First Team
JIM GOODWIN | GLEN'S VODKA CHAMPIONSHIP MANAGER OF THE SEASON
15th May 2024
Damian Casalinuovo was United's hero when he scored the winner in a thrilling 3-2 Tayside derby victory over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park today. Danny Cadamarteri's penalty was cancelled out by a Darren Dods own goal before the break. In an action-packed second half, Andy Webster had United ahead again and then Hardie levelled with a stunning free kick. In the end it was United's Argentine debutant who sntached the winner with 15 minutes left in a game that also saw Danny Swanson red carded.
There was relief for the large travelling support when the influential Scott Robertson lined up in midfield for United however Morgaro Gomis missed out. Webster and Dods kept their places in the heart of defence and skipper Lee Wilkie also started in an unfamiliar centre forward role alongside debutant Damian Casalinuovo.
First Half:
It was United who started the game better and early on Kovacevic shot over and Wilkie headed wide. With twenty minutes gone, Saints twice went close when firstly Samuel had his shot blocked and then Weaver saved a deflected Morais shot with his legs. The game burst into life on the 35-minute mark when the referee awarded United a penalty when Mackay handled in the box and Cadamarteri made no mistake from the spot. Disappointingly the lead only lasted a minute when the home side took advantage of sloppy defending and a Morais shot was deflected over the line by the luckless Darren Dods. With half time approaching, United rode their luck when the home side failed to score from fine chances for Davidson and Deuchar.
Second Half:
It only took United two minutes to restore their lead after the break. A long throw from Dixon was helped on by Wilkie and the ball landed at the feet of Andy Webster who blasted home from 12 yards. Three minutes later United had another chance but this time Wilkie fired over. St Johnstone then had a good chance that Davidson sent high over the top before Morais fired in a great shot that Weaver magnificently tipped over. With 20 minutes left the home side were level. They won a free kick at the edge of the United area and with his first touch of the ball substitute Hardie scored directly from the free kick. Six minutes later United scored what was to be the winner when Robertson fed Casalinuovo whose shot eventually crossed the line with substitute David Goodwillie making sure. Casalinuovo worked hard all afternoon and he almost notched his second of the game only to be thwarted by a fine save from Main. United had to play out the final few minutes of the game with ten men after Danny Swanson was harshly red carded for a challenge on Gavin Swankie. However it was United who had the final chance of the day when Goodwillie went close and much to their credit they held out for a well earned three points.
Summing up: A great match with both sides giving their all and United will be delighted to make the short journey back to Tannadice with all three points.
Man of the match: Andy Webster. He was a rock at the heart of the defence and with his goal to add to his display he was United's top man on a fine afternoon for the Terrors.
Teams:
St Johnstone: Main, Grainger, McCaffrey, MacKay, Gartland, Morris, Millar (Swankie 61), Davidson, Morais, Deuchar (Hardie 71) Samuel (Craig 61).
United: Weaver, Webster, Wilkie (Goodwillie 74), Dods, Dixon (Dillon 67), Robertson, Swanson, Buaben, Kovacevic, Cadamarteri (Fotheringham 57) Casalinuovo.
There was relief for the large travelling support when the influential Scott Robertson lined up in midfield for United however Morgaro Gomis missed out. Webster and Dods kept their places in the heart of defence and skipper Lee Wilkie also started in an unfamiliar centre forward role alongside debutant Damian Casalinuovo.
First Half:
It was United who started the game better and early on Kovacevic shot over and Wilkie headed wide. With twenty minutes gone, Saints twice went close when firstly Samuel had his shot blocked and then Weaver saved a deflected Morais shot with his legs. The game burst into life on the 35-minute mark when the referee awarded United a penalty when Mackay handled in the box and Cadamarteri made no mistake from the spot. Disappointingly the lead only lasted a minute when the home side took advantage of sloppy defending and a Morais shot was deflected over the line by the luckless Darren Dods. With half time approaching, United rode their luck when the home side failed to score from fine chances for Davidson and Deuchar.
Second Half:
It only took United two minutes to restore their lead after the break. A long throw from Dixon was helped on by Wilkie and the ball landed at the feet of Andy Webster who blasted home from 12 yards. Three minutes later United had another chance but this time Wilkie fired over. St Johnstone then had a good chance that Davidson sent high over the top before Morais fired in a great shot that Weaver magnificently tipped over. With 20 minutes left the home side were level. They won a free kick at the edge of the United area and with his first touch of the ball substitute Hardie scored directly from the free kick. Six minutes later United scored what was to be the winner when Robertson fed Casalinuovo whose shot eventually crossed the line with substitute David Goodwillie making sure. Casalinuovo worked hard all afternoon and he almost notched his second of the game only to be thwarted by a fine save from Main. United had to play out the final few minutes of the game with ten men after Danny Swanson was harshly red carded for a challenge on Gavin Swankie. However it was United who had the final chance of the day when Goodwillie went close and much to their credit they held out for a well earned three points.
Summing up: A great match with both sides giving their all and United will be delighted to make the short journey back to Tannadice with all three points.
Man of the match: Andy Webster. He was a rock at the heart of the defence and with his goal to add to his display he was United's top man on a fine afternoon for the Terrors.
Teams:
St Johnstone: Main, Grainger, McCaffrey, MacKay, Gartland, Morris, Millar (Swankie 61), Davidson, Morais, Deuchar (Hardie 71) Samuel (Craig 61).
United: Weaver, Webster, Wilkie (Goodwillie 74), Dods, Dixon (Dillon 67), Robertson, Swanson, Buaben, Kovacevic, Cadamarteri (Fotheringham 57) Casalinuovo.
