MATCH REPORT | A PROMOTION PARTY AT TANNADICE
4th May 2024
First Half:
Motherwell started the game brightly. Tom Hately floated a free kick in from the left in the first minute without a Motherwell player managing to connect. Stephen Hammell took a corner for 'Well after four minutes but the ball was cleared by the United defence. After six minutes a Jutkiewicz shot from the right looked net-bound before Keith Watson managed to clear. United earned their first corner after nine minutes. Craig Conway swung it in but the 'Well defence cleared after Garry Kenneth failed to meet the cross. United were reduced to ten men after Paul Dixon was sent off after 16 minutes for a high challenge on Motherwell wide-man Jim O'Brien. Keith Lasley conceded a corner after good work by Swanson on the right. Garry Kenneth won the resulting header but the Motherwell defence managed to clear. Motherwell striker Jamie Murphy needed treatment in 20th minute after a collision with United's Andy Webster. David Goodwillie went agonisingly close to opening the scoring in the 24th minute after delicately lifting the ball over the approaching 'Well 'keeper John Ruddy from eight yards, only to see the ball land inches wide of the left hand post. Jamie Murphy missed a golden opportunity for Motherwell after 27 minutes. O'Brien crossed in from the right to the unmarked Murphy, who should have done better when he headed the ball just wide of the left-hand post. Motherwell won a free-kick after 31 minutes. Tom Hately crossed and United's clearance fell to Keith Lasley whose shot rebounded off John Sutton before landing in the net; however Sutton was in an offside position and the referee disallowed the goal. United earned another corner after 34 minutes following good work from Kenneth on the left; however Conway's cross was cleared. United took the lead after 38 minutes after Conway took a corner from the right-hand side. The United man's testing delivery was met by Andy Webster, whose header seemed goal-bound before David Goodwillie made sure with an outstretched foot. United went two up a minute before half-time. Prince Buaben chased down a Stephen Craigan pass-back before 'Well keeper Ruddy made a meal of his attempt to control the ball. Buaben managed to win possession, before selling the keeper the dummy and placing the ball into an empty net from nine yards to give United a commanding and surprising half-time lead.
Half Time:
Motherwell set the pace early on without really testing Dusan Pernis in the home goal. After the initial shock of Dixon's dismissal Motherwell enjoyed much of the possession but missed their one clear-cut opportunity after Murphy headed wide. The opening goal seemed to galvanise the home side, exemplified by Prince Buaben's determination to chase the Craigan back-pass that led to the second goal. An excellent half-time score, particularly considering the early reduction to ten men.
Second Half:
Motherwell looked to press early in the second half. Hammell took a corner in the 48th minute. The ball fell to Murphy in the six-yard box, however the striker made a hash of the shot. United's clearance didn't go far, and the ball was returned to Jutkiewicz who hit the post with an impromptu effort before Murphy followed it in by sticking the ball between the posts from a yard out. However, Jutkiewicz was offside and Motherwell had a second goal chalked off. O'Brien hit a shot from inside the box a minute later that flew a foot over the bar. The game then became quite scrappy, with a resilient United defence frustrating the attacking away side. Conway sent a good through ball to Goodwillie after 59 minutes, however Ruddy was quick to collect. Jon Daly replaced Andis Shala after 61 minutes. Chris Humphrey came on for John Sutton after 64. The game lulled as the home side continued to frustrate a Motherwell side failing to test Pernis in the United goal. Motherwell won a corner after 72 minutes, however the cross came to nothing and United hit them on the break. Conway played the ball to Goodwillie who travelled with the ball before playing Danny Swanson in. The defence opened up for the United midfielder who confidently finished from 20 yards to make it 3-0. 'Well responded by making another two substitutions: Michael McGlinchey and Giles Coke on for Lukas Jutkiewicz and Keith Lasley. In 75 minutes Jim O'Brien mishit a shot from the left which fell to substitute McGlinchey who could only hit a tame shot straight at Pernis. Fran Sandaza replaced the industrious Goodwillie after 77 minutes. Coke's shot from the edge of the box was comfortably saved by Pernis with 12 minutes remaining. Andy Webster went off after 81 minutes after receiving a gash to the head, and was replaced by Darren Dods. Giles Coke hit a lacklustre effort from ten yards that Pernis easily saved. Steve Jennings shot over the bar from 20 yards after 82 minutes. With the points in the bag, United were content to soak up the pressure and see the game out. Coke hit another tame effort in the final minute after good work by Murphy on the left.
Full-Time:
A terrific performance saw United comprehensively beat their nearest challengers 3-0 despite losing a man after 16 minutes following Paul Dixon's early dismissal. Houston's men showed resilience and strength of character to earn the three points with a combination of graft, guile and clinical finishing. Another excellent win for the Tangerines that may prove crucial come May.
Man of the Match:
Keith Watson put in a terrific display at right-back, and Craig Conway constantly asked questions of the Motherwell rearguard, however Prince Buaben's commitment and industry in the middle of the park, exemplified by his second goal, made the midfielder the star man.
