First Team

MATCH REPORT | UNITED ON THE CUSP OF THE CINCH CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE

20th April 2024

DUNDEE UNITED 1 (MOCHRIE '78)
AYR UNITED 0
3PM SATURDAY 20 APRIL 2024
TANNADICE PARK
CINCH CHAMPIONSHIP

Attendance: 10,025

United all but over the line with a dramatic victory over Ayr United!

THE TEAM TALK

Jim Goodwin made two changes to the DUFC XI this afternoon.

Jordan Tillson and Miller Thomson both came into the side in place of Liam Grimshaw and Ross Docherty, with our skipper missing out with a minor niggle. It means Tony Watt was handed the responsibility of the captain's armband. 

There was more welcome news on the injury front as Declan Gallagher returned to the compliment for the first time since our draw with Inverness CT back in late March. 

Scott McMann, Craig Sibbald and Louis Moult all started after being named in the PFA Scotland Championship Team of the Year yesterday, our number 9 is just one shy of 20 goals for the season.

Seven DUFC Academy graduates were involved in our matchday squad. 

CHANCES HARD TO COME BY

Kai Fotheringham had our first sighting at goal inside six minutes as he picked up Tony Watt's flick-on, unfortunately for our number 18 his snapshot was always rising. Another chance fell his way just after 20 minutes as he headed wide after Glenn Middleton beat his man and worked a cross.

In all truth, there was little else to write home about as we approached the half. Middleton looked our likeliest to cause threat - continuously beating Nick McAllister for pace down our left side. 

In our best chance of the half, a clever interchange between Sibbald and Moult saw the former stride toward goal before his effort was diverted just wide of the left-hand post by Jack Sanders. 

MORE PURPOSE AND INTENT

A couple of nice moves almost saw us hit the front in the early period of the second half. 

Clever footwork from Miller Thomson started the move as he kept the ball away from the pressing Jamie Murphy. A line-breaking pass found Watt who shifted it wide for Middleton to latch on to inside the box. His cutback looked to cause chaos but after Josh Clarke's initial fumble, it was hooked behind by Sanders.  

Another delightful interchange saw Moult flick the ball round he corner for Middleton who set Sibbald free. His threaded ball was chased down by Moult but the onrushing Clarke was there first to gather.  

A MAN ADVANTAGE

Scott Brown's side were reduced to 10 men as McAllister was sent off for an elbow on Middleton just before the hour mark!

The visitors became a little hot-headed as Harry McHugh was then cautioned for a late sliding challenge.

Middleton continued to look a threat as he drove towards the byline and picked out Mopult who could only swipe over on his weaker left foot. We followed up by making our first change of the match as Tillson was replaced by David Wotherspoon. 

A SUPER-SUB INDEED

Just two minutes after replacing Fotheringham, Chris Mochrie's strike sealed the points for United. A brilliant ball from Wotherspoon was met by Watt who forced Clarke into a smart save but our number 26 was there to follow up from yards out!

Pandamonium ensued as the full-time whistle went, leaving United with a seemingly unassailable lead with six points to play for. 

 

PLAYER OF THE MATCH
TEAMLINES
Dundee United FC

Starting XI: Walton, McClelland, Graham, Moult, Sibbald, Middleton, Tillson, Fotheringham, Thomson, Watt (c), McMann
 
Subs: Newman, Grimshaw, Wotherspoon, Meekison, Mochrie, MacLeod, Cudjoe, Gallagher, Cleall-Harding

Ayr United

Starting XI: Clarke, Mcallister, Stanger, Sanders, Musond (c), Dempsey, Mckenzie, Mchugh, Murphy, Willoughby, Dowds

Subs: Albinson, McGinty, McGeady, Amartey, Tomlinson, McGinley, Bryden 

NEXT UP

It's a trip west for United as we head to Airdrieonians with the hope of clinching the Championship Title on Friday night!

Ticket details will be available at the beginning of the week. 

 

Image: Richard Wiseman (Club Photographer)

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