Dundee UtdDundee Utd |
1 - 11 - 1 |
Inverness CTInverness CT |
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League (Premiership) |
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Goalscorers | |
Billy Mckay (7) |
Josh Meekings (56) |
Team Managers | |
Jackie McNamara |
John Hughes |
Starting Eleven | |
51. Luis Zwick 12. Ryan McGowan 2. Seán Dillon 5. Callum Morris 17. Mark Durnan 8. John Rankin 22. Scott Fraser 25. Aaron Kuhl 30. Darko Bodul 7. Billy Mckay 14. Ryan Dow |
Owain Fon Williams David Raven Carl Tremarco Josh Meekings Danny Devine James Vincent Ross Draper Greg Tansey Danny Williams Ryan Christie Miles Storey |
Bench | |
Marc McCallum 28. Coll Donaldson 18. Aidan Connolly 16. Charlie Telfer 20. Blair Spittal 15. Simon Murray 29. Adam Taggart |
Ryan Esson Daniel Lopez Robles Richie Foran Nathaniel Wedderburn Lewis Horner Liam Polworth |
Substitutions | |
Blair Spittal for Ryan Dow (66) Simon Murray for Darko Bodul (82) |
Richie Foran for Danny Williams (83) Liam Polworth for Miles Storey (90) |
Cautions | |
John Rankin (28) Darko Bodul (69) |
Ross Draper (1) Carl Tremarco (11) |
Red Cards | |
None. | None. |
Match Officials | |
Kevin Clancy (Referee) |
There was a lot riding on this match with United facing the prospect of losing 5 league games in a row for the first time since Craig Brewster's reign. However, there were signs of optimism from the number of chances created in their previous match at home to Kilmarnock. Inverness arrived also struggling to find form in the league after winning the Scottish Cup the previous season.
United made an impressive start to this match in glorious September sunshine. On the front foot from the off, United hemmed Caley in their own half. It was no surprise that after just 8 minutes the home side took the lead. Darko Bodul played in Ryan McGowan down the left and the Australian's cross into the box was met by John Rankin. The midfielders effort was blocked but Billy Mckay was first to get to the ball and knock it over the line. United should have doubled their lead four minutes later. Bodul again set things moving when he found Callum Morris who in turn played in Rankin just eight yards out. With the goal gaping, Rankin's shot was blocked by Owain Fon-Williams in the Inverness goal. McKay came close again, forcing the visitors' keeper to beat away a stinging shot.
It was all Caley after the interval as United sit deeper and deeper as the match progressed. In the opening minute Ryan Christie was fouled just outside the box as he charged towards the United goal. Casey continued to mount pressure on the United back-line and it finally paid off from a set play. A corner from the right evaded the majority in the 6 yard box, but Josh Meekings stormed in at the back post and headed with great force back across the 'keeper and into the far corner. United thought they had nicked all three points with just a few minutes left when substitute Murray scored from six yards but the flag had already been raised for offside.
Manager's Comment:
“We'll keep believing and keep doing things properly. The biggest thing is fear in not getting that second goal. The game should have been over at half-time, it's not. We had a chance from a corner and it hits the post and the side netting, that's the way things have gone for us.I want to win, I want to win every game. It doesn't matter if you're at the top, the bottom or the middle. It doesn't change anything for me, I want to win games of football."
Fan's Comment:
“United started well and for the first 15 minutes, there looked to be only one winner. However, the confidence looked to drain from them as the match progressed and you could see the Inverness goal coming a mile off. Scott Fraser looked excellent, Bodul looked much improved, but Dow is in need of break to rebuild his confidence it looks like. It's far to early to talk about a relegation battle but it may be too late now for a European spot challenge.”
Formation: 4-1-4-1
Captain: Seán Dillon
Arab Archive 'Man of the Match': Scott Fraser
Match Photos courtesy of Riki Grauer - More photos available at:
Dundee United Official Flickr Page
2015-16 | All Time | |||||
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Age | Nat | ![]() |
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Luis Zwick (GK) | 21 |
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8 | - | 8 | - |
Seán Dillon | 32 |
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4 | 1 | 298 | 6 |
Callum Morris | 25 |
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2 | - | 32 | 2 |
Ryan McGowan | 26 |
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8 | - | 25 | 1 |
Mark Durnan | 22 |
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8 | - | 8 | - |
Scott Fraser | 20 |
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6 | - | 7 | - |
Aaron Kuhl | 19 |
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2 | - | 2 | - |
John Rankin | 32 |
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5 | - | 171 | 11 |
Darko Bodul | 26 |
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7 | - | 7 | - |
Billy Mckay | 26 |
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3 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
Ryan Dow | 24 |
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4 | - | 95 | 11 |
Blair Spittal (sub) | 19 |
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8 | 2 | 37 | 4 |
Simon Murray (sub) | 23 |
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6 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
Pld | W | D | L | +/- | Pts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Aberdeen | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | +10 | 21 |
2. | Celtic | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | +9 | 16 |
3. | Hearts | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | +5 | 15 |
4. | Ross County | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | +5 | 14 |
5. | Hamilton | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | +2 | 13 |
6. | Dundee | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | +3 | 11 |
7. | St Johnstone | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -1 | 8 |
8. | Kilmarnock | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -9 | 8 |
9. | Inverness CT | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | -3 | 7 |
10. | Motherwell | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | -5 | 7 |
11. | Partick Th | 8 | 0 | 3 | 5 | -9 | 3 |
12. | DUNDEE UTD | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | -7 | 2 |
League results since United's last match |
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15th September 2015 |
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Aberdeen | 1-0 | Hamilton |
19th September 2015 |
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Dundee Utd | 1-1 | Inverness CT |
Hamilton | 1-0 | Motherwell |
Kilmarnock | 2-1 | St Johnstone |
Ross County | 1-0 | Partick Th |
Last week's fixture versus Kilmarnock reinforced a couple of factors for me. Ultimately you can do everything you can to prepare for a game and you can send out the team that you feel will do the job, but within football remains the factor of fortune and last week it was against us. The statistics will show that we could and should have been out of sight before Killie's late winner but football is not based on 'coulds and shoulds' so I am not looking for excuses. Last week was unfortunate but we still lost two goals at home and that disappoints me. My job as United manager is to get results. The season has not started as well as anyone would have wanted and I know things have to improve and that starts today. Also as Manager, I have a bigger role and a responsibility to ensure Dundee United as a Club continues to go forward and develop. Our squad is strong in all areas and I am convinced it is one of the better ones in the Ladbrokes Premiership. We are losing too many goals for everyone's liking and in recent games we have created, but not taken, chances. If we were not making the chances it would be a bigger issue. The frustration comes because I see these guys every day in training and I see what they are capable of.
I know they will come good and once we get a little confidence you will see what this squad is capable of. As supporters you will be anxious to see us performing and srtting in the higher reaches of the league table. That is where we should be and I believe this season will still be a good season for us. I see in some of our play in recent weeks the fruits of our labour and it is now about transferring that over to a full 90 minutes. Today would be the ideal time to do so. One thing that has pleased me in recent games is how fit and strong we looked in the second half of games. Despite the late set back last week, we ran Kilmarnock ragged in the second half and the same against Ross County. With the GPS fitness devices the players have been using this season, fitness cannot be questioned and they are showing their fitness in matches. The intensity in training this week has been as strong as ever and the players are looking good. I look forward to them performing on the park today and securing three points. Enjoy the game.