MATCH REPORT | ROVERS EDGE TIGHT TANNADICE AFFAIR

DUNDEE UNITED 0

RAITH ROVERS 1 (Easton 60')

3PM SATURDAY 16 DECEMBER 2023

TANNADICE PARK

CINCH CHAMPIONSHIP

Attendance: 10,334

Dylan Easton's second-half strike secured three points for Raith Rovers.  

THE TEAM TALK

Jim Goodwin named one change among the United ranks this afternoon. Ross Docherty was the one who missed out with a slight injury with Jordan Tillson taking his place in midfield. 

Craig Sibbald skippered the side this afternoon with six DUFC Academy graduates involved in our matchday squad. 

FINELY POISED

It was a match that brought with it much expectation, both sides aiming to lay down a marker as we approach the midway point of the season. 

Louis Moult was the first to set his sights at goal as he met Glenn Middleton's corner, but his header fell just wide of the far post. 

A sliding block from Scott McMann was needed to thwart Raith's first opportunity as both sides contested an even quarter of an hour. 

John Beaton went to his pocket for the first time in the 23rd minute, showing Sibbald a caution for a foul in the centre of the park. 

IN SEARCH OF AN OPENER

United certainly had the better of the limited first-half opportunities.

A composed Kevin Holt strode forward from the back, finding Moult with a line-breaking pass through the Rovers' midfield. Spinning his man, our number 9 delivered a tidy lofted pass for Middleton to race on to before he delivered a teasing ball into the centre of the visitors' penalty area. Fotheringham was the man on the end of it, but he couldn't adjust his feet in time to get any clear connection on a strike. 

There was two chances in quick succession for Middleton who tested Kevin Dabrowski with a cross-cum-shot. He went closer woith his second effort just ten minutes before the break as his low drive from the edge of the area zipped just wide of the post. 

Lewis Vaughan was cautioned in the only other flashpoint of a goalless first half. 

IN THE BATTLE

The visitors certainly started the brighter of the sides as we re-emerged following the interval. Jack Walton was called into action on occasion, notably having to get down low to save Vaughan's effort from distance. 

Chances continued to fall the way of Ian Murray's side, with Walton again on hand to deny Sam Stanton the opener with a smart save as the former United man headed goalwards. 

As the men in tangerine raced forwards, Dabrowski pulled off a crucial stop to deny Mochrie as he let fly on his left foot from outside the area. As the ball was recycled from a corner, Fotheringham almost broke the deadlock with a glancing header which landed just wide of the mark.  

FALLING BEHIND

The visitors hit the front in style through Dylan Easton. Afforded far too much time inside the United penalty area, the Rovers' midfielder skillfully worked space for a shot before curling a left-footed effort into the top corner. 

United responded with a double change as Mochrie and Fotheringham were replaced by Watt and Mathew Cudjoe. 

We were agonisingly close to an equaliser just over 15 minutes from time. Strong play from Cudjoe held the ball up well before setting Liam Grimshaw to deliver a first-time cross. His ball was knocked down well into the path of Middleton, but his wicked effort was blocked by Euan Murray as he threw himself at the shot. 

Moult almost stunned Dabrowski with a ferocious effort from 25 yards, but the Polish shot-stopper flicked the ball around the post and away from danger. The resultant corner was almost turned home but again the Raith 'keeper sent it behind with a brave stop.

As we continued to probe, Cudjoe sent Moult chasing with a super threaded pass. A clever touch allowed him into the box way of a nutmeg but an outstanding sliding challenge from Ross Millen.

We entered almost seven additional minutes of injury time before the curtains fell on our first league defeat of the season.

TEAMLINES

DUNDEE UNITED

Starting XI: Walton, Holt, Grimshaw, Moult, Sibbald (c), Middleton, Tillson, Fotheringham, Mochrie, Gallagher, McMann 

Subs: Newman, Denham, Graham, Freeman, Duffy, Cudjoe, Watt, Stirton

RAITH ROVERS

Starting XI: Dabrowski, Dick, Millen, Murray, Vaughan, Smith, Mullin, Stanton, Brown (c), Byrne, Easton

Subs: Thomson, Corr, O'Reilly, Gullan, Hamilton, Connolly, Matthews, McGill, Hannah

NEXT UP

It's a trip to Hampden next Friday night in our second last outing of the calendar year. 

Images: Richard Wiseman