MATCH REPORT | A PROMOTION PARTY AT TANNADICE
4th May 2024
Dundee United emphatically reclaimed third place in the SPL with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Falkirk this afternoon, courtesy of a Jon Daly hat-trick which followed David Goodwillie's opener.
United continued their impressive away form this season, picking up their 20th point on the road so far. And it is the first time they have scored four in the SPL in over two years since Hearts went down at Tannadice 4-0 in January 2008. You have to go back another year, to April 2007, to recall the last time four goals were scored on their travels when Aberdeen lost 4-2 at Pittodrie.
The visitors enjoyed the best of the opening exchanges forcing Falkirk to concede three quick corners in succession, but the first real chance of the game fell to the hosts. Enoch Showunmi's cross found Carl Finnigan inside the United box, but the Bairns top scorer directed his close range header straight at the waiting Pernis.
With just under half an hour on the clock, United broke the deadlock through David Goodwillie. Prince Buaben fed the ball into the path of the 20-year-old striker, who beat defender Brian McLean before coolly slotting the ball home from a tight angle.
The home side almost got back on level terms moments later when Colin Healy's corner found Showunmi in space at the edge of the box. But the
imposing striker blasted his powerful driver over the bar.
Remarkably, Eddie May's side had never gone into the break leading in 18 matches so far this season, and they found themselves trailing by two on the stroke of half-time after a blistering counter attack. Ryan Flynn's right-footed strike was saved by Pernis, and the Slovakian keeper's route one clearance bounced awkwardly over former West Brom defender Pele and Jon Daly was on hand to capitalise, before delicately lobbing the ball over the hapless Olejink.
Brimming with confidence, United almost snatched a third before the break, but Gomis's 25-yard effort was wide of the mark. Jon Daly again found the net immediately after the restart, but was adjudged to be
offside when he headed home. But the travelling support wouldn't have to wait long to see the third goal.
And it was every bit as good as the two that preceded it. Goodwillie's neat flick was picked up by Danny Swanson, who charged forward before threading a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Daly. And the
Irishman's low drive from 12 yards beat Olejink.
That strike all but killed the game as a contest, and Eddie May would be left to rue the two chances his side missed immediately before Daly's winner.
Substitute Jack Compton whipped a drive towards goal from just outside the box, but Pernis was able to parry away. From the resultant corner Sowunmi rose well but headed over the bar.
Casalinuovo replaced Goodwillie after an hour, and forced a fine save from Olejink before 27-year-old Dubliner Jon Daly completed his first ever SPL hat-trick for United three years after signing from Hartlepool. Craig Conway was the supplier, finding the big striker unmarked in the box, and he nodded home to put United four clear.
In injury time, the Bairns' two half time substitutes combined for a late consolation, but few home fans were left in attendance to witness it, when Jack Compton's powerful pinpoint cross was steered in by Pedro Moutinho.
Caretaker boss Peter Houston was delighted with the performance.
He said: "Last week after the Hibs game, I said that it was probably the best we'd played all season. But I think we topped that today. It really was a beautiful Sunday for the fans.
"The boys were sensational, and to score four away from home says it all."
And he heaped praise on Daly after a fine display: "As far as I'm concerned, Jon Daly's career is just getting started at Dundee United. He is sometimes perceived as a battering-ram-style player because of his size, and of course he is strong physically and a great aerial threat. But there is so much more to him than that and he doesn't get the credit. He is a fantastic footballer, and is a very skilful and intelligent player. His work rate off the ball is phenomenal."
Teams:
Falkirk: Olejnik, Barr (c), McLean, Twaddle, Finnigan (Moutinho 45), Arfield (Compton 45), Flynn, Pele, Showunmi, Healy, Lima
Subs not used: Andrews (GK), O'Brien, Bullen, Stewart, Murdoch
Dundee United: Pernis, Dixon, Kenneth, Webster (c) (Dods 15), Kovacevic, Swanson, Buaben (D. Robertson 72), Gomis, Conway, Daly,
Goodwillie (Casalinuovo 63)
Subs not used: Banks (GK), Dillon, Myrie-Williams, Shala
Referee: Euan Norris
Attendance: 4,378
United continued their impressive away form this season, picking up their 20th point on the road so far. And it is the first time they have scored four in the SPL in over two years since Hearts went down at Tannadice 4-0 in January 2008. You have to go back another year, to April 2007, to recall the last time four goals were scored on their travels when Aberdeen lost 4-2 at Pittodrie.
