First Team
EVERY WORD | JACK WALTON LOOKS AHEAD TO IBROX TEST
21st November 2024
A ruthless display got us back on track in the Premier Sports Cup!
Dundee United 3 (Moult 25', Gallagher 34', Trapanovski 58')
Stenhousemuir 0
7.45pm Tuesday 16 July 2024
The CalForth Construction Arena at Tannadice Park
Premier Sports Cup Group Stage
Attendance: 1,966
Team News
Jim Goodwin made four changes to this evening’s DUFC XI.
There was a debut in goal for Dave Richards, whilst David Babunski was straight into the action with a place amongst the starters. He becomes just the second North Macedonian to pull on a tangerine jersey, following the capture of fellow countryman Kristijan Trapanovski earlier in the window. Kai Fotheringham and Declan Gallagher were the other two drafted in from the start.
Jack Walton, Kevin Holt, Glenn Middleton and Miller Thomson missed out, but all were named among the substitutes.
Six DUFC Academy Graduates were involved in our matchday squad.
MORE INTENT
United threatened early in the opening exchanges - a sign of things to come as Trapanovski went close inside the opening minute. A clever drop of the shoulder allowed him to cut in from the left, skipping past two black shirts in the process, only for the fingertips of Darren Jamieson to deny him a peach as he searched for the top corner.
A couple of early Will Ferry corners were beaten away before Babunski forced Jamieson into another save with a swivelling shot.
A DESERVED LEAD
The opener eventually came on 25 minutes as Louis Moult got up and running for the season. He was involved in the initial move, teeing up Fotheringham for Ryan Strain but our number 2's drilled effort was cleared off the line.
As the ball was recycled, Trapanovski's delightful left-footed cross was stood up to the back post for Moult to nod down and into the far corner!
One became two less than ten minutes later.
Again it was Trapanovski's delivery which caused problems for the League One outfit, and the ball was turned home by Gallagher on his return to the XI!
It was neat and tidy stuff from the Terrors - who deservedly led by two at the break.
SEVENTH HEAVEN
Just three minutes after the restart, our number 7 had a goal to accompany his brace of assists when a teasing delivery from Strain was touched on by Fotheringham and Trapanovski was at the back post to bundle it over the line!
It wasn't all good fortune, as Strain was forced off on a stretcher just ten minutes into the second period - Thomson taking his place at right-wing-back.
MAKING MOVES
We made three changes with 25 minutes to go as Middleton, Watt and Owen Stirton replaced Trapanovski, Moult and Fotheringham.
It was almost the perfect introduction for Stirton, who rattled the bar before Ross Taylor blocked his goal-bound effort!
After a cool display, Babunski's race was run on 66 minutes as he was replaced by Holt.
It was a comfortable end for the Terrors who dictated the play all evening - tonight's result has us in joint first, with four teams all on three points.
TEAMLINES
Dundee United
Starting XI: Richards, Strain, Ševelj, Graham, Trapanovski, Moult, Babunski, Ferry, Sibbald (c), Fotheringham, Gallagher
Subs: Walton, Holt, Grimshaw, Middleton, Thomson, Watt, Cleall-Harding, Forbes, Stirton
Stenhousemuir
Starting XI: Jamieson, Ewen, Buchanan (c), Jamieson, Wedderburn, Berry, Aitken, Brown, Bilham, Anderson, Banner
Subs: Lyle, Meechan, Yates, Taylor, Jacobs, O’Donnell, Aitken
POST-MATCH THOUGHTS
?? Better tempo & organisation
— Dundee United FC (@dundeeunitedfc) July 16, 2024
?? Still a work in progress
?? New recruits showing their class
Post-match reaction from #DUFC Manager Jim Goodwin after watching his side defeat Stenhousemuir in Group B of the @PremSportsTV Cup ???? pic.twitter.com/uy6szC8m1E
NEXT UP
We're back on home soil this Saturday as Scott Brown's Ayr United make an evening trip to Tannadice.
