First Team
CRAIG SIBBALD EXTENDS TANNADICE STAY
14th May 2024
A double from Damian Casalinuovo continued United's excellent away form, with the team now unbeaten in six SPL matches on the road. However, in a match packed with goal mouth action United's goalkeeper Nicky Weaver was just as important with string of excellent saves.
Andy Webster's return in place of Darren Dods was United's only change from the eleven that started against Rangers last week. And Webster and his fellow defenders were on the back foot in the early stages of this game with Killie pressing everywhere, and the visitors struggling to cope with high balls into the box. Kyle just missed out on converting a Hammil cross under pressure from Kovacevic, before Hammil forced the first save of the day from Weaver on 10 minutes, the keeper blocking well at his front post.
Another high ball evaded the United defence soon after and Weaver once again was called into action to save a powerful drive from the edge of the box by Kyle, with Taouil's follow up effort drifting wide.
But United fought back with Jenno Myrie-Williams in particular causing all sorts of problems for the Killie defence. On 20 minutes the winger's trickery drew a clear trip from Garry Hay, there being no doubt about the penalty decision. Casalinuovo dispatched a confident spot kick low to Brown's right. Myrie-Williams continued to wreak havoc and after another mazy dribble into the box by the winger, Prince Buaben's drive from six yards required a tremendous save from Brown who tipped over the bar.
With the game really opening up before the interval Skelton blasted a sitter over the bar from five yards, before Brown had to make another fine save to deny Gomis at the other end. Then, on the stroke of half time Weaver pulled off a wonderful double save to deny first Kyle and then Hay and keep United ahead at the break.
The visitors started the second half in positive fashion with Casalinuovo forcing Brown into another good save with a drive from twelve yards. Killie remained dangerous and Fowler should have done better than shoot over from sixteen yards after good work from Bryson. But United extended their lead on 57 minutes after a fine counter attack which saw Myrie-Williams draw the keeper and square the ball for Casalinuovo to tap into the empty net. Thereafter, with United powering forward at every opportunity the home side had their own keeper to thank for keeping them in the game with excellent stops to deny Myrie-Williams and David Goodwillie.
Killie started throwing caution to the wind and Weaver again did well to block at his front post a close range shot from Bryson. Despite the two goal cushion, there was no question that the game was over. But it looked like it was to be United's day when Kyle blazed over from twelve yards having beaten United's off-side trap with 21 minutes remaining. The host's best opportunity to get back into the match had come and gone, and while there were half chances in the closing stages at either end, United looked increasingly comfortable.
An excellent day's entertainment and a tremendous three points from a very difficult fixture.
Teams:
Kilmarnock: Brown, Hay (Flannigan 81), Fowler (Burchill 76), Wright, Bryson, Taouil, Skelton, O'Leary, Kyle, Fernandez, Hamill (Samson 63) Unused Subs: Bell, Pascali, Owens, Kelly
United: Weaver, Webster, Conway, Myrie-Williams (Swanson 81), Buaben, Gomis, Kenneth, Kovacevic, Casalinuovo (Cadamarteri 75), Dixon, Goodwillie (Dillon)
Unused Subs: Banks, Dods, D Robertson, Shala
Ref: Stevie O'Reilly
Attendance: 4'753
Man of the Match: Nicky Weaver. He made some great stops at crucial times, including a superb double stop just before the interval which kept United ahead.
Andy Webster's return in place of Darren Dods was United's only change from the eleven that started against Rangers last week. And Webster and his fellow defenders were on the back foot in the early stages of this game with Killie pressing everywhere, and the visitors struggling to cope with high balls into the box. Kyle just missed out on converting a Hammil cross under pressure from Kovacevic, before Hammil forced the first save of the day from Weaver on 10 minutes, the keeper blocking well at his front post.
Another high ball evaded the United defence soon after and Weaver once again was called into action to save a powerful drive from the edge of the box by Kyle, with Taouil's follow up effort drifting wide.
But United fought back with Jenno Myrie-Williams in particular causing all sorts of problems for the Killie defence. On 20 minutes the winger's trickery drew a clear trip from Garry Hay, there being no doubt about the penalty decision. Casalinuovo dispatched a confident spot kick low to Brown's right. Myrie-Williams continued to wreak havoc and after another mazy dribble into the box by the winger, Prince Buaben's drive from six yards required a tremendous save from Brown who tipped over the bar.
With the game really opening up before the interval Skelton blasted a sitter over the bar from five yards, before Brown had to make another fine save to deny Gomis at the other end. Then, on the stroke of half time Weaver pulled off a wonderful double save to deny first Kyle and then Hay and keep United ahead at the break.
The visitors started the second half in positive fashion with Casalinuovo forcing Brown into another good save with a drive from twelve yards. Killie remained dangerous and Fowler should have done better than shoot over from sixteen yards after good work from Bryson. But United extended their lead on 57 minutes after a fine counter attack which saw Myrie-Williams draw the keeper and square the ball for Casalinuovo to tap into the empty net. Thereafter, with United powering forward at every opportunity the home side had their own keeper to thank for keeping them in the game with excellent stops to deny Myrie-Williams and David Goodwillie.
Killie started throwing caution to the wind and Weaver again did well to block at his front post a close range shot from Bryson. Despite the two goal cushion, there was no question that the game was over. But it looked like it was to be United's day when Kyle blazed over from twelve yards having beaten United's off-side trap with 21 minutes remaining. The host's best opportunity to get back into the match had come and gone, and while there were half chances in the closing stages at either end, United looked increasingly comfortable.
An excellent day's entertainment and a tremendous three points from a very difficult fixture.
Teams:
Kilmarnock: Brown, Hay (Flannigan 81), Fowler (Burchill 76), Wright, Bryson, Taouil, Skelton, O'Leary, Kyle, Fernandez, Hamill (Samson 63) Unused Subs: Bell, Pascali, Owens, Kelly
United: Weaver, Webster, Conway, Myrie-Williams (Swanson 81), Buaben, Gomis, Kenneth, Kovacevic, Casalinuovo (Cadamarteri 75), Dixon, Goodwillie (Dillon)
Unused Subs: Banks, Dods, D Robertson, Shala
Ref: Stevie O'Reilly
Attendance: 4'753
Man of the Match: Nicky Weaver. He made some great stops at crucial times, including a superb double stop just before the interval which kept United ahead.
