Club
Shed Talk 10 | St Mirren
30th November 2024
United come up trumps in the second-half to earn all three points!
Dundee United 2 (Holt 79', Adegboyega 90+')
St Mirren 0
3pm Saturday 30 November 2024
The CalForth Construction Arena at Tannadice Park
William Hill Premiership
Attendance: 8,868
Images: Ross Johnston
Team News
Jim Goodwin made just one change to the side that displayed guts and courage at Ibrox last weekend.
It came in the shape of Emmanuel Adegboyega, who was drafted in from the start in place of Kai Fotheringham. There was some positive news from the medical room as Ross Graham returned to the bench, his first involvement since the reverse of this fixture back in October.
There were four DUFC Academy graduates involved in this afternoon's matchday squad.
Eventually Finding Heat
After a scrappy opening, the game began to find some rhythm as we approached the ten-minute mark.
Our opening chance fell to a man in rich form eight minutes after the first whistle. Simple in its creation, Kevin Holt curled a ball in behind the St Mirren defence for Sam Dalby to chase. Taking it in his stride, he raced towards goal but it was a rare misfire as he lashed his effort high over the bar.
Jack Walton can then consider himself lucky that no more than a caution came of his challenge on Olutoyosi Olusanya as St Mirren broke on the counter. The Buddies' number 20 raced onto a raking pass before being scythed down outside the area - a VAR check backed the United shot-stopper for no serious foul play.
Ryan Strain then went close for United with a freekick from 25 yards which sailed narrowly wide of the top left corner.
Will Ferry almost broke his United duck as he found himself in behind thanks to a clever one-two with Dalby. Taking a touch to set himself, he let fly with a driven effort that cracked the outside of the post just before the clock struck 30.
There was a scare at both ends of the pitch on the stroke of half-time.
VAR checked for a possible St Mirren penalty following a cross striking the arm of Emmanuel Adegboyega at the back post. It would have been harsh to say the least, but with nothing given, United broke from the visitors' corner and the ball almost ended up in the St Mirren net after a backpass was mis-controlled by Ellery Balcombe.
That was all she wrote in a relatively incohesive first half - with chances dominated by those in tangerine.
Back Out Needing More
Six minutes from the restart, a well-crafted move should have tested the St Mirren goal.
Spreading play from one side to the other, Luca Stephenson was involved before a line-breaking pass found Middleton by way of Strain. Our number 15's cutback for Babunski was on the money, but his casual effort stood up wide of the mark.
Middleton was involved again as we countered - this time he found the onrushing Kevin Holt on the 18-yard line but the defender could only slide a first-time effort wide.
Adegboyega almost marked his return with a goal as Babunski's corner was almost glanced home as it fizzed across the face of goal. It was to be our number 10's last action as he was replaced by Miller Thomson on the hour.
A Forward Line Shuffle
With chances seeming to dry up, we made a double switch Louis Moult and Jort van der Sande took the places of Dalby and Middleton.
We were awarded a spot-kick with just over ten minutes to play as Ferry's long throw sparked a scramble in the box. It looked like there were two separate incidents as Gallagher and Holt both went down - Marcus Fraser was the one penalised for a foul on our number 4.
It was Holt who stepped up and was as cool as you like from 12 yards, sending Balcombe the wrong way and sliding the ball into the corner.
As we headed for five additional minutes, Holt was denied a brace after Matthew MacDermid once again pointed to the spot as Fraser hauled down Louis Moult inside the area - eventually being given his marching orders following a VAR check.
However, it wasn't to be, as Balcombe guessed right to parry the ball to safety.
Out for the Saints
We weren't denied a second for much longer as Holt met the resultant corner, forcing Balcombe into another stop before Adegboyega was quickest to react and turned the ball home on the slide.
It's the on-loan defender's second league goal against The Buddies after scoring in our 1-0 victory in Paisley.
This afternoon's victory gives us daylight in fourth place as we head into a busy December!
Post-Match Thoughts
?? Finding a way to win
— Dundee United FC (@dundeeunitedfc) November 30, 2024
?? Standing up to a physical battle
?? Improved second half
?? No interest in league table#DUFC Manager Jim Goodwin gives his post-match thoughts on this afternoon's @WilliamHill Premiership triumph over St Mirren ????????? pic.twitter.com/5u7C0wjSYE
Teamlines
Dundee United
Starting XI: Walton, Strain, Holt, Sevelj, Babunski (c), Ferry, Middleton, Adegboyega, Stephenson, Dalby, Gallagher
Subs: Richards, Graham, Moult, Odada, Fotheringham, van der Sande, Thomson, Stirton, Meshack
St Mirren
Starting XI: Balcombe, Tanser, Taylor, O’Hara (c), McMenamin, Kiltie, Gogic, Olusanya, Fraser, Bwomono, Phillips
Subs: Urminsky, Ayunga, Smyth, Mandron, Idowu, Boyd-Munce, John, Kenny, Mooney
Next Up
Action is ramped up ahead of a busy festive schedule as Kilmarnock make the journey to Tannadice next Saturday afternoon.