Teams:
United:
Pernis, Watson, Kenneth, Webster (Dods, 81), Dixon, Swanson, Dillon, Buaben, Conway, Shala (Daly, 61), Goodwillie (Sandaza, 77)
Motherwell:
Ruddy, Hately, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell, O'Brien, Jennings, Lasley (Coke, 73), Sutton (Humphrey, 65), Murphy, Jutkiewicz (McGlinchey, 73)
Match Referee: Willie Collum
Attendance: 7,609
Motherwell started the game brightly. Tom Hately floated a free kick in from the left in the first minute without a Motherwell player managing to connect. Stephen Hammell took a corner for 'Well after four minutes but the ball was cleared by the United defence. After six minutes a Jutkiewicz shot from the right looked net-bound before Keith Watson managed to clear. United earned their first corner after nine minutes. Craig Conway swung it in but the 'Well defence cleared after Garry Kenneth failed to meet the cross. United were reduced to ten men after Paul Dixon was sent off after 16 minutes for a high challenge on Motherwell wide-man Jim O'Brien. Keith Lasley conceded a corner after good work by Swanson on the right. Garry Kenneth won the resulting header but the Motherwell defence managed to clear. Motherwell striker Jamie Murphy needed treatment in 20th minute after a collision with United's Andy Webster. David Goodwillie went agonisingly close to opening the scoring in the 24th minute after delicately lifting the ball over the approaching 'Well 'keeper John Ruddy from eight yards, only to see the ball land inches wide of the left hand post. Jamie Murphy missed a golden opportunity for Motherwell after 27 minutes. O'Brien crossed in from the right to the unmarked Murphy, who should have done better when he headed the ball just wide of the left-hand post. Motherwell won a free-kick after 31 minutes. Tom Hately crossed and United's clearance fell to Keith Lasley whose shot rebounded off John Sutton before landing in the net; however Sutton was in an offside position and the referee disallowed the goal. United earned another corner after 34 minutes following good work from Kenneth on the left; however Conway's cross was cleared. United took the lead after 38 minutes after Conway took a corner from the right-hand side. The United man's testing delivery was met by Andy Webster, whose header seemed goal-bound before David Goodwillie made sure with an outstretched foot. United went two up a minute before half-time. Prince Buaben chased down a Stephen Craigan pass-back before 'Well keeper Ruddy made a meal of his attempt to control the ball. Buaben managed to win possession, before selling the keeper the dummy and placing the ball into an empty net from nine yards to give United a commanding and surprising half-time lead.
Half Time:
Motherwell set the pace early on without really testing Dusan Pernis in the home goal. After the initial shock of Dixon's dismissal Motherwell enjoyed much of the possession but missed their one clear-cut opportunity after Murphy headed wide. The opening goal seemed to galvanise the home side, exemplified by Prince Buaben's determination to chase the Craigan back-pass that led to the second goal. An excellent half-time score, particularly considering the early reduction to ten men.
Second Half:
Motherwell looked to press early in the second half. Hammell took a corner in the 48th minute. The ball fell to Murphy in the six-yard box, however the striker made a hash of the shot. United's clearance didn't go far, and the ball was returned to Jutkiewicz who hit the post with an impromptu effort before Murphy followed it in by sticking the ball between the posts from a yard out. However, Jutkiewicz was offside and Motherwell had a second goal chalked off. O'Brien hit a shot from inside the box a minute later that flew a foot over the bar. The game then became quite scrappy, with a resilient United defence frustrating the attacking away side. Conway sent a good through ball to Goodwillie after 59 minutes, however Ruddy was quick to collect. Jon Daly replaced Andis Shala after 61 minutes. Chris Humphrey came on for John Sutton after 64. The game lulled as the home side continued to frustrate a Motherwell side failing to test Pernis in the United goal. Motherwell won a corner after 72 minutes, however the cross came to nothing and United hit them on the break. Conway played the ball to Goodwillie who travelled with the ball before playing Danny Swanson in. The defence opened up for the United midfielder who confidently finished from 20 yards to make it 3-0. 'Well responded by making another two substitutions: Michael McGlinchey and Giles Coke on for Lukas Jutkiewicz and Keith Lasley. In 75 minutes Jim O'Brien mishit a shot from the left which fell to substitute McGlinchey who could only hit a tame shot straight at Pernis. Fran Sandaza replaced the industrious Goodwillie after 77 minutes. Coke's shot from the edge of the box was comfortably saved by Pernis with 12 minutes remaining. Andy Webster went off after 81 minutes after receiving a gash to the head, and was replaced by Darren Dods. Giles Coke hit a lacklustre effort from ten yards that Pernis easily saved. Steve Jennings shot over the bar from 20 yards after 82 minutes. With the points in the bag, United were content to soak up the pressure and see the game out. Coke hit another tame effort in the final minute after good work by Murphy on the left.
Full-Time:
A terrific performance saw United comprehensively beat their nearest challengers 3-0 despite losing a man after 16 minutes following Paul Dixon's early dismissal. Houston's men showed resilience and strength of character to earn the three points with a combination of graft, guile and clinical finishing. Another excellent win for the Tangerines that may prove crucial come May.
Man of the Match:
Keith Watson put in a terrific display at right-back, and Craig Conway constantly asked questions of the Motherwell rearguard, however Prince Buaben's commitment and industry in the middle of the park, exemplified by his second goal, made the midfielder the star man.
Teams:
United:
Pernis, Watson, Kenneth, Webster (Dods, 81), Dixon, Swanson, Dillon, Buaben, Conway, Shala (Daly, 61), Goodwillie (Sandaza, 77)
Motherwell:
Ruddy, Hately, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell, O'Brien, Jennings, Lasley (Coke, 73), Sutton (Humphrey, 65), Murphy, Jutkiewicz (McGlinchey, 73)
Match Referee: Willie Collum
Attendance: 7,609
