.
Rangers: Reidford (Gallacher 73). Lowing, Ure, Perry, Smith, Emslie, Johnston, Lennon, N'Guessan, Shinnie, McLachlan (Gilmour 66). Subs not used: Fleck, Kinniburgh, Hadden.
Referee: K Graham
Kenneth, Cameron and Goodwillie formed the spine of the team that lined up 4-4-2. The back four comprised of Burnett, O'Byrne and Kenneth and Fleming; the midfield Flynn, Cameron, Andreoni and Russell with Feeney and Goodwillie up front.
The Tannadice outfit made an early breakthrough with a goal after only three minutes.Greg Burnett hoisted a towering cross into the six-yard box which visiting keeper Callum Reidford, under the challenge of Robbie Feeney, failed to collect and Billy Russell slotted home the loose ball. Rangers then hemmed United back in their own box but had to wait half an hour before equalising with Steve Lennon teeing up Andy Shinnie to drill home a low shot into the bottom left hand corner from just inside the box.
Three minutes later, United fell behind when Gibson palmed away Steve Lennon's low right wing cross and the unfortunate Michael O'Byrne unwittingly turned the ball into his own net. Rangers then turned up the heat and the powerful N'Guessan fired just past seven minutes from half-time. There was a further blow for the home side when Greg Cameron limped off to be replaced by O'Hara.
And United were lucky not to go in at the break further behind, because, with a minute left, John Gibson touched a Steve Lennon free-kick on to the post and Chris Smith blazed over with the goal apparently at his mercy.
With Greg Burnett in midfield and Matti Flynn going to right-back, it was far from one-way traffic in the second-half though United rarely threatened. Rangers always looked the likelier side to score and only a superb last gasp tackle by Garry Kenneth prevented N'Guessan putting the game beyond United's reach after 66 minutes.
Two minutes later Goodwilie fired over and then tried an audacious first time effort from thirty yards as United threatened for the first time in the second half. Goodwillie's runs were causing Rangers problems, but too often he found himself crowded out or taking the wrong option. It was after trying to check one of his runs that Rangers keeper Callum Reidford went off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury to be replaced by Scott Gallacher.
Stevie Campbell went for broke in trying to salvage the tie bringing on Jamie Donnelly and moved Garry Kenneth up front, but with United unable to get the ball forward, the ploy never had a chance of working.
Dundee United: Gibson, Burnett, Fleming, O'Byrne, Kenneth, Andreoni, Flynn, Cameron (O'Hara 41), Feeney, Goodwillie, Russell (Donnelly 81). Subs not used: Newman, Pope, McMeechan.
Rangers: Reidford (Gallacher 73). Lowing, Ure, Perry, Smith, Emslie, Johnston, Lennon, N'Guessan, Shinnie, McLachlan (Gilmour 66). Subs not used: Fleck, Kinniburgh, Hadden.
Referee: K Graham
