First Team

MATCH REPORT | UNITED LEAVE IT LATE TO TAKE THREE POINTS IN INVERNESS

23rd September 2023

INVERNESS CT 0
DUNDEE UNITED 1 (Mochrie ‘90+)
3PM SATURDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2023
CALEDONIAN STADIUM
CINCH CHAMPIONSHIP

Attendance: 3,503

Chris Mochrie’s late, late winner secures all three points for 10-man United.

THE TEAM TALK 

Jim Goodwin made three changes to the side that drew with Greenock Morton last weekend. 

It was a welcome return for Ross Docherty who featured for the first time since our victory over Ayr United. 

Craig Sibbald also returned to the starting eleven after coming on from the bench last weekend - Archie Meekison being the third change. 

Jordan Tillson, Tony Watt and Mathew Cudjoe were the ones who missed out on a starting spot - the latter through suspension. 

Seven DUFC Academy graduates were named in this afternoon’s matchday squad. 

OPENING CHANCES

Our first sighting at goal fell within four minutes following a spell of tangerine possession and a clever pass which found Declan Glass in behind the Inverness back line. Working space for the cutback, the ball found the feet of Louis Moult who teed up Glenn Middleton but our number 15 could only fire into the side netting. 

Kevin Holt will feel he should have done better as he connected with a corner but his left-footed effort cleared the stand as he struck at goal. 

The hosts went close themselves when Charlie Gilmour met Aaron Doran’s corner but could only head over the bar from inside the six-yard box. 

A TAME AFFAIR

It took until the 27th minute for another notable flashpoint when Middleton’s snapshot from the edge of the box was well-held by Mark Ridgers.

With 34 minutes on the clock, Moult’s race was run after going down feeling his groin. He was replaced by Watt in a straight swap up front. 

Our best chance of the half fell five minutes before the interval. 

Following build-up down the left, the ball was worked across for Meekison who let it roll across his body before his curling effort crashed off of the post. 

In the aftermath, Glass wriggled clear for a shooting chance on the edge of the box but again fired off target as the half-finished goalless. 

SECOND HALF

There were flashes at goal for United early in the second period as Middleton fired two inviting balls across the face of goal - neither of which were met by a tangerine shirt. 

Inverness’ best chance of the match fell to Billy McKay after a surging run from Luis Longstaff. The ball was worked into the middle of the park before McKay slipped in on the left side of the box but could only drag his shot just wide of the far post. 

COMING TO LIFE

Jim Goodwin responded with two changes on the hour mark as Glass and Meekison were replaced by Tillson and Fotheringham. 

It was followed up by two quick chances. 

McMann delivered a wicked cross from the left which found Middleton free inside the box. He really should have opened the scoring but could only glance his header wide of the post. 

Watt and Fotheringham were then both denied by Ridgers before Gallagher looked to be hauled to the ground from a resultant corner. 

Nine minutes into his afternoon, Tillson was shown a second caution for a foul in the middle of the park - reducing United to ten men. 

SNATCHING THE POINTS

With ten minutes to go, Docherty was replaced by Mochrie as Goodwin went for one final throw of the dice. 

It’s a change that paid off as into injury time our Academy graduate grabbed his first league goal. 

It came courtesy of Middleton's free-kick which was glanced onto the crossbar from Kevin Holt. Gallaher kept it alive however and teed up Mochrie who slid a deflected effort into the bottom corner, sending the United fans behind the goal into raptures. 

PLAYER OF THE MATCH
TEAMLINES
Inverness CT

Starting XI: Ridgers, Harper, Gimlour, Carson, McKay (C), Doran, Anderson, Longstaff, Boyes, Shaw, Ujdur

Subs: MacKay, Delaney, Samuels, Davidson, Hyde, Lodovica, Brooks, Bray, Thompson

Dundee United FC

Starting XI: Walton, Holt, Grimshaw, Moult, Sibbald, Middleton, Meekison, Glass, Docherty (C), Gallagher, McMann 

Subs: Newman, Denham, Graham, Tillson, Fotheringham, Freeman, Mochrie, Watt, Stirton

NEXT UP

cinch Championship action returns to Tannadice next Saturday as we take on Queen’s Park in a 3pm kick-off. 

CLICK HERE to purchase your match ticket!

There are extremely limited spaces remaining in hospitality - with prices starting from just £55+VAT. 

Don’t miss out on your place!

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