First Team
All The Info | Rangers (A)
22nd November 2024
LIVINGSTON 1-1 DUNDEE UNITED
7:45PM WEDNESDAY 8TH MARCH
CINCH PREMIERSHIP
TONY MACARONI ARENA
A spirited second-half performance saw United come from a goal behind to take a point in West Lothian.
THE TEAMTALK
There were two changes to the side that faced Aberdeen on Saturday.
Ryan Edwards was out in place of Loick Ayina and Sadat Anaku was handed his second start in place of Dylan Levitt who missed out through a knock.
TENACIOUS LIVI
After some early half chances, Livingston had their first real effort at goal on the ten-minute mark. Following some positive possession, Jason Holt showed some clever footwork to cut inside his man before offloading the ball to Steven Bradley. The Livi youngster did extremely well, taking the ball on his back foot and turning toward goal before firing a wicked effort off of the crossbar.
However, just three minutes later the midfielder had the goal he and Livingston warranted after their early display.
It was Joel Nouble proving the danger man as he ran Kieran Freeman down the left flank. As he broke into the penalty area, he cut the ball across goal for Bradley who fired into the roof of the net from inside the six-yard box.
AN EARLY CHANGE
Jim Goodwin was forced into a change just after half an hour as Kieran Freeman was replaced by Liam Smith.
The full-back was shown a yellow card after just five minutes for a foul on Andrew Shinnie midway inside the United half and again gave away a contentious foul moments before being replaced.
It was a change that looked to ensure we maintained a full complement on the park.
Livingston had a chance soon after as Bruce Anderson wriggled clear to fashion an opening inside the box but a sliding block from Charlie Mulgrew denied his effort from travelling goalward.
Following the challenge, there was a VAR check for a potential handball but it was waved away as play continued.
A GUILT-EDGED CHANCE
The final chance of the half went abegging as Sadat looked certain to score.
It was a delicious ball across the face of goal from Behich that found the Ugandan at the back post but he couldn’t steer his effort on target as the half drew to a close.
A CHANGE IN SHAPE
There was a rethink in formation as United set up for the second half. Kai Fotheringham was on in place of Sadat, with United moving to a solid back four.
The change also allowed Behich to roam further forwards after having limited involvement from full-back in the first half.
It was the substitute Fotheringham who had our first chance of the second period. Opportunity arose as McGrath’s free-kick missed everyone in the Livingston box before finding Behich wide left. The Australian dug out a cross to the back post which Fotheringham got his head on but could only nod the ball wide of the post.
PAYING DIVIDENDS
With 58 minutes on the clock, we had our equaliser through a cool finish from Behich - coming with an air of fortune it must be mentioned.
Smith was involved with some clever hold-up play before laying off for Sibbald to drive a cross into a crammed penalty area. It was flicked up by the heel of Fotherigham - floating directly into Behich's path - who cushioned a side-footed volley low into the far corner to draw us level.
SPIRIT IN ABUNDANCE
Despite not notching a winner, there was plenty of heart in the Terrors’ second-half showing.
The closest we came was through Mulgrew’s freekick which was smartly stopped by the strong hand of Shamal George.
There was a late VAR check for a potential red card as Scott McMann broke up a Livingston counter - potentially denying a goalscoring opportunity - again nothing doing after a quick check.
A POSITIVE POINT
It's a point that sees United pick up our first point in eight games as we aim to build momentum heading into the final ten games of the season.
POST-MATCH THOUGHTS
???? Manager Jim Goodwin gives his reaction to this evening's #cinchPremiership point at the Tony Macaroni Arena#LIVUTD | #DUFC pic.twitter.com/XYDaanfC78
— Dundee United FC (@dundeeunitedfc) March 8, 2023
TEAMLINE
Starting XI: Birighitti, McMann, Mulgrew, Fletcher, Sibbald, Behich, McGrath (87’ Niskanen), A.Sadat (45’ Fotheringham), Freeman (33’ Smith), Harkes, Ayina
Unused subs: Newman, Graham, Djoum, Edwards, Cudjoe, Thomson
NEXT UP
It’s ten days until we are back in action, taking on St Mirren at Tannadice on Saturday 18th March.
