First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
Nothing separated the teams in a titanic Tannadice battle which leaves United going to Hamilton on Sunday knowing promotion is in their own hands.
By Tommy McKay
After a cagey start, in which the lineman's flag halted a half chance for both teams, it was Hamilton who could have opened the scoring on 10 minutes.
Breaking from a United corner, Bingham intercepted Kuate’s pass and burst down the right wing. His cross was perfect for Daniel Redmond who took a fresh air swipe at the ball from five yards and Bell gratefully gathered. Three minutes later it was Bingham's turn to pass up a glorious chance. After outpacing Edjenguele his shot across goal from 12 yards was excellently blocked by the feet of Bell in the United goal.
A minute later United registered their first shot on target however Murray's near post drive was easily gathered by Matthews at his near post.
A comedic collision between Gogic and Donati almost resulted in Mikkelsen being one on one with Matthews however, after Skondras got a toe on the ball, Matthews in the Hamilton goal was able to race from his area and clear the ball for a throw in ahead of Tony Andreu.
On 30 minutes the United fans were screaming for a penalty when Murray went down under Donati’s challenge however referee Steven McLean saw things differently and booked the United forward.
A couple of good interceptions by the Hamilton defence and a series of Hamilton corners which were easily dealt with was all the rest of the first half had to offer.
Second Half
The save of the match came from Matthews on 58 minutes. Telfer’s corner was met brilliantly by Mikkelsen whose header was goal bound until Matthew clawed the ball out of the top corner.
A second half lacking in clear cut chances exploded into life on 77 minutes. Murray, chasing another lost cause, arrived at the ball ahead of Scott McCann and tumbled under his challenge. Whilst the men in tangerine were waiting for the referee to point to the spot the flag of his assistant was instead raised. A second booking for simulation resulted in a red card for Murray.
Despite both teams throwing a number of balls into each others' boxes, neither team could find the killer touch to give them an advantage going into Sunday's second leg.
United will travel to Hamilton on Sunday knowing a win will secure promotion. A situation that many United fans would have taken had it been offered at the start of the season.
A comedic collision between Gogic and Donati almost resulted in Mikkelsen being one on one with Matthews however, after Skondras got a toe on the ball, Matthews in the Hamilton goal was able to race from his area and clear the ball for a throw in ahead of Tony Andreu.
On 30 minutes the United fans were screaming for a penalty when Murray went down under Donati’s challenge however referee Steven McLean saw things differently and booked the United forward.
A couple of good interceptions by the Hamilton defence and a series of Hamilton corners which were easily dealt with was all the rest of the first half had to offer.
Second Half
The save of the match came from Matthews on 58 minutes. Telfer’s corner was met brilliantly by Mikkelsen whose header was goal bound until Matthew clawed the ball out of the top corner.
A second half lacking in clear cut chances exploded into life on 77 minutes. Murray, chasing another lost cause, arrived at the ball ahead of Scott McCann and tumbled under his challenge. Whilst the men in tangerine were waiting for the referee to point to the spot the flag of his assistant was instead raised. A second booking for simulation resulted in a red card for Murray.
Despite both teams throwing a number of balls into each others' boxes, neither team could find the killer touch to give them an advantage going into Sunday's second leg.
United will travel to Hamilton on Sunday knowing a win will secure promotion. A situation that many United fans would have taken had it been offered at the start of the season.
Dundee United: Bell ©, Dillon, Dixon, Durnan, Spittal, Murray, Edjenguele, Flood, Kuate (Telfer), Mikkelsen, Andreu (Nicholls) Subs not used: Zwick (GK), Donaldson, Toshney, Coote, Robson
Hamilton Academical: Matthews, Skondras, Imrie, Redmond (Docherty), Crawford, Gogic, Bingham (D’Acol), MacKinnon, Donati ©,McMann, Templeton (Longridge) Subs not used: Woods (GK), Gillespie, Watson, Want Man of the Match: Mark Durnan – A close call between Durnan and Mikkelsen but the big defender was a rock at the back for United who dealt with everything Hamilton could throw at United. Referee: Steven McLean Assistants: Dougie Petters, Graham Chambers Crowd: 9386
