First Team
EVERY WORD | JIM GOODWIN AHEAD OF NEW FIRM CLASH
25th October 2024
A tale of two halves in a pulsating Ayrshire draw.
Kilmarnock 3 (Watson 47' 58', Watkins 64')
Dundee United 3 (Moult 20', Sibbald 80', Graham 99' pen)
3pm Saturday 28 September 2024
Rugby Park
William Hill Premiership
Team News
Jim Goodwin made two changes following last Friday night's defeat at Fir Park.
They both came in the forward line as Louis Moult and Sam Dalby were drafted in from the start, replacing Jort van der Sande and Kristijan Trapanovski - the latter missing out with a knock.
Kai Fotheringham was also back in the matchday squad - one of the three Academy graduates involved this afternoon.
Early Threats
The hosts mounted on the pressure in the opening minute as a quick free kick was worked to Marley Watkins on the charge. Bursting into the box, he cut it back for Kyle Vassell who struck goalwards, but a defection allowed us to escape any danger. A number of testing deliveries into the box were then cleared as we weathered the early storm.
We went close ourselves in the aftermath following a neat interchange between Moult and David Babunski. The North Macedonian was the one to dig it out for a shot, but his effort on the turn was dragged wide of the post.
Watkins and Vassell continued to look lively early on - the Killie captain went close with a curling effort before getting his angles wrong on a header that really should have led to more.
A killer pass from Emmanuel Adegboyega found Luca Stephenson in space, but a big save from Kieran O'Hara denied him a second United goal as he fired across goal.
Repaying the Faith
Moult put us ahead with his second goal in as many games as the clock struck 20 minutes.
An exquisite outside-of-the-foot pass from Will Ferry was crashed back across goal by Stephenson - who did well to keep it in play - for our number nine to turn home from close range.
We had chances to double our advantage from outside the area as Moult and Docherty had blocked efforts en route before Babunski fired a low shot wide of the mark in a positive spell for The Terrors.
Off the Bench to Bag a Brace
Kilmarnock's half-time substitute David Watson scored twice before the hour mark to turn the tie around.
The first came as a deep delivery from Danny Armstrong was superbly finished with an overhead kick at the back post.
A fortuitous second fell his way as Armstrong cut inside and let fly before a deflection off the Scotland U21 international left Walton wrong-footed to find the net.
It got worse as Marley Watkins added a third as a header off the underside of the bar fell his way to nod home into an empty net on 64 minutes.
Within Touching Distance
We shuffled the pack with 15 to play
OFF: Babunski, Gallagher, Docherty and Dalby
ON: Ševelj, Thomson, Middleton and van der Sande
The changes paid off as we were back to within one just over ten minutes from time.
Determined play from Miller Thomson won the ball back on the slide before it found the feet of Sibbald outside the area and his fierce effort caught O'Hara out and nestled in the far corner. As the ball hit the net, Craig Napier pulled it back for an alleged foul by Thomson in the build-up but after an extremely long VAR check we were rightfully awarded the goal.
Level at the Death
Deep into eight additional minutes, United were awarded a penalty as Stephenson was cut down inside the area.
Showing metal, Ross Graham was in no two minds of taking it and sent O'Hara the wrong way to grab a point in Kilmarnock.
TEAMLINES
Kilmarnock
Starting XI: O'Hara, Burroughs, Ndaba, Mayo, Lyons, Vassell, Kennedy, Armstrong, Findlay, Watkins, Polworth
Subs: McCrorie, Deas, McKenzie, Watson, Murray, Anderson, Donnelly, Wales, Bainbridge
Dundee United
Starting XI: Walton, Graham, Moult, Babunski, Ferry, Sibbald, Adegboyega, Stephenson, Dalby, Docherty (c), Gallagher
Subs: Richards, Holt, Ševelj, Odada, Middleton, Fotheringham, van der Sande, Thomson, Meshack
POST-MATCH THOUGHTS
?? First-half display encouraging
— Dundee United FC (@dundeeunitedfc) September 28, 2024
?? Manner of goals conceded frustrating
?? Great character shown to rescue a point
?? Important to stop run of defeats
Post-match reaction from #DUFC Manager Jim Goodwin following this afternoon's six-goal thriller at Rugby Park ????????? pic.twitter.com/5YUZwRVg5D
NEXT UP
We're on the road again next weekend as we travel to Paisley to face St Mirren.
