Dundee Utd 2
Alloa Athletic 1
League (Championship)
Dundee UtdDundee Utd |
2 - 12 - 1 |
Alloa AthleticAlloa Athletic |
 |
League (Championship) |
 |
| Goalscorers | |
|
Nicky Clark (45) Louis Appéré (55) |
Mark Reynolds (o.g.) (12) |
| Team Managers | |