First Team
EVERY WORD | JACK WALTON LOOKS AHEAD TO IBROX TEST
21st November 2024
A late equaliser shares the spoils in Dingwall.
Ross County 1 (Hale 90+4')
Dundee United 1 (Babunski 48')
3pm Sunday 4 August 2024
The Global Energy Stadium
William Hill Premiership
Attendance: 4,169 (994 away)
Team News
Jim Goodwin made just one change to the side that drew 2-each with Dundee last weekend. Midweek signing Emmanuel Adegboyega came straight into the side in place of Ross Graham, while Meshack Ubochioma was named amongst the substitutes.
There were five DUFC Academy graduates involved in our matchday squad.
Almost Ahead
It was almost the perfect start for the men in white and tangerine as we set our sights inside the opening 20 seconds.
It was Miller Thomson who was on the front foot from the off, pressing Will Nightingale and steering the ball into the path of Jort Van Der Sande. Showing composure, our number 9 skipped past the onrushing Ross Laidlaw before squaring the ball across the face for Thomson, who could only blast over on his weaker left foot.
A Strong Hand
Not the most fruitful of habits, we gave up our fourth penalty in as many matches when Craig Napier pointed to the spot just after 23 minutes.
With possession just outside the area, Jack Walton was equal to an effort from distance effort but couldn't gain full control, bringing down Ronan Hale on the follow-up as he looked to claw the ball back into his arms.
There was a quick VAR check before Eamonn Brophy stepped up and took aim for the bottom left corner, but United's number 1 was down low with a strong hand to keep the score level.
The hosts had the best of it in what remained of the first 45. Hale went closest with some tidy footwork on the left, dancing inside and firing just wide before forcing Walton into another smart stop with a snapshot volley from range as the half drew to a close.
In The Lead
United this time made their strong start count, hitting the front less than three minutes into the second half.
Will Ferry was at the heart of the move, picking up a loose ball and driving past no less than three County players and into the box. His setback into the area found David Babunski on the penalty spot and he swept the ball home on his weaker left foot to send the United fans into raptures behind the goal.
Some clever wing play almost delivered our second of the afternoon.
It was Ševelj and Ferry who linked up down our left before the latter drove to the byline and stood up a cross to the back post. It was nodded back across by second-half substitute Louis Moult but Akil Wright was on hand to thwart Craig Sibbald who looked to steer it home.
A SUCKER PUNCH
Deep into seven additional minutes, Hale levelled the tie as he turned home Alex Samuel's cross from close range.
Despite the late disappointment, a draw was probably a fair reflection of the afternoon.
TEAMLINES
Ross County
Starting XI: Laidlaw, Wright, Allardice, Randall (c), Hale, Grieves, Denholm, Harmon, Efete, Brophy, Nightingale
Subs: Ross, Brown, Leak, Loturi, Chilvers, Samuel, White, Robesten, Reid
Dundee United
Starting XI: Walton, Holt, Ševelj, Trapanovski, Babunski (c), Ferry, Sibbald, Adegboyega, van der Sande, Thomson, Gallagher
Subs: Richards, Graham, Moult, Odada, Middleton, Fotheringham, Cleall-Harding, Stirton, Ubochioma
POST-MATCH THOUGHTS
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="1080"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">?? Not satisfied with a point <br>?? Poor first half to analyse<br>?? Reaction positive after the break<br>?? Lessons to learn from the sucker punch<br><br>Post-match reaction from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DUFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DUFC</a> Manager Jim Goodwin following this afternoon's <a href="https://twitter.com/WilliamHill?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WilliamHill</a> Premiership draw with Ross County ???? <a href="https://t.co/D0v7zM5vw4">pic.twitter.com/D0v7zM5vw4</a></p>— Dundee United FC (@dundeeunitedfc) <a href="https://twitter.com/dundeeunitedfc/status/1822329246355714355?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
NEXT UP
It's knockout football next as St Mirren visit The CalForth Construction Arena at Tannadice Park for a 2pm kick-off on Sunday 19 August.
