MATCH REPORT | A PROMOTION PARTY AT TANNADICE
4th May 2024
A glorious goal from Danny Swanson in 39 minutes turned out to be enough to lift United above Hibs into third place. This came after David Goodwillie had earlier missed a penalty during a first half dominated by the Tangerines. Despite Hibs threatening on a few occasions after the break, the hosts for the most part contained them comfortably and fully merited the victory.
United constructed a promising attack right from the kick off which, after good link-up play between Goodwillie and Swanson, ended with Prince Buaben screwing a shot well wide. Shortly after, the Terrors were almost ahead after a Dixon free kick from the corner of the box spun up wickedly off a Hibs defender and had to be palmed away from the top corner by Graeme Smith scrambling across goal. It was a positive start from United and Craig Conway forced a corner from an ambitious half volley from 25 yards before Jon Daly failed to connect properly from the set piece despite having a free header six yards out. Hibs goalkeeper Smith made another decent save on 25 minutes, showing good reflexes to prevent Daly netting from close range after an angled cross from Conway before United won a penalty in the 35th minute. Daly poked the ball through for Buaben who was taken out by Chris Hogg just inside the area, and after quickly consulting the linesman, the referee pointed to the spot. David Goodwillie stepped up to take the kick but Graeme Smith guessed right and pulled off a superb save before Goodwillie headed the rebound wide when it looked an easy task to lift the ball into an empty net. The hosts only had another three minutes to wait however before the deadlock was broken, with Goodwillie making amends as the provider. The United man broke down the right and slid in a sublime pass inside for Danny Swanson whose low right foot shot expertly found the bottom right corner of Smith's net with the goalkeeper helpless. Pernis was called into action as half time approached, diving low to his left to save a good free kick from Riordan which was destined for the bottom corner. Right on half time it was nearly a second for United after Gomis dispossessed Murray in midfield before laying the ball off to Goodwillie whose right foot drive was only just defected wide off Murray, who had charged back to make up for his earlier mistake.
In the second interval, Daly made space for himself in the box before drilling a low shot which Smith blocked after the striker had been teed up by Goodwillie as United again threatened early on. Pernis then saved Hibs' clearest chance of the match in 65 minutes as he showed a strong hand to a Liam Miller shot from the middle of the area. United were dealing with Hibs' threat comfortably before with quarter of an hour remaining Swanson's last involvement was to head a dangerous cross out of the path of Riordan as he was withdrawn in place of Myrie-Williams, appearing to have suffered a leg injury. There was a heart in the mouth moment for United as a Colin Nish downward header missed the target by inches before Pernis then pulled off his best save of the match with 11 minutes remaining, turning a powerful right foot volley from Hanlon around the post for a corner. Riordan then turned Webster in the box but thankfully for United the Hibs man scuffed his shot wide. Despite this late Hibs rally United contained them well for the last period of the match in the end were able to avoid any further scares as the shut out was secured.
Full Time Summary: It was a thoroughly deserved victory for the hosts as they jumped above Hibs into third place. The first half performance was particularly notable for United's attacking play while after the break they looked for the most part assured defensively on a satisfying afternoon for the club.
Man of the Match: For a sublime goal and an all round assured performance the award goes to Danny Swanson who took his opportunity to stake a claim for a regular start in the best manner possible.
United - Pernis, Webster, Dods, Conway, Daly (Casalinuovo 90), Swanson (Myrie-Williams 77), Buaben, Gomis, Kovacevic, Dixon, Goodwillie (Dillon 85). Subs not used - Banks, Shala, Cameron, Hill.
Hibs - Smith, Hogg, Murray, Zemmama (Benjelloun 31), Cregg (Thicot 46), Riordan, Rankin, Stokes (Nish 74), Hanlon, Wotherspoon, Miller. Subs not used - Ma-Kalambay, McCann, Stevenson, McBride.
Referee - Stephen Conroy
Attendance - 7812
United constructed a promising attack right from the kick off which, after good link-up play between Goodwillie and Swanson, ended with Prince Buaben screwing a shot well wide. Shortly after, the Terrors were almost ahead after a Dixon free kick from the corner of the box spun up wickedly off a Hibs defender and had to be palmed away from the top corner by Graeme Smith scrambling across goal. It was a positive start from United and Craig Conway forced a corner from an ambitious half volley from 25 yards before Jon Daly failed to connect properly from the set piece despite having a free header six yards out. Hibs goalkeeper Smith made another decent save on 25 minutes, showing good reflexes to prevent Daly netting from close range after an angled cross from Conway before United won a penalty in the 35th minute. Daly poked the ball through for Buaben who was taken out by Chris Hogg just inside the area, and after quickly consulting the linesman, the referee pointed to the spot. David Goodwillie stepped up to take the kick but Graeme Smith guessed right and pulled off a superb save before Goodwillie headed the rebound wide when it looked an easy task to lift the ball into an empty net. The hosts only had another three minutes to wait however before the deadlock was broken, with Goodwillie making amends as the provider. The United man broke down the right and slid in a sublime pass inside for Danny Swanson whose low right foot shot expertly found the bottom right corner of Smith's net with the goalkeeper helpless. Pernis was called into action as half time approached, diving low to his left to save a good free kick from Riordan which was destined for the bottom corner. Right on half time it was nearly a second for United after Gomis dispossessed Murray in midfield before laying the ball off to Goodwillie whose right foot drive was only just defected wide off Murray, who had charged back to make up for his earlier mistake.
In the second interval, Daly made space for himself in the box before drilling a low shot which Smith blocked after the striker had been teed up by Goodwillie as United again threatened early on. Pernis then saved Hibs' clearest chance of the match in 65 minutes as he showed a strong hand to a Liam Miller shot from the middle of the area. United were dealing with Hibs' threat comfortably before with quarter of an hour remaining Swanson's last involvement was to head a dangerous cross out of the path of Riordan as he was withdrawn in place of Myrie-Williams, appearing to have suffered a leg injury. There was a heart in the mouth moment for United as a Colin Nish downward header missed the target by inches before Pernis then pulled off his best save of the match with 11 minutes remaining, turning a powerful right foot volley from Hanlon around the post for a corner. Riordan then turned Webster in the box but thankfully for United the Hibs man scuffed his shot wide. Despite this late Hibs rally United contained them well for the last period of the match in the end were able to avoid any further scares as the shut out was secured.
Full Time Summary: It was a thoroughly deserved victory for the hosts as they jumped above Hibs into third place. The first half performance was particularly notable for United's attacking play while after the break they looked for the most part assured defensively on a satisfying afternoon for the club.
Man of the Match: For a sublime goal and an all round assured performance the award goes to Danny Swanson who took his opportunity to stake a claim for a regular start in the best manner possible.
United - Pernis, Webster, Dods, Conway, Daly (Casalinuovo 90), Swanson (Myrie-Williams 77), Buaben, Gomis, Kovacevic, Dixon, Goodwillie (Dillon 85). Subs not used - Banks, Shala, Cameron, Hill.
Hibs - Smith, Hogg, Murray, Zemmama (Benjelloun 31), Cregg (Thicot 46), Riordan, Rankin, Stokes (Nish 74), Hanlon, Wotherspoon, Miller. Subs not used - Ma-Kalambay, McCann, Stevenson, McBride.
Referee - Stephen Conroy
Attendance - 7812
