First Team
TEAM NEWS | PARTICK THISTLE (H)
3rd May 2024
DUNDEE UNITED 3-0 ROSS COUNTY
CINCH PREMIERSHIP
7:45PM WEDNESDAY 28TH DECEMBER 2022
TANNADICE PARK
Attendance: 8249 (111 away)
The Terrors rounded off 2022 in style, with three goals and three points against Ross County!
SMALL TWEAKS
Liam Fox went with three changes to the side that played out a two-all draw with Hearts at the weekend.
Ross Graham, Charlie Mulgrew and Craig Sibbald all featured from the start in place of Aziz Behich, Kieran Freeman and Arnold Djoum.
OFF TO A FLYER
United almost had the opener after just four minutes. Liam Smith delivered a teasing ball into the area which Ryan Edwards met head on - but his effort was just wide of Ross Laidlaw’s post.
With less than 10 minutes on the clock, it was an own goal that gave us the advantage. United countered quickly down the right flank with Ian Harkes bursting forward. A cross-field pass found Glenn Middleton in space. After losing his man, he worked a cross into the danger area which was deflected into the net by a County man.
CHANCES AT EITHER END
Just after a quarter of an hour, Owura Edwards broke free of his man and charged down on goal one on one with Mark Birighitti. It looked a golden chance to equalise but he dragged his shot just wide of the post.
There was a common theme this evening, with Mulgrew delivering a number of teasing free kicks into the heart of the County penalty area. Steven Fletcher was in the air to meet it but his glancing header came back off the post.
One minute later, Yan Dhanda should have drawn the Staggies level. A low ball across the box found County’s number 10 free on the penalty spot - but a combination of Graham and Mulgrew steered his effort wide of the goal.
Another golden chance went begging for the visitors as Keith Watson’s header on the half-hour mark crashed off the post before being cleared by the United defence.
A late challenge from Ian Harkes saw him receive the only booking of what was a lively first half.
GOING CLOSE
Five minutes into the second half, Fletcher was involved twice in quick succession as United pushed for a second.
Liam Smith found our number 9 with a lofted ball to the edge of the area. Fletcher caught the ball sweetly on the volley only for a County man to block his goal-bound effort.
The United striker got a second bite at it as the ball was recycled, but his strike from inside the box was pushed clear by Laidlaw.
The Terrors continued to look lively, this time Smith driving forward into the box. He pulled the ball back for Levitt and his shot that was heading wide was almost steered home by Middleton who couldn’t quite reach it on the slide.
A BULLET HEADER
With 20 to play Smith was involved again, this time being slid in by Middleton but his shot was dealt with by Laidlaw and pushed wide for a corner.
The resulting ball from Dylan Levitt was met in the air by Mulgrew who bulleted home a header to double our advantage.
VAR INTERVENES
Malky Mackay’s men thought they had pulled one back through substitute William Akio as he blasted home from close range, however after a VAR check it was ruled out for offside.
A FIGHTING FINISH
Five minutes from time, Owura was sent off for the visitors courtesy of a second yellow card. He was booked just after the hour mark before being involved in an off-the-ball incident as County won a free kick.
Deep into injury time, United rounded it off in style.
Link up between Tony Watt and Harkes had United on the ascendancy. The American teed up Sibbald who curled a left-footed effort into the far corner from the edge of the area!
NEXT UP
We're back to league business on Monday, taking on St Johnstone in a 3 o'clock kick-off.
