First Team

MATCH REPORT | UNITED EXIT SCOTTISH CUP

25th November 2023

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH 2 (4) (18' Logan, 50' Connelly)
DUNDEE UNITED 2 (3) (6', 58' Fotheringham)
3PM SATURDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2023
PALMERSTON PARK
SCOTTISH GAS SCOTTISH CUP - THIRD ROUND

Attendance: 1,603

United rue missed chances as Queen of the South progress to the Fourth Road. 

THE TEAM TALK

Jim Goodwin named four changes to the United side following last weekend's SPFL Trust Trophy exit.

Ross Graham, Mathew Cudjoe and Chris Mochrie all featured on the bench, whilst Tony Watt missed out on our matchday squad with a small niggle.

Ross Docherty was the standout change as the Skipper returned for the first time since the end of October with Louis Moult and Declan Gallagher also back in from the start. Kai Fotheringham was back amongst the starters after returning from international duty. 

Seven Academy graduates featured in our matchday squad. 

A RAMPANT START

The men in Tangerine looked like they meant business early on with enough chances in the opening ten minutes for the game to be out of sight.

The first of which came courtesy of a sweeping United counter down the right as a ball across the face of the box eventually found Glenn Middleton, but a smart stop from Harry Stone ensured the match stayed level on three minutes. 

Louis Moult then went close as he met Scott McMann's cross in the air, but again Stone was equal to it with a smart diving save. 

Declan Glass was next to try his luck, cutting inside onto his left foot 20 yards from goal but his curling effort bounced just wide of the post. 

Without a chance for breath, United did find the opener through Fotheringham's eighth goal of the season. This time McMann's pinpoint delivery was rewarded as our Academy graduate bulleted his header beyond Stone. 

Straight from the kick-off, we could have doubled our advantage as United again broke forward in numbers. Glass had his second sighting of the afternoon, but again his effort fizzed just past the post. 

QUEENS HIT BACK

With 17 minutes on the clock, Jack Walton was forced into action to deny Lee Connelly, rewarding the hosts with a corner. The resultant delivery brought the leveller as a stramash in the box and eventually found Cammy Logan to head home from close range. 

There were still plenty of forays forward from United, but we lacked the finishing product as a number of chances were thwarted before any attempts on goal. 

Liam Grimshaw almost got us back in front after some powerful running from Middleton allowed him space for a cross at the back post. Evading everyone, the ball trundled towards Grimshaw at the edge of the area but he could only pull his effort wide of the mark. 

Craig Sibbald had our final chance of the half with a swerving, dipping effort from just outside the box. However, a strong set of gloves from Stone parried the ball away from danger as the referee drew close to the opening 45.

Half-time: Queen of the South 1-1 Dundee United

DOWN, BUT NOT OUT

With less than five second-half minutes on the clock, the hosts hit the front through Connelly. It was a well-worked goal from Queens', as a ball across the face of goal found their number 10 following some clever movement to poke the ball into the far corner. 

Two chances went begging as we looked for an equaliser. 

The first of which fell for Moult following Fotheringham's cross, but an expert stop from Stone denied our number 9 from point-blank range. 

Moments later, Connelly's foul on Docherty almost halted play but a super threaded pass from Sibbald found Middleton in behind as United continued. However, Stone was again at the hosts' rescue to deny him.

ON LEVEL TERMS

Parity was restored just before the hour mark as Fotheringham notched his second of the afternoon. 

Another ball over the top and in behind found our number 18, and through an air of fortune, his touch took him through on goal. There was nothing fortunate about the finish however, as he blasted the ball low into the bottom corner. 

We made our first change of the afternoon on 70 minutes, as Mochrie replaced Glass in midfield. It was followed by a certain goal-saving block on the line by Efe Ambrose to again deny Moult from point-blank range. 

With our last attack of the 90 minutes, substitute Mathew Cudjoe tested Stone once more but his low effort was tipped around the post to mark a stellar 90 minutes for The Doonhamers' goalkeeper. 

EXTRA TIME

After a relatively tame opening, chances began to come thick and fast as McMann and Owen Stirton went close either side of Moult's header crashing off of the woodwork ten minutes into the opening period.

Mochrie forced Stone into action early in the second but he got down well to save at his far post. 

There was a scramble in the Queens' penalty area as we edged towards the whistle but Stone eventually gathered the ball as spot-kicks became required. 

PENALTY KICKS

Holt, Moult and Middleton all made no mistake from the spot but misses from Grimshaw and Cudjoe saw the hosts' progress. 

POST-MATCH THOUGHTS
TEAMLINES
QUEEN OF THE SOUTH

Starting XI: Stone, Logan, McClelland, Ambrose, MacIntyre, McKay (c), Todd, Walker, McGuffie, Connelly, Reilly

Subs: Botterill, Houston, Johnstone, McKechnie, Hutchinson, Irving

DUNDEE UNITED

Starting XI: Walton, Holt, Grimshaw, Moult, Sibbald, Middleton, Fotheringham, Glass, Docherty, Gallagher, McMann

Subs: Newman, Denham, Graham, Tillson, Freeman, Mochrie, Cudjoe, Carnwath, Stirton 

NEXT UP

We're back on the road next weekend, taking on Greenock Morton in the cinch Championship.

It's a 3pm kick-off at Cappielow, with tickets available HERE!

 

Images: Richard Wiseman

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