First Team
THE TANGERINE ARMY | PARTICK THISTLE (H)
27th April 2024
GREENOCK MORTON 0
DUNDEE UNITED 1 (MOULT 26')
7.45PM TUESDAY 5 MARCH 2024
CAPPIELOW PARK
CINCH CHAMPIONSHIP
Attendance: 2,115
It was a performance full of character as we took all three points on the road.
THE TEAM TALK
Jim Goodwin made three changes to this evening’s DUFC XI.
Into the side came Liam Grimshaw, Tony Watt and Jordan Tillson as we saw a slight tweak in formation following Saturday’s one-each draw with Partick Thistle.
Glenn Middleton, Alex Greive and Kai Fotheringham were all named among the substitutes.
It was no surprise that Scott McMann was named amongst the starters, making his 100th appearance for Dundee United this evening.
There were five DUFC Academy graduates involved in our matchday squad.
FEELING IT OUT
An early long throw was a sign of things to come - a tactic employed by the hosts all evening.
The second of which caused real danger as Jack Walton came out to claim, but spilled it in the process. Somehow the ball stayed out of the net following a penalty box stramash, trickling just past the post in the end.
Our earliest sighting came just before the 15-minute mark, as Miller Thomson delivered another wicked set piece to the back post. However, a goalline block and strong hand from Ryan Mullen was enough to deny Kevin Holt a ninth goal of the season with a diving header.
There was a half-chance for Louis Moult as Grimshaw hooked the ball back into the penalty area - his half-volley on the turn sailed past the post in the end.
A MAN IN HOT FORM
Our number 9 made no mistake with his next chance, putting us a goal to the good on 26 minutes!
It was a really well-worked United move as Watt cut inside from the left and delivered an inch-perfect cross for Moult to stab home at the back post - notching his fourth goal in his last five appearances and his 15th of the season.
It was a tightly contested midfield battle in what followed, with neither side quite doing enough to carve out another clear-cut opportunity. Cautions for Alan Power and Lewis Strapp also formed part of the hosts' frustrations.
Five minutes before the break, Darragh O'Connor appeared to grapple Moult to the ground inside the penalty area, but it was nothing doing in the eyes of Lloyd Willson.
AN EVEN KEEL
Just over ten minutes after the restart we almost had our second of the evening. A heavy aerial challenge on Moult - a common theme all evening - left us with a free-kick in a dangerous crossing position.
It was Sibbald who delivered the inswinger which Watt nodded to the back post for Moult, but he couldn't get enough purchase on the ball to notch his brace.
There was a moment of panic as Grimshaw had his pocket picked allowing the hosts to break down our right hand side. The chipped ball into the penalty area found Robbie Crawford who couldn't get a shot away thanks to some intense pressure from Holt, who eventually cleared.
Mullen was called into action once more as Tillson fired at goal on his weaker left foot - the Morton shot-stopper getting two strong hands on his close-range effort to parry it over the bar. At the other end, Walton was forced into a save as he turned Crawford's effort around the post with just over 20 minutes to play.
We made our first change on 71 minutes as Moult made way for Greive. It was quickly followed by Fotheringham replacing Thomson following a yellow card for our number 29.
SHOWING CHARACTER
There was plenty of pressure from the hosts as we entered the final ten minutes, but United coped well with their physical presence.
Michael Garrity showed excellent skill to skip by two defenders and into the penalty area but he fell to ground as the referee waved play on.
Clearing everything that came our way, Goodwin's side remained resolute to pick up all three points on the west coast.
POST-MATCH THOUGHTS
???? "It wasn't a classic but we got a crucial three points which is all that matters at this stage of the season. We won our individual battles - that is why we came out on top."#DUFC Manager Jim Goodwin gives his thoughts on this evening's #cinchChamp victory at Cappielow ???? pic.twitter.com/UwCGwCkfbL
— Dundee United FC (@dundeeunitedfc) March 5, 2024
TEAMLINES
GREENOCK MORTON
Starting XI: Mullen, Strapp, O’Connor, Baird, Blues, Muirhead, Quitongo, Crawford, Power, Gillespie, French
Subs: Murdoch, Waters, McGrattan, Garrity, Bearne
Dundee United
Starting XI: Walton, Holt, Grimshaw, Moult, Sibbald, Tillson, Docherty (c), Thomson, Gallagher, Watt, McMann
Subs: Newman, McClelland, Graham, Greive, Middleton, Meekison, Fotheringham, Mochrie, Cudjoe
NEXT UP
A return to Tannadice awaits as we take on Arbroath this Saturday.
Images: Arwen Moses.
