First Team
THE TANGERINE ARMY | PARTICK THISTLE (H)
27th April 2024
PARTICK THISTLE 1 (GRAHAM 3')
DUNDEE UNITED 1 (MOULT 67')
3PM SATURDAY 2 MARCH 2024
THE WYRE STADIUM AT FIRHILL
CINCH CHAMPIONSHIP
Attendance: 4,448
United hit back in the second half to move one clear at the top of the table.
THE TEAM TALK
Jim Goodwin made three changes to this afternoon’s DUFC XI!
Kai Fotheringham and Louis Moult were restored to the eleven in search of more firepower, whilst there was welcome news as Ross Docherty was declared fit and started this afternoon.
Archie Meekison, Chris Mochrie and Tony Watt were the ones who missed out and were all named amongst the substitutes.
After impressing again in midweek, Miller Thomson kept his place at full-back and was one of five DUFC Academy graduates in our matchday squad.
A NIGHTMARE START
We found ourselves behind inside three minutes as Brian Graham scored for the fourth consecutive cinch Championship match.
It came courtesy of a Thistle corner which was flicked towards the back post for Graham to nod home from just yards out.
We fashioned our first half-chance on seven minutes as Docherty slipped in Alex Greive down our left. Some patient play allowed our number 7 to work the cross, but Fotheringham could only head wide.
Greive had our best chance to level the contest early on, as Moult's nod across goal found him at the backpost, but he couldn't adjust his feet to get a strike away.
Graham almost had the hosts two to the good as Steven Lawless found him unmarked in the box, but a block on the line from Declan Gallagher denied him another trademark header.
BITE AND CHANCE
A bit of bite began to creep in with several heavy challenges flying around. An altercation between Gallagher and Graham almost saw tempers flare but Matthew MacDermid did well to keep a lid on it.
David Mitchell denied us the leveller less than ten minutes before half-time as Thomson's cross found Scott McMann at the back post. His powerful header looked certain to ripple the net but strong hands from The Jags' keeper kept United at bay.
The resultant corner from Middleton evaded everyone in the middle, finding Gallagher at the back post but he could only lift his effort over the bar.
Two final first-half chances fell the way of the hosts.
Luke McBeth first went close as he met Aiden Fitzpatrick's corner. The Thistle midfielder will feel aggrieved with himself as, rising highest, he could only header over. Former United man Lewis Neilson almost made it two when his fizzing effort was just too high.
WORK TO DO
After a rather unimaginative first half, The Terrors needed more punch as we returned to the field.
A neat move six minutes after the break almost saw us level the tie. A smart one-two between Greive and Thomson fashioned the chance, but the New Zeland international's effort was diverted behind for a corner.
The Gaffer made a double change on the hour as Middleton and Fotheringham were replaced by Watt and Liam Grimshaw.
A SECOND BITE AT THE CHERRY
Watt was almost involved straight away as his low cross found Thomson who in turn teed up Moult - Mitchell again on hand to gather.
It was déjà vu moments later as the two linked up inside the box once more. This time however, our number 9 left Mitchell rooted to the spot as he curled a thunderous effort right into the top corner to level proceedings.
As we entered the final quarter of an hour, there were two huge appeals for a penalty following a United corner. What looked like clear holding on Watt's shirt went unnoticed before the ball appeared to strike an arm inside the box... nothing doing in the eyes of the referee.
It was a feisty affair in what remained - both sides receiving cautions for various coming togethers.
Thomson almost rounded off a standout individual week when he fired at goal on 90 minutes, only to be denied the winner by a brave block from Harry Milne. His late corner then caused problems for the hosts but it wasn't to be anything more than a point on the road.
POST-MATCH THOUGHTS
???? "In the second half, we went a bit more direct and grew into the game. We reacted well and created a few chances."
— Dundee United FC (@dundeeunitedfc) March 2, 2024
???? #DUFC defender Scott McMann reflects on this afternoon's #cinchChamp action in Maryhill
Watch in full here! ???? | #PARUTD
TEAMLINES
Dundee United
Starting XI: Walton, Holt, Greive, Moult, Sibbald, Middleton, Fotheringham, Docherty (c), Thomson, Gallagher, McMann
Subs: Newman, McClelland, Graham, Grimshaw, Tillson, Meekison, Mochrie, Cudjoe, Watt
PARTICK THISTLE
Starting XI: Mitchell, Mcmillan, Milne, Williams, Muirhead, Neilson, Graham (c), Lawless, Robinson, Mcbeth, Fitzpatrick
Subs: Stewart, Mcinroy, Bannigan Ngwenya, Alston, Stanway Mackenzie, Diack, Adeloye
NEXT UP
A packed-out start to Spring continues as we make another trip west on Tuesday night, taking on Greenock Morton in a rearranged fixture.
Images: Richard Wiseman.
