MATCH REPORT | A PROMOTION PARTY AT TANNADICE
4th May 2024
After completely dominating for over an hour United claimed a deserved three points courtesy of a Morgaro Gomis goal in the 78th minute. Only last ditch defending and missed opportunities prevented further goals as the host reclaimed third spot after a convincing performance.
It was a slow start but Hearts were slightly the brighter early on and Suso Santana went close after cutting inside and curling a right foot shot towards the bottom corner from 20 yards with Pernis doing well to turn round the post. United were struggling to get into the game but did have a shout for a penalty with just under quarter of an hour played as David Obua appeared to handle the ball on the ground under intense pressure from David Goodwillie, but referee Mike Tumilty waved play on. A corner after 19 minutes gave United an opportunity to test the Hearts defence and from the Conway delivery Garry Kenneth headed down for Goodwillie who smashed the ball away from goal and off Andy Webster before the visiting defence cleared. Another corner followed shortly after and this time Kenneth did test goalkeeper Janos Balogh who did well to block his left foot snap shot from six yards. There was another appeal for a United penalty when Goodwillie went down under a challenge from Goncalves but again no kick was awarded before Pernis bettered his earlier save after 23 minutes, diving superbly to his right to tip a Mulrooney drive round for a corner after Conway had lost possession in midfield. The best chance for United of the opening 45 came on the half hour mark when Gomis fed Goodwillie into space on the right side of the box however United's top scorer drilled his shot wide when the keeper really should have been made to work. A good cross from Goodwillie in 35 minutes saw Prince Buaben tumble in the 6 yard box under the challenge of Santana but again despite the appeals no penalty was awarded. Casalinuovo then had his first opening as half time approached but headed over after beating goalkeeper Balogh to a flighted ball from Dixon.
Goodwillie forced an early corner then Casalinuovo caused concern in the centre of the Hearts defence with a low cross as the Tangerines looked to pressurise early on. In 53 minutes Goodwillie had another chance when the ball dropped at his feet after a Conway drive was blocked but he could only lift the ball over the bar from eight yards. An ambitious effort from Swanson flew wide before Prince Buaben missed a glorious chance for United on 64 minutes. Swanson played the ball down the line to Goodwillie who did well to hold off Obua before crossing inside for the United midfielder who bulleted a header wide from an unmarked position at the near post. Then as Danny Swanson drove at the defence space opened up for him to attempt a left foot curling shot which was straight into the arms of Balogh. With 20 minutes left Buaben had another great chance when Conway teed him up around the penalty spot and the Ghanaian's side foot shot was well blocked by Hearts's Ryan Stevenson as Balogh looked like he was about to be beaten. Buaben was heavily involved in an attacking sense for United and showed great ambition when striking a thunderous right foot shot which would have beaten Balogh all ends up had it not drifted wide of his right post. No sooner had Fran Sandaza received a rapturous reception from the United faithful following his long awaited return from injury than his side finally found themselves in front in the 78th minute. Following a foul on Kovacevic on the right flank Conway delivered a good ball into the area which eventually fell to Gomis ten yards out after Kenneth had an initial effort blocked, with the United man continuing his goal scoring exploits of the previous week by stepping inside and seeing his shot deflected into Balogh's left corner to the obvious delight of the fans behind the goal. United broke on several occasions late on as Hearts tried to push forward and they couldn't make the most of a mix up in the box which saw Gomis just fail to reach the loose ball with Balogh completely exposed. Conway sent a free kick over with a minute left as the hosts tried to clinch the points and they were nearly gift wrapped in injury time as the lucky Goncalves only conceded a corner when his attempted header back to Balogh was off target so a corner was the end result. In the end though Gomis' strike was enough to claim all three points and a return to third spot.
Full Time Summary: After their second half dominance a 1-0 win was the least the tangerines deserved and but for some last ditch defending and missed opportunities the win would have been far more comfortable. The main thing however was the three points gained which now send United off to Ibrox next week in the Scottish Cup with confidence high.
Man of the Match: - On a day when there were several good performers in tangerine the award goes to Danny Swanson for another industrious display in the United midfield. Not everything came off but continually he beat opposition players with ease and also ended up winning a very physical personal battle with Suso Santana.
United: Pernis, Webster, Conway, Swanson, Buaben, Gomis, Kenneth, Kovacevic, Casalinuovo (Daly 65), Dixon (Dillon 60), Goodwillie (Sandaza 77). Subs not used - Banks, Dods, Myrie-Williams, D Robertson.
Hearts: Balogh, Wallace, Goncalves, Santana, Obua, Stevenson, Novikovas (Templeton 55), Mole (Nade 46), Thomson, Elliot, Mulrooney (Smith 80). Subs not used - Ridgers, Glen, Smith, McGowan.
