First Team

MATCH REPORT | UNITED GO 7 CLEAR AT THE CINCH CHAMP SUMMIT

13th April 2024

GREENOCK MORTON 1 (Muirhead 62')
DUNDEE UNITED 4 (Docherty '19, Middleton '23, Moult 50', Watt 57')
7.45PM FRIDAY 12 APRIL 2024
CAPPIELOW PARK
CINCH CHAMPIONSHIP

Attendance: 2,423

We extended our lead at the top of the table with a stand-out performance in Greenock!

THE TEAM TALK

Jim Goodwin made one change ahead of Matchday 33 in the cinch Champ! 

It came in the shape of Liam Grimshaw, who again returned to face his former club in place of Miller Thomson who featured on the bench.

There were seven DUFC Academy Graduates involved in this evening's squad.

IN SEARCH

As expected, it was a scrappy opening in which United enjoyed some early forays forward.

Louis Moult's cross cum shot was the first to cause any danger.

Moult then slid in Tony Watt but as he looked to fire on the left foot, Jack Baird was across to recover and divert the ball behind for a United corner. Ross Graham almost had his second goal in a week as he nodded Glenn Middleton's delivery narrowly wide of the post. 

A QUICKFIRE DOUBLE

After some early pressure, United hit two goals in four minutes. 

The first came after 19 of those as a freekick in a dangerous area was fired into the wall by Moult before being played back to Grimshaw. Our number 8 repaid the Gaffer's faith - standing up a cross to the back post for Ross Docherty to expertly nod across goal and into the far corner. 

Glenn Middleton had his fifth goal of the season to double our lead just over three minutes later. 

It was our number 15 who started the move, driving into the box and cutting the ball back for Fotheringham. Neither he nor Watt could get a shot away, and the ball landed back at the feet of Middleton who swivelled and fired low beyond Ryan Mullen in a crowded penalty area. 

There was a scramble inside the box which Mullen eventually recovered from to smother the ball as we looked close to adding a third. 

It was a controlled end to the half - Jai Quitongo picking up the first caution for throwing himself to the ground as Sam McClelland closed in before Baird's clear stamp on Moult went unseen. 

 

OUT OF SIGHT

In not dissimilar fashion, we had goals three and four in quick succession to put the match out of sight!

Poor defending from the hosts allowed Fotheringham to steal the ball inside the box and tee up Craig Sibbald. His effort landed at the feet of Moult who smashed high into the roof of the net for his 19th of the season!

Watt was then on target just moments later, robbing Baird of possession and bearing down on goal before coolly slotting beyond Mullen. 

Robbie Muirhead hit back for the hosts to reduce the arrears on 62 minutes  - firing low past Jack Walton from close range after a fortunate deflection. 

Our first change followed as Jordan Tillson was on to replace Moult. 

STAYING COMPOSED

Two more changes came as we entered the final ten. 

Morton went close to grabbing another consolation as Muirhead skipped in front of Graham and worked the ball to substitute Lewis McGrattan - a smart stop from Walton needed to deny the Morton midfielder. 

There were three minutes of additional time before the referee brought the game to a halt - United now with 12 wins on the road this season.  

OWN A PIECE OF THE GAME!

Bidding is now open on our MatchWornShirts!

 

PLAYER OF THE MATCH 
 
POST-MATCH THOUGHTS
 
TEAMLINES
Greenock Morton

Starting XI: Mullen, O'Connor, Baird, Blues, Muirhead, Quitongo, Crawford, Broadfoot, Power, French, Wilson

Subs: Murdoch, Waters, McGrattan, Garrity, Bearne, Gillespie

Dundee United

Starting XI: Walton, McClelland, Graham, Grimshaw, Moult, Sibbald, Middleton, Fotheringham, Docherty (c), Watt, McMann
 
Subs: Newman, Wotherspoon, Tillson, Meekison, Mochrie, Macleod, Cudjoe, Thomson, Cleall-Harding

NEXT UP

It's our penultimate home match of the season as we take on Ayr United at Tannadice next Saturday afternoon. 

Tickets are available HERE!

 

Image: Richard Wiseman (Club Photographer)

Share This:

Related News