First Team
Match Report | Rangers 1-1 Dundee United
23rd November 2024
We fell to only our second defeat of the season despite a battling performance at Pittodrie.
Aberdeen 1 (Ambrose 83')
Dundee United 0
3pm Saturday 26 October 2024
Pittodrie Stadium
William Hill Premiership
Attendance: 19,274
Images: Richard Wiseman (Club Photographer)
Team News
Jim Goodwin made one change to the side that left it late against Hibernian last weekend.
After making an impact from the bench, Kristijan Trapanovski was re-instated to the starting lineup in place of Miller Thomson.
Positive news came on the injury front as Ryan Strain was named amongst the substitutes after being out since our Premier Sports Cup clash with Stenhousemuir back in July.
No Cause For Concern
It was a start full of intensity although neither 'keeper was truly tested in a first-half that seemed to fizzle out.
Threats down our left looked the most likely to cause danger as Will Ferry and Glenn Middleton linked up well while Topi Keskinen posed the most cause for concern in a red shirt with some direct and powerful runs in behind.
A terrific tackle from Kevin Holt on 24 minutes stopped Keskinen creating any further danger as he looked to strike at goal. Just a few minutes after being shown the first yellow card of the evening, Aberdeen's Ante Palaversa had the first real effort on goal as he fizzed a first-time effort wide of Jack Walton's left-hand post.
United's chances came hard to come by as a number of good deliveries were well dealt with by a swarm of Aberdeen shirts.
As we approached one additional minute, a glancing header from Luca Stephenson flew north of the crossbar and Steven McLean drew close on the first 45.
Digging In
There was an onslaught of red attacks as we got back underway.
Half-time substitute Shayden Morris picked up where Keskinen left off, fizzing several balls across the United box in the opening minutes of his Saturday night cameo. Former United man Jamie McGrath then almost broke the deadlock with a fiercely struck low drive that Walton did well to navigate around the post.
It was followed by two separate first changes as Trapanovski and Emmanuel Adegboyega made way for Thomson and Richard Odada.
Thomson almost turned provider in the minutes that followed.
A truly brilliant touch around Jack MacKenzie opened up space on the wing and he drove towards the byline. His cutback across the face of goal looked certain to find Sam Dalby inside the six-yard box but it was hooked away before any further danger.
Keeping Us In It
With just under 20 minutes to play another stunning stop from Walton kept the score level.
It was a deflected cross that stood up perfectly for Ester Sokler to nod home, but our number 1 pulled out all the stops to tip it around his far post at full stretch.
A BIG save from Jack Walton to deny Ester Sokler! ?????
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) October 26, 2024
Still no breakthrough between Aberdeen and Dundee United ? pic.twitter.com/10pw1iCSlp
Late Heartbreak
With six minutes of normal time remaining the hosts hit the front.
A deep cross found Nicky Devlin at the far post in a tangle with Will Ferry and a ricochet fell into the path of second-half substitute Peter Ambrose to tap in from close range.
The hosts also had a late penalty overturned by VAR for offside in the build-up as Ambrose was brought down inside the area by Ševelj.
We had one final chance to draw parity as Middleton worked a low ball across the box for Ferry, but the Irishman lashed it over the bar and we left empty-handed.
TEAMLINES
Aberdeen
Starting XI: Mitov, Devlin (c), MacKenzie, Nilsen, McGrath, Lopes, Palaversa, Sokler, Molloy, Rubezic, Keskinen
Subs: Doohan, Shinnie, Clarkson, McGarry, Besuijen, Morris, Milne, Macdonald, Ambrose
Dundee United
Starting XI: Walton, Holt, Ševelj, Babunski (c), Ferry, Middleton, Adegboyega, Stephenson, Dalby, Thomson, Gallagher
Subs: Richards, Trapanovski, Odada, Fotheringham, van der Sande, Stirton, Domeracki, Meshack
POST-MATCH THOUGHTS
Jim Goodwin's post-match reaction:
?? Players' commitment and resilience faultless
— Dundee United FC (@dundeeunitedfc) October 26, 2024
?? Manner of goal conceded frustrating
?? Focus quickly shifts to Wednesday#DUFC Manager Jim Goodwin gives his post-match thoughts following this evening's @WilliamHill Premiership action at Pittodrie ????????? pic.twitter.com/dGS3Zhhfkk
NEXT UP
Home soil awaits as Motherwell visit Tannadice Street on Wednesday night.
Tickets and limited hospitality places are still available as the Terrors look to build on a strong start to the campaign.
