MATCH REPORT | UNITED EXTEND UNBEATEN RUN WITH WIN OVER AIRDRIEONIANS

DUNDEE UNITED 2 (Cudjoe 4’, Fotheringham 90+’)

AIRDRIEONIANS 0

3PM SATURDAY 2 SEPTEMBER 2023

TANNADICE PARK

CINCH CHAMPIONSHIP

Attendance: 8,008

United’s unbeaten run extends to six matches as two goals and a clean sheet secure all three cinch Championship points at Tannadice!

THE TEAM TALK 

Jim Goodwin made one enforced change to the side that took all three points at Somerset Park last weekend.  Club Captain Ross Docherty just missed out and is replaced by Kieran Freeman.

Scott Constable featured on the bench for the first time - one of nine Academy graduates* involved in our matchday squad. 

LIGHTNING START

Our first foray forward came from the kick-off as we raced away down the right flank. After some clever build-up, the ball was worked to Louis Moult inside the box but he couldn’t get it out of his feet quick enough to tee up Mathew Cudjoe. 

It took just four minutes for United to hit the front as Cudjoe eventually found a route to goal - grabbing his third cinch Championship goal of the season. 

It came in a similar vein to the earlier chance, this time Glenn Middleton laying off our winger inside the penalty box. Taking the shot on first time, he curled a left-footed strike out of Joshua Rae’s reach and into the far corner! 

We went close to a second minutes later as Declan Glass’ corner fashioned our next opportunity. It was met by Watt whose looping header looked certain to find the back post. Edging just wide, it was met by Moult but his header came back off the post. 

United continued their press and another chance fell for Middleton but his dangerous ball across the face of goal was just wide of the post and just ahead of Cudjoe. 

In the fourteenth minute, there was a lengthy delay following an incident in the crowd - which was thankfully resolved by the First Aid team and doctors on hand. 

The game got back underway in the 25th minute and Moult again found himself with an effort crashing off the woodwork. After a long switch, Liam Grimshaw worked a cross into the box which Moult met head-on, this time his header coming off the opposite post and out of harm's way. 

Two chances in as many minutes fell for Airdrieonians midfielder Lewis McGregor as we approached the half - the latter he should have taken after scampering through on goal and pulling a shot wide of the mark. 

United closed the half with two chances of their own. Glass was involved again after being slipped in down the right and pulling the trigger from a narrow angle which Rae was equal to. From his resultant corner, Grimshaw found himself with a shooting opportunity which he smashed into the ground - only to be cleared by Ballantyne on the goal line. 

ANOTHER OPENING CHANCE

The first action of the second 45 almost resulted in our second goal of the afternoon. It was Holt who again met a corner, clipping the outside of the post with his header - our third effort to come off the woodwork. 

The visitors pieced together a well-worked move ten minutes after the restart. Brave running and clever feet allowed Murray Aiken to jink his way into the box before laying it off for Liam McStravick. He fired a first-time effort goalward which was well tipped over the bar by Jack Walton. 

A last-ditch clearance from Gallagher stopped the visitors equalising following a goal-bound effort through a crowded box. The chance came after Airdrie’s best spell of the half. It was a second half that Airdrieonians mostly controlled whilst failing to create any further clear-cut chances. 

United made three second half changes at two separate stoppages:

OFF: Cudjoe, Watt and Glass

ON: Fotheringham, Meekison and Constable

DUFC Academy Graduate, Constable, becomes one of United's youngest-ever players after turning 16 at the end of last month. 

In what proved to be the last flashpoint of the match, Kai Fotheringham notched United’s second in style! 

It was a mistake from the away ‘keeper as Rae came out to control the ball following a long clearance - gifting it to Fotheringham in the process. Making no mistake from all of 45 yards, he controlled his long-range effort which rolled over the line to double our lead!

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

TEAMLINES

Dundee United FC

Starting XI: Walton, Holt, Grimshaw, Moult, Middleton, Glass, Freeman, Cudjoe, Gallagher, Watt (c), McMann

Subs: Newman, Denham, Graham, Meekison, Fotheringham, Duffy, MacLeod, Mwangi, Constable

Airdrieonians

Starting XI: Rae, Ballantyne (c), Taylor-Sinclair, Hancock, Fordyce, McGregor, Gallagher, McStravick, McMaster, Aiken, McGill

Subs: Hutton, McCabe, O'Connor, Todorov, Fellows, Dunlop, Gallagher, Cassidy, Spalding

NEXT UP

We return to Tannadice next Saturday, taking on Dunfermline Athletic in the SPFL Trust Trophy.

Kick-off is at 3pm, with tickets available HERE!