First Team
JIM GOODWIN RECEIVES THIRD GLEN'S VODKA MANAGER OF THE MONTH AWARD OF THE SEASON
2nd May 2024
DUNDEE UNITED 2 (FOTHERINGHAM 38', MOULT 44')
GREENOCK MORTON 3 (OAKLEY 25' 37' 89')
3PM SATURDAY 6 JANUARY 2024
TANNADICE PARK
CINCH CHAMPIONSHIP
Attendance: 7,706
Despite a first-half comeback, George Oakley's hat-trick seals three points for the visitors.
THE TEAM TALK
Jim Goodwin named one change to this afternoon's DUFC XI.
After being forced off through injury against Arbroath, Declan Gallagher missed out with Academy graduate Ross Graham taking his place following a stellar substitute showing on Tuesday.
Scott McMann was also substituted through injury in midweek, but was fit enough to be amongst the starters.
Eight DUFC Academy graduates were involved in our matchday squad, including 17-year-old Greg Petrie.
AN EARLY JOUST
Our first sighting of the afternoon came on six minutes as Glenn Middleton picked up a pocket of space in behind The 'Ton midfield. Having the vision for a pass, he found Louis Moult bearing down on the Morton goal, but a sliding block sent the ball behind only for a corner.
Jordan Tillson tried his luck with a cleanly-struck volley in the following minutes, but his ambitious effort sailed clear of any danger to the visitors.
Robbie Crawford had the visitors' first opportunity. From the corner of the box, the ball seemed to sit up perfectly for the midfielder to fire at goal on the volley, but safe hands from Jack Walton denied any threat.
A DOUBLE BLOW
Dougie Imrie's side took the lead immediately after our best opening of the half.
A long searching ball from McMann found Watt who skipped in behind the Morton backline, but Ryan Mullen was equal to his effort as he tried to loft the 'keeper. Iain Wilson caused unnecessary danger as he headed the loose ball back into his own box - landing at the feet of Watt - but again Mullen thwarted our number 32, getting down low to smother the ball.
In the immediate aftermath, Michael Garrity faced up Liam Grimshaw before delivering a killer cross for George Oakley to nod home.
Morton's number 22 then added his second of the afternoon on 37 minutes when Jordan Tillson's pass was intercepted by Lewis Strapp. The left-back then bundled his way into the box and slid the ball across the face for Oakley to poke home at the near post.
DOWN, BUT NOT OUT
It took just over a minute until we hit back in what looked likely to be an inspired comeback.
Strong hold-up play from Watt with his back to goal eventually resulted in the ball being worked out to the right flank for Liam Grimshaw. Cutting inside on his left foot, he stood up a cross to the front post for Kai Fotheringham to glance into the far corner.
We were back on terms on the stroke of half-time thanks to another fine header from Moult.
Watt was at the heart of the move, beating Tyler French down the byline and dinking a delicate delivery into the middle of the six-yard box for Moult to head into the top corner and restore parity before half-time.
The Gaffer made two changes at the break as second-half chances continued to fall for the men in Tangerine:
45’ | Two changes at the break ????
— Dundee United FC (@dundeeunitedfc) January 6, 2024
?? Moult and Tillson
?? Mochrie and Glass
???? 2??-2?? ???? | #UTDMOR | #DUFC
A determined run and cross from Middleton looked certain to cause trouble but there was no United man on the end of it as the ball fizzed across the six-yard line.
Middleton and Mochrie both had left-footed shots from distance which were parrried on the ground by Mullen before he eventually gathered.
With twenty minutes to play, Holt had the ball in the net following a United corner but play was brought back after a coming together between himself and Kirk Broadfoot - somehow a foul being given in favour of the Morton defender...
The veteran centre-back then denied us what may have been a winner on 81 minutes when he blocked Glass' goal-bounded header on the line.
AGONY IN THE END
In a second half with nine cards shown, Sibbald was given his marching orders with three minutes to play following a second yellow card. It turned the game on its head as Morton snatched it right at the death.
A long, searching ball from Mullen evaded everyone before Oakley and Holt contested it in mid-air, the former coming away with possession as it bounced in benhind. Allowing it to sit up, he struck a half-volley towards goal which nestled in the back of the net after kissing the post.
Dave Bowman was also sent to the stand in the aftermath of what proved to be the match's final flashpoint.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
This afternoon's matchday sponsor, Just Employment Law, selected Kevin Holt as their Player of the Match!
POST-MATCH THOUGHTS
???? "You know you have to win individual battles and unfortunately, today we didn't do that - that's what's cost us the game."#DUFC Manager Jim Goodwin gives his assessment of this afternoon's #cinchChamp defeat at Tannadice ???? pic.twitter.com/xmJ3rAqX4d
— Dundee United FC (@dundeeunitedfc) January 6, 2024
TEAMLINES
DUNDEE UNITED FC
Starting XI: Walton, Holt, Graham, Grimshaw, Moult, Sibbald, Middleton, Tillson, Fotheringham, Watt (c), McMann
Subs: Newman, Denham, Glass, Freeman, Duffy, Mochrie, MacLeod, Cudjoe, Petrie
GREENOCK MORTON
Starting XI: Mullen, Strapp, O'Connor, Blues, Crawford, Broadfoot (c), Garrity, Power, Oakley, French, Wilson
Subs: Murdoch, Waters, Boyd, Quitongo, McGrattan, Bearne, Gillespie, O’Boy
NEXT UP
Friday night football is up next, as The Terrors travel north to take on Inverness CT.
Images: Drew Porch
