MATCH REPORT | FRANTIC FESTIVE FOOTBALL AT TANNADICE

DUNDEE UNITED 2-2 HEARTS
CINCH PREMIERSHIP
2PM SATURDAY 24TH DECEMBER 2022
TANNADICE PARK

Attendance: 10224 (2592 away)­­­
 
We returned to cinch Premiership action this afternoon with an enthralling clash with Hearts. Two overturned penalties and two United Christmas crackers were part of the action in a two-each draw at Tannadice.

LINING UP

Liam Fox went with three at the back- Scott McMann, Ryan Edwards and Liam Smith forming our final line of defence.
 
Back from his stellar World Cup campaign, Aziz Behich lined up at full-back across from Kieran Freeman.
 
Glenn Middleton was once again utilised in the forward line, linking up United’s attack with Steven Fletcher.

HITTING THE FRONT

Although hearts dominated the ball, United enjoyed a flurry of counters as we looked for an early opener.
 
10 minutes in, good pressure for United saw chances fall for Middleton, Edwards and Behich, but we were kept at bay.
 
Fox’s men broke forward quickly once more - Ian Harkes found Fletcher with a looping ball behind the Hearts midfield. A lovely, cushioned touch and pass sent Glenn Middleton racing down the left wing, but his cross was just ahead of any United man.
 
After 20 minutes, it was a piece of magic that sent United ahead. Fletcher picked the ball out of the air and hit a half-volley from outside the area which sailed past Craig Gordon into the corner. There was a hint of offside in the build-up, which was cleared up after a lengthy VAR check.

AN EVENTFUL CONCLUSION

Hearts hit back four minutes before the interval. Good determination from Cameron Devlin saw him slide a pass-through for Michael Smith, who cushioned the ball home from close range.
 
Barrie McKay was then involved with some neat play deep into stoppage time. A smart turn and a square pass set up Devlin, who let the ball run across his body before pulling the trigger. As Djoum slid in to block, our number 10 was adjudged to have used his hand to stop the ball from travelling goalward.
 
Referee Colin Steven quickly pointed to the spot, however, after a lengthy VAR check, he overturned his decision - which admittedly looked harsh in real-time.
 
Andy Halliday was booked in the aftermath.
 
As United went up the other end, Behich tried his luck with a strike from 25 yards which was deflected wide for a United corner.
 
It was to be the last flashpoint of a busy half as the referee brought the first 45 to a close.
 

BACK OUT WITH A BANG

United meant business as they took back to the Tannadice turf for the second half.
 
A minute after kick-off, Levitt was involved in the early with a silky turn and a delightful pass finding Freeman out wide. The Welshman received it back on the edge of the area and curled a first-time effort beyond Gordon to restore our advantage in some style!

 
Just before the hour mark, Fletcher went agonisingly close with a header, denied by a strong hand from Gordon.

A NASTY COLLISION

In the 68th minute, a coming together between Fletcher and Gordon left the Hearts goalkeeper with a broken leg.
 
A long ball from Birighitti found Fletcher racing through. Gordon came out to meet him and a clash left both players down in a heap.
 
The referee pointed to the spot awarding United a penalty, but whilst the players were down another lengthy VAR check led to an overturned decision once more – denying United a spot kick.  
 
Everyone at United wishes Craig a speedy recovery following the incident.

A BLOW FOR THE TERRORS

Into injury time, a ball into the box led to Shankland going down following a challenge from Graham – the referee again pointing to the spot.
 
This time it wasn’t overturned, and Shankland made no mistake from 12 yards to level the game.  

 
The match drew to a close, with United left frustrated in the dying stages.  
 

TEAMLINE

Starting XI: Birighitti, Smith, McMann, Fletcher (Watt 75’), Djoum, Edwards, Middleton, Behich (Graham 88’), Levitt (Sibbald 90’), Freeman, Harkes
 
Substitutes: Eriksson, Mulgrew, Niskanen, Meekison, A.Sadat, MacLeod
 

NEXT UP

We’d like to wish all United fans a very Merry Christmas and we look forward to seeing you all back at Tannadice on Wednesday as we take on Ross County.