Referee - Mike Tumilty
Attendance - 6683
It was a slow start but Hearts were slightly the brighter early on and Suso Santana went close after cutting inside and curling a right foot shot towards the bottom corner from 20 yards with Pernis doing well to turn round the post. United were struggling to get into the game but did have a shout for a penalty with just under quarter of an hour played as David Obua appeared to handle the ball on the ground under intense pressure from David Goodwillie, but referee Mike Tumilty waved play on. A corner after 19 minutes gave United an opportunity to test the Hearts defence and from the Conway delivery Garry Kenneth headed down for Goodwillie who smashed the ball away from goal and off Andy Webster before the visiting defence cleared. Another corner followed shortly after and this time Kenneth did test goalkeeper Janos Balogh who did well to block his left foot snap shot from six yards. There was another appeal for a United penalty when Goodwillie went down under a challenge from Goncalves but again no kick was awarded before Pernis bettered his earlier save after 23 minutes, diving superbly to his right to tip a Mulrooney drive round for a corner after Conway had lost possession in midfield. The best chance for United of the opening 45 came on the half hour mark when Gomis fed Goodwillie into space on the right side of the box however United's top scorer drilled his shot wide when the keeper really should have been made to work. A good cross from Goodwillie in 35 minutes saw Prince Buaben tumble in the 6 yard box under the challenge of Santana but again despite the appeals no penalty was awarded. Casalinuovo then had his first opening as half time approached but headed over after beating goalkeeper Balogh to a flighted ball from Dixon.
Goodwillie forced an early corner then Casalinuovo caused concern in the centre of the Hearts defence with a low cross as the Tangerines looked to pressurise early on. In 53 minutes Goodwillie had another chance when the ball dropped at his feet after a Conway drive was blocked but he could only lift the ball over the bar from eight yards. An ambitious effort from Swanson flew wide before Prince Buaben missed a glorious chance for United on 64 minutes. Swanson played the ball down the line to Goodwillie who did well to hold off Obua before crossing inside for the United midfielder who bulleted a header wide from an unmarked position at the near post. Then as Danny Swanson drove at the defence space opened up for him to attempt a left foot curling shot which was straight into the arms of Balogh. With 20 minutes left Buaben had another great chance when Conway teed him up around the penalty spot and the Ghanaian's side foot shot was well blocked by Hearts's Ryan Stevenson as Balogh looked like he was about to be beaten. Buaben was heavily involved in an attacking sense for United and showed great ambition when striking a thunderous right foot shot which would have beaten Balogh all ends up had it not drifted wide of his right post. No sooner had Fran Sandaza received a rapturous reception from the United faithful following his long awaited return from injury than his side finally found themselves in front in the 78th minute. Following a foul on Kovacevic on the right flank Conway delivered a good ball into the area which eventually fell to Gomis ten yards out after Kenneth had an initial effort blocked, with the United man continuing his goal scoring exploits of the previous week by stepping inside and seeing his shot deflected into Balogh's left corner to the obvious delight of the fans behind the goal. United broke on several occasions late on as Hearts tried to push forward and they couldn't make the most of a mix up in the box which saw Gomis just fail to reach the loose ball with Balogh completely exposed. Conway sent a free kick over with a minute left as the hosts tried to clinch the points and they were nearly gift wrapped in injury time as the lucky Goncalves only conceded a corner when his attempted header back to Balogh was off target so a corner was the end result. In the end though Gomis' strike was enough to claim all three points and a return to third spot.
Full Time Summary: After their second half dominance a 1-0 win was the least the tangerines deserved and but for some last ditch defending and missed opportunities the win would have been far more comfortable. The main thing however was the three points gained which now send United off to Ibrox next week in the Scottish Cup with confidence high.
Man of the Match: - On a day when there were several good performers in tangerine the award goes to Danny Swanson for another industrious display in the United midfield. Not everything came off but continually he beat opposition players with ease and also ended up winning a very physical personal battle with Suso Santana.
United: Pernis, Webster, Conway, Swanson, Buaben, Gomis, Kenneth, Kovacevic, Casalinuovo (Daly 65), Dixon (Dillon 60), Goodwillie (Sandaza 77). Subs not used - Banks, Dods, Myrie-Williams, D Robertson.
Hearts: Balogh, Wallace, Goncalves, Santana, Obua, Stevenson, Novikovas (Templeton 55), Mole (Nade 46), Thomson, Elliot, Mulrooney (Smith 80). Subs not used - Ridgers, Glen, Smith, McGowan.
Referee - Mike Tumilty
Attendance - 6683
