First Team

MATCH REPORT | DUNDEE UNITED 0-3 ST MIRREN

20th August 2022

Dundee United 0
St Mirren 3 (Main 40’ & 50’, Greive ’90+)
3pm Saturday 20th August, 2022
Tannadice Park 
Attendance: 7,540 (474 away)

Curtis Main’s double either side of half-time helped the Saints to victory at Tannadice. 

United were back on home soil after a rollercoaster start to the season.

Jack Ross made three changes to the side that were defeated at Tynecastle last week, with Carljohan Eriksson, Steven Fletcher and Dylan Levitt replacing Mark Birighitti, Ross Graham and Mathew Cudjoe. 

FIRST-HALF

It was the visitors who had an early chance to open the scoring through Jonah Ayunga, but the forward headed wide eight yards from goal. 

United again took a while to settle into the match but enjoyed the better of the possession throughout the first period. 

The Terrors were denied an opener through excellent defending from Declan Gallagher. Tony Watt’s cross field pass to Middleton carved open a chance.

The United number 15 looked for Smith in the box before the ball fell for Harkes whose cutback looking for a United forward was smartly blocked by Gallagher. 

There was an early booking for Aziz Behich after a series of fouls in quick succession.

A resultant ball into the box eventually fell to Keanu Baccus at the edge of the area and his thunderous goalbound effort was bravely headed clear by Ryan Edwards. 

Clear-cut chances were hard to come by for United in the first half.

On the 23 minute mark, a sweeping move from left to right allowed Middleton space out wide. The winger looked to set up Smith once more but the ball was diverted behind for a corner.

After a Saints clearance the ball dropped kindly for Levitt, but the Welshman’s effort on the volley sailed wide of Carson’s goal. 

The away side went close again through Mark O’Hara, calling Eriksson into action from close range to make a stop down to his left-hand side. 

Ayunga was again a threat down St Mirren’s right, looking to cut one back before McGrath intervened. 

The visitors took the lead five minutes before the break. A loose pass broke to Curtis Main inside the United half and the Saints forward cooly slotted the ball past Eriksson to give his side the advantage. 

SECOND-HALF 

Jack Ross opted for a change of shape at half-time with Cudjoe replacing McGrath. 

Five minutes after the restart the Saints had their second of the afternoon.

O’Hara won the ball deep in midfield, powering a surging run into the United half.

A smart switch out to Ayunga allowed the forward to cut the ball back which broke for Main to curl an effort into the top left corner from inside the box. 

There was almost a third for the visitors soon after with Saku denying O’Hara from close range. 

A double substitution for United followed with Nicky Clark and Ilmari Niskanen replacing Watt and Behich. 

Clark was involved moments after his introduction. A smart touch and half-turn set Cudjoe chasing down the right flank. The Ghana star's cross with the outside of his boot was cut out before reaching Fletcher in the middle of the Saints penalty area. 

The Terrors best chance of the second half fell to Niskanen inside the area but Carson denied him with a strong hand. 

Into injury time there was a third goal for the visitors with Alex Greive latching onto a long ball and sliding under the on-rushing Eriksson. 

Teamlines 

Starting XI: Eriksson, Smith, Mulgrew, Fletcher, Edwards (c), Middleton, Behich (Niskanen ’60), McGrath (Cudjoe ’45), Levitt, Harkes & Watt (Clark ’60)

Substitutes: Birighitti, McMann, Graham, Niskanen, Clark, Sibbald, Meekison, Freeman & Cudjoe

Next Up 

We are back at Tannadice next Sunday as we take on Celtic at noon in the cinch Premiership. 

Tickets for the match are still available online.

#UnitedInPursuit