DUNDEE UNITED 4 (Sibbald 42', Fotheringham 59', Watt 69, Moult 83')
PARTICK THISTLE 1 (Stanway 13')
7.45PM FRIDAY 3 MAY 2024
TANNADICE PARK
CINCH CHAMPIONSHIP

Attendance: 11,802

An emphatic victory at Tannadice preluded the cinch Championship title celebrations!

THE TEAM TALK

Jim Goodwin made three changes for our final match of the cinch Championship season!

Ross Docherty started for the first time since scoring at Cappielow back in mid-April, with Liam Grimshaw and Louis Moult also in from the beginning.

David Wotherspoon, Chris Mochrie and Miller Thomson were the ones replaced; Mochire missing out completely after coming off through injury against Airdrieonians. 

There were five DUFC academy graduates involved this evening. 

STARTING BRIGHT AND FALLING BEHIND

Despite going in level at the break, it was a first-half of dominance from Goodwin's side.

Much to the disappointmenT of the United faithful, penalty claims were waved away early on as Docherty was ushered off the ball inside the opening five minutes. 

Moult had our first real effort on goal, turning quickly and firing an effort high and wide of the mark on nine minutes.

Against the run of play, a loose ball in the box fell to Ben Stanway and the Thistle number 26 slotted the ball past a scrambling Jack Walton to give the visitors an advantage. 

Five minutes later, Moult again went close to netting, this time his glancing header fell just wide of the mark. 

In what looked our best chance to hit back, Fotheringham found himself racing clear down the right after stealing the ball from Daniel O'Reilly. He did well to pick out Watt who checked his man and fired at goal - only to be deflected and eventually cleared. 

Moult was a real threat all half, with two more headed chances evading the goal before he was neatly slipped in by Watt but was crowded out before he could fire at goal. 

BACK ON TERMS

Following some slack defending, we eventually had our leveller as Sibbald smashed home on his weaker right foot just before the break.;

 
A GOLDEN CHANCE AND THISTLE PAYING

Ten minutes after the restart, Moult was again involved, this time being scythed down by Stewart - leaving Steven McLean no option but to quickly point to the spot.

It was our number 9 who stepped up, but his penalty was a good height for the goalkeeper to get a strong hand and push clear. 

However, just three minutes later his woes were forgotten as a delightful threaded pass from Moult found Fotheringham racing clear to slide the ball beyond Stewart for his 15th of the season. 

 
TINKERING AND ADDING GLOSS

We made another change as Fotheringham suffered a head knock, being replaced by Mathew Cudjoe. 

The points were wrapped up in style on 69 minutes! 

A super cross-field pass from Grimshaw found McMann who cushioned the ball into the box for Watt to swipe home - through the legs of Stewart. 

 
MAKING AMENDS

Nine minutes from time, we were awarded another penalty as Middleton nipped in ahead of Kieran Ngwenya and was chopped to the ground. 

Moult made no mistake this time, smashing the ball into the top left corner!

 
A FITTING CELEBRATION

A resounding victory ensured that Goodwin's United side are the best cinch Championship finishers since 2015/16. 

POST-MATCH THOUGHTS
 
TEAMLINES
DUNDEE UNITED

Starting XI: Walton, McClelland, Graham, Grimshaw, Moult, Sibbald, Middleton, Fotheringham, Docherty (c), Watt, Mcmann

Subs: Newman, Holt, Wotherspoon, Tillson, Meekison Macleod, Cudjoe, Thomson, Gallagher

PARTICK THISTLE

Starting XI: Stewart, McMillan, Neilson, McInroy, Bannigan, Ngwenya, O'Reilly, Alston, Stanway, MacKenzie, Diack
 
Subs: Mitchell, Milne, Graham, Robinson, McBeth, Fitzpatrick, Campbell, Loney

 

 

 

Image: Richard Wiseman (Club Photographer)

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