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2024 CORPORATE GOLF DAY
16th May 2024
Dundee United beat English Premier League side Blackburn Rovers 2-0 at Tannadice today in their final friendly before the SPL campaign kicks off next weekend.
A goal in each half from Andis Shala and Prince Buaben was enough for Craig Levein's young side to secure a confidence-boosting victory ahead of the season opener against Hearts on Monday, 17 August.
Manager Levein made a number of changes to the team that drew 1-1 with Newcastle United last weekend, with new signing Nicky Weaver replacing Steve Banks in the United goal, Paul Dixon returning to left back, and Andis Shala coming in for Danny Cadamarteri to partner David Goodwillie up front.
The opening quarter of an hour had a typical pre-season fixture feel about it, but the match was brought to life when Goodwillie was hauled down in the box to earn the home side a penalty.
However, the young striker, who scored from the spot against Newcastle, saw his effort saved by Paul Robinson.
But the Tangerines took a deserved lead on 26 minutes when Danny Swanson curled the ball to Morgaro Gomis at the back post. Gomis then headed it down into the path of Shala who smashed home from six yards.
Blackburn's best effort of the first half came on 38 minutes when on-loan Chelsea forward Franco di Santo latched onto a long ball from the back, only to fire his shot narrowly wide of Weaver's right hand post.
As the second half progressed, United continued to show that they were far from overawed by their more illustrious opponents, pressing for the second goal and creating a couple of half-chances.
They sealed the win in the 70th minute when Craig Conway crossed for Buaben to head in off former Dundee man Zurab Khizanishvili to make it 2-0.
The Tangerines could have made it 3-0 in the closing stages, but both Conway and Myrie-Williams were denied by the Rovers goalkeeper.
Teams:
Dundee United: Weaver, Webster, (Kenneth, 46), Dods (c), Kovacevic, Dixon (Dillon, 63), Scott Robertson (McCord, 79), Gomis (Conway, 63), Buaben, Swanson (David Robertson, 68), Shala (Myrie-Williams, 74), Goodwillie (Russell, 46) (Subs not used: Banks)
Blackburn: Robinson (Brown, 46), Jones, Olsson, Samba (Hoilett, 32), Nelson (c) (Khizanishvili, 18), Warnock (Flynn, 66), Van Heerden (Lowe, 77), Gallagher (Doran, 18), di Santo (Blackman, 70), Diouf (Marshall, 70), McCarthy (Roberts, 79)
Attendance: 3,717
Referee: Brian Winter
A goal in each half from Andis Shala and Prince Buaben was enough for Craig Levein's young side to secure a confidence-boosting victory ahead of the season opener against Hearts on Monday, 17 August.
Manager Levein made a number of changes to the team that drew 1-1 with Newcastle United last weekend, with new signing Nicky Weaver replacing Steve Banks in the United goal, Paul Dixon returning to left back, and Andis Shala coming in for Danny Cadamarteri to partner David Goodwillie up front.
The opening quarter of an hour had a typical pre-season fixture feel about it, but the match was brought to life when Goodwillie was hauled down in the box to earn the home side a penalty.
However, the young striker, who scored from the spot against Newcastle, saw his effort saved by Paul Robinson.
But the Tangerines took a deserved lead on 26 minutes when Danny Swanson curled the ball to Morgaro Gomis at the back post. Gomis then headed it down into the path of Shala who smashed home from six yards.
Blackburn's best effort of the first half came on 38 minutes when on-loan Chelsea forward Franco di Santo latched onto a long ball from the back, only to fire his shot narrowly wide of Weaver's right hand post.
As the second half progressed, United continued to show that they were far from overawed by their more illustrious opponents, pressing for the second goal and creating a couple of half-chances.
They sealed the win in the 70th minute when Craig Conway crossed for Buaben to head in off former Dundee man Zurab Khizanishvili to make it 2-0.
The Tangerines could have made it 3-0 in the closing stages, but both Conway and Myrie-Williams were denied by the Rovers goalkeeper.
Teams:
Dundee United: Weaver, Webster, (Kenneth, 46), Dods (c), Kovacevic, Dixon (Dillon, 63), Scott Robertson (McCord, 79), Gomis (Conway, 63), Buaben, Swanson (David Robertson, 68), Shala (Myrie-Williams, 74), Goodwillie (Russell, 46) (Subs not used: Banks)
Blackburn: Robinson (Brown, 46), Jones, Olsson, Samba (Hoilett, 32), Nelson (c) (Khizanishvili, 18), Warnock (Flynn, 66), Van Heerden (Lowe, 77), Gallagher (Doran, 18), di Santo (Blackman, 70), Diouf (Marshall, 70), McCarthy (Roberts, 79)
Attendance: 3,717
Referee: Brian Winter
