First Team

MATCH REPORT | UNITED GO A POINT CLEAR AT THE TOP

27th January 2024

DUNDEE UNITED 0
DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC 0
3PM SATURDAY 27 JANUARY 2024
TANNADICE PARK
CINCH CHAMPIONSHIP

Attendance: 8,260

It was an afternoon that flattered to deceive as United were held to a goalless draw despite a number of last-gasp chances.

THE TEAM TALK

Jim Goodwin named three changes to his DUFC side this afternoon!

There was a first start in tangerine for David Wotherspoon, whilst Craig Sibbald was also back from suspension.

More positive news came in the shape of Club Captain Ross Docherty who was amongst the starters for the first time since our clash with Ayr United on the 9th of December. 

Six DUFC Academy graduates were named in our matchday squad.  

POSITIVE OPENING

It was a commanding start from the men in tangerine without causing Deniz Mehmet too many problems early on. 

There appeared to be a change of shape as United pressed from the front in what looked like an interchangeable 4-3-3. 

Craig Sibbald twice had efforts thwarted, the first of which was comfortably gathered by the Pars' keeper before his second attempt was crowded out by a sea of blue shirts. 

We went close to an opener after a quarter of an hour as Kevin Holt strolled out of defence following a Dunfermline attack. A ball sent wide was eventually drilled into the box but Christopher Hamilton denied Kai Fotheringham a shot at goal with a brave, bundling block. 

There were half-hearted appeals for a penalty as Liam Grimshaw's cross struck Joshua Edwards and fell wide for a corner. Wotherspoon's delivery looked on the money but Ross Graham could only head over the bar.  

HALF-CHANCES

Sibbald and Middleton almost combined as the former fizzed a cross-cum-shot from the edge of the box, but our number 15 couldn't get anything on it to cause Mehmet any problems.

Kevin Holt's deflected effort almost caused trouble for the visitors' as it threatened to drop just under the bar, but there were sighs of relief from James McPake's side as it landed on the roof of the net. Grimshaw then tried his luck as he looked to pick out the far corner on his left foot, but Sam Fisher headed the ball behind for a corner. 

Lewis McCann had duty at turning defence into attack, hauling down Docherty in the middle of the park and getting off scot-free before being played through on the following counter. It was excellent defending by Graham in the end - getting in front of the Pars' forward to hook the ball into touch, although anyone of a United persuasion would certainly have felt aggrieved should the ball have rippled the net. 

It was the last action of a goalless first half. 

SECOND 45

Limited chances fell in what was a relatively lacklustre beginning to second-half proceedings. 

United made two changes on the hour mark with Watt and Fotheringham being replaced by Louis Moult and Alex Greive. 

The visitors almost hit the front a few minutes later as Michael O'Halloran's low cross was turned on to the post by substitute Craig Wighton's strike. 

There was another double switch on 68 minutes as Docherty and Wotherspoon made way for Jordan Tillson and Archie Meekison. 

ALMOST SNATCHING IT

There was more action in the dying embers than in the entirety of the 90 minutes as United went agonisingly close to clinching the points. 

The only real moment of quality came in stoppage time as Meeksion forced Mehmet into a wonder save with his curling first-time effort from the edge of the area. 

A deflected effort looked certain to cause danger as it looped over the Pars' shot-stopper, but as it was hooked off the line from Josh Edwards, Moult couldn't turn it home at the back post. 

A final chance fell as Holt was afforded space inside the area, but his ball across the face was bundled behind before the linesman's flag went up. 

All told, it's a point which may prove pivotal as The Terrors go one clear at the top with a game in hand. 

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

 

TEAMLINES

DUNDEE UNITED

Starting XI: Walton, Holt, Graham, Grimshaw, Wotherspoon, Sibbald, Middleton, Fotheringham, Docherty (c), Watt, McMann

Subs: Newman, Greive, Moult, Tillson, Meekison, Freeman, Mochrie, Cudjoe, Petrie

DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC

Starting XI: Mehmet, Edwards, Hamilton (C), Otoo, Chalmers, McCann, Fisher, Summers, Moffat, O'Halloran, Fagan-Walcott

Subs: Little, Wighton, Allan, Fenton, Sutherland, Young, Sutherland

NEXT UP

It's a trip to Somerset Park next weekend as we travel to take on Scott Brown's Ayr United. 

Tickets are available HERE!

 

Images: Richard Wiseman.

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