DUFC Academy
Hamilton joins the Terrors
6th October 2026
Fourteen days after a home draw with Falkirk, United travelled to Renfrewshire to face a St Mirren side looking to return to winning ways following back-to-back defeats.
Both teams made three changes to their respective starting XIs, with Zidane Iqbal, Idjessi Metsoko and Jesse Randall all coming into the United side.
The contest began evenly, with the only chance of note in the opening five minutes falling to the hosts. A low cross from the left side of the box was gathered comfortably by Jack Walton. United then burst into life moments later.
Idjesse Metsoko capitalised on an error and fed Daniel Bennie who slipped Jesse Randall in behind the St Mirren defence and the winger brilliantly went around Chapman before rolling the ball into the unguarded net. It sparked wild celebrations in the away end and gave Jim Goodwin’s side the fast start they had been seeking in recent matches.
The hosts continued to probe, with an effort from the left side of the box flying well over the United bar in the ninth minute.
United then struck again just three minutes later through Lyall Cameron.
The midfielder picked up possession on the left edge of the area, shaped to shoot to create an extra yard of space, before driving a low effort into the bottom-left corner for his first goal in Tangerine.
The hosts struggled to find their feet after United’s second and, despite winning a few free-kicks in dangerous areas, rarely troubled the visiting defence.
Referee David Dickinson pointed to the spot for St Mirren in the 18th minute after Phillips was judged to have been pulled down by Bert Esselink. VAR, however, provided a reprieve for United, with an offside identified in the build-up and the penalty decision overturned.
United almost added a third through Randall, who was finding plenty of space in behind the St Mirren back line. The winger raced onto a long ball from Michael Forbes, but Buddies goalkeeper Chapman was quickly off his line to clear.
The game settled into a more even rhythm until the 35th minute, when Jack Walton launched the ball long upfield. Daniel Bennie showed the greater desire to reach it beyond the St Mirren back line, but his first-time effort lacked conviction and was gathered comfortably by Chapman.
The hosts then came close to finding a route back into the contest in the 40th minute, as the ball fell to Nsio on the edge of the area. His effort, however, cannoned off the crossbar, much to the relief of the travelling support behind the goal.
Just a minute later, United appeared to have been reduced to ten men when referee David Dickinson showed Bennie a straight red card for a challenge on Ryan Carr. VAR recommended an on-field review, however, and the decision was downgraded to a yellow card.
Just before the half-time whistle, the afternoon got even better for United. A quick free-kick routine Dylan Tait released Jesse Randall into the box, and the winger cut the ball back into the area for Kevin Ciubotaru to slide in and prod beyond Chapman. The goal made it 3–0 to United and marked Ciubotaru’s first for the club.
So, when the half-time whistle arrived United found themselves in a commanding position.
HT – St Mirren 0–3 Dundee United
United emerged for the second half intent on continuing where they had left off rather than simply sitting on their lead. Within two minutes of the restart, only the offside flag halted another promising attack.
With 50 minutes played, Dylan Tait slipped the ball wide to Bennie, who clipped a cross in from the left towards Metsoko. The forward met it with his head but was unable to generate enough power to trouble Chapman.
On 53 minutes, Lyall Cameron played an excellent pass into the path of Dylan Tait on the centre-right edge of the box, and the captain’s fierce effort had to be parried behind for a United corner by Chapman.
The midfield trio of Cameron, Iqbal and Tait combined effectively throughout the match, repeatedly creating opportunities for the front line and for one another, underlining United’s control of the midfield battle.
Jesse Randall continued to provide a dangerous outlet for United, creating two opportunities from wide areas in the 65th and 69th minutes.
The first came from the right-hand side and was blocked behind for a corner, before Randall threatened from the same flank again four minutes later. His low cross found Metsoko inside the area, but the forward could only poke his effort narrowly wide.
Bennie and Metsoko made way in the 73rd minute for Will Ferry and Lachlan Rose, with the latter almost making an immediate impact – Rose found the net three minutes later, but the goal was ruled out for offside in the build-up.
Cameron and Randall were then replaced by Neil Farrugia and Abdoulaye Yoro in the 78th minute as Jim Goodwin looked to freshen things up for the closing stages.
Ciubotaru almost added another in the 82nd minute when Iqbal laid the ball into the path of the advancing full-back, but Chapman got down well to his left to make the save. Moments later, Iqbal made way for Panutche Camara.
The hosts continued to search for a consolation and found some joy down the right-hand side in the 86th minute, working a low cross into the area before the resulting effort was screwed wide and over Walton’s goal.
At the other end, Chapman almost spilt an effort into the path of Ciubotaru, but recovered quickly to deny the Romanian.
After two additional minutes, the referee brought proceedings to a close, sending the travelling support back up the road with smiles on their faces after another convincing United away victory.
With first goals in Tangerine for both Cameron and Ciubotaru, it capped off an excellent afternoon’s work for the Terrors.
St Mirren 0
Dundee United 3 (Randall 6’, Cameron 12’, Ciubutaro 45’)
3pm Saturday 19 September 2026
The Marbill Coaches Stadium
William Hill Premiership
Attendance: 6975
Teamlines
ST MIRREN
Starting XI: Chapmen, John, Carr, Sule, Gogic (c), Kabia, Taylor, Ramsay, Nsio, Fieldson, Phillips
Subs: Mullen, Richardson, Jackson, Thomas, Young, Mochrie, Farquhar, De Barros, McEvoy
DUNDEE UNITED
Starting XI: Walton, Esselink, Tait (c), Iqbal, Cameron, Forbes, Ciubotaru, Randall, Rawlins, Bennie, Metsoko
Subs: Amissah, Iovu, Camara, Sapsford, Ferry, Rose, Farrugia, Naamo, Yoro
Report: Brian Stewart
Images: Richard Wiseman
Next Up
Following the international break Hibernian are the next visitors at the CalForth Construction Arena when we host The Hibees on Saturday 10 October, kick-off is at 3pm.