The visitors enjoyed the best of the opening exchanges forcing Falkirk to concede three quick corners in succession, but the first real chance of the game fell to the hosts. Enoch Showunmi's cross found Carl Finnigan inside the United box, but the Bairns top scorer directed his close range header straight at the waiting Pernis.
With just under half an hour on the clock, United broke the deadlock through David Goodwillie. Prince Buaben fed the ball into the path of the 20-year-old striker, who beat defender Brian McLean before coolly slotting the ball home from a tight angle.
The home side almost got back on level terms moments later when Colin Healy's corner found Showunmi in space at the edge of the box. But the
imposing striker blasted his powerful driver over the bar.
Remarkably, Eddie May's side had never gone into the break leading in 18 matches so far this season, and they found themselves trailing by two on the stroke of half-time after a blistering counter attack. Ryan Flynn's right-footed strike was saved by Pernis, and the Slovakian keeper's route one clearance bounced awkwardly over former West Brom defender Pele and Jon Daly was on hand to capitalise, before delicately lobbing the ball over the hapless Olejink.
Brimming with confidence, United almost snatched a third before the break, but Gomis's 25-yard effort was wide of the mark. Jon Daly again found the net immediately after the restart, but was adjudged to be
offside when he headed home. But the travelling support wouldn't have to wait long to see the third goal.
And it was every bit as good as the two that preceded it. Goodwillie's neat flick was picked up by Danny Swanson, who charged forward before threading a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Daly. And the
Irishman's low drive from 12 yards beat Olejink.
That strike all but killed the game as a contest, and Eddie May would be left to rue the two chances his side missed immediately before Daly's winner.
Substitute Jack Compton whipped a drive towards goal from just outside the box, but Pernis was able to parry away. From the resultant corner Sowunmi rose well but headed over the bar.
Casalinuovo replaced Goodwillie after an hour, and forced a fine save from Olejink before 27-year-old Dubliner Jon Daly completed his first ever SPL hat-trick for United three years after signing from Hartlepool. Craig Conway was the supplier, finding the big striker unmarked in the box, and he nodded home to put United four clear.
In injury time, the Bairns' two half time substitutes combined for a late consolation, but few home fans were left in attendance to witness it, when Jack Compton's powerful pinpoint cross was steered in by Pedro Moutinho.
Caretaker boss Peter Houston was delighted with the performance.
He said: "Last week after the Hibs game, I said that it was probably the best we'd played all season. But I think we topped that today. It really was a beautiful Sunday for the fans.
"The boys were sensational, and to score four away from home says it all."
And he heaped praise on Daly after a fine display: "As far as I'm concerned, Jon Daly's career is just getting started at Dundee United. He is sometimes perceived as a battering-ram-style player because of his size, and of course he is strong physically and a great aerial threat. But there is so much more to him than that and he doesn't get the credit. He is a fantastic footballer, and is a very skilful and intelligent player. His work rate off the ball is phenomenal."
Teams:
Falkirk: Olejnik, Barr (c), McLean, Twaddle, Finnigan (Moutinho 45), Arfield (Compton 45), Flynn, Pele, Showunmi, Healy, Lima
Subs not used: Andrews (GK), O'Brien, Bullen, Stewart, Murdoch
Dundee United: Pernis, Dixon, Kenneth, Webster (c) (Dods 15), Kovacevic, Swanson, Buaben (D. Robertson 72), Gomis, Conway, Daly,
Goodwillie (Casalinuovo 63)
Subs not used: Banks (GK), Dillon, Myrie-Williams, Shala
Referee: Euan Norris
Attendance: 4,378
