INVERNESS CT 0
DUNDEE UNITED 1 (WATT 87')
7.45PM FRIDAY 12 JANUARY 2024
CALEDONIAN STADIUM
CINCH CHAMPIONSHIP

Attendance: 2,662

It's a familiar story in the Highlands as United left it late to take all three points. 

THE TEAM TALK

Jim Goodwin named two changes to the DUFC XI ahead of tonight’s clash with Inverness.

Louis Moult missed out through a minor injury whilst Craig Sibbald was unavailable for selection following his red card last weekend.

It meant there was a first start for our new number 7, as Alex Greive led the line alongside Tony Watt following his arrival earlier in the week. Chris Mochrie was the other change - he scored a late winner last time out at the Caledonian Stadium.

There was positive news for the Terrors as Archie Meeksion made the bench following a long period out through injury. 

Nine DUFC Academy graduates were involved in our matchday squad. 

A TAME AFFAIR

It was a forgetful opening 45, with neither side forcing any meaningful patterns of play. 

It took until 24 minutes for the first goal attempt - falling in the hosts' favour. A neat one-two between Billy McKay and David Carson opened up space for the Caley talisman to strike at goal. Thankfully from a United persuasion, it was bravely blocked by Kevin Holt and sent behind for a corner. 

HOSTS CHANCES

The chance of the half came courtesy of the hosts' second corner. An inswinger from Cameron Harper was headed towards goal by Daniel Devine, but Jordan Tillson was on hand to clear the ball off the line and deny what would have been a certain opener. 

More chances fell the way of Duncan Ferguson's men as another ball into the box caused concern for United. David Carson's cross into a dangerous area resulted in a flick on which Ross Graham blocked before Liam Grimshaw diverted McKay's effort safely into the hands of Walton. 

There were soft appeals for a United penalty as Tony Watt was brought to ground by Harper following Scott McMann's corner, but rightly so, it was nothing doing in the eyes of Alan Muir. 

There was little else to write home about as a goalless first half drew to a close. 

MORE OF THE SAME

It looked like there was more urgency in the Terrors as we took to the field for the second 45. It resulted in our first chance as Grimshaw floated in a cross for Watt but he could only head over the bar in our first attempt of the 50 minutes played. 

Walton was forced into action as Max Anderson diverted Carson's cross towards the bottom corner, but a smart stop at full stretch kept the score level. As the ball was recycled, Charlie Gilmour could only skew his effort wide. 

There was a change on 68 minutes as Greive was replaced by Meekison. 

Our number 17 brought Mark Ridgers into action when he caught a sweetly struck volley 15 minutes from time, but the experienced 'keeper held on. 

SMASH AND GRAB

United stole the points with just minutes to go. 

A ball down the left channel was flicked on by Kai Fotheringham for Middleton to chase. Making no mistake, he fizzed the ball across the face of goal for Watt to turn it home at the far post!

In the five additional minutes, there were appeals for an Inverness penalty as the ball cruelly struck Grimshaw's arm whilst contesting an aerial ball - again the claim was dismissed by the referee. 

It's three huge points on the road that see United return to the peak of the cinch Championship ahead of a full round of fixtures this weekend. 

PLAYER OF THE MATCH
POST-MATCH THOUGHTS
TEAMLINES

INVERNESS CT

Starting XI: Ridgers, Harper, Devine, Gilmour, Carson, McKay, Anderson, Longstaff, Boyes, Shaw, Carragher

Subs: MacKay, Duffy, Doran, MacGregor, Davidson, Brooks, Thompson, Sheridan, Ujdur

DUNDEE UNITED FC

Starting XI: Walton, Holt, Graham, Greive, Grimshaw, Middleton, Tillson, Fotheringham, Mochrie, Watt (c), McMann

Subs: Newman, Denham, Meekison, Glass, Freeman, Duffy, MacLeod, Cudjoe, Petrie

NEXT UP

With no game next weekend, attention turns to Saturday 27 January, with James McPake and Dunfermline Athletic making the journey to Tannadice. 

We have limited places in hospitality, with places starting from just £55+VAT! 

CLICK HERE to book one of our lounges! 

CLICK HERE for match tickets. 

 

Images: Richard Wiseman.

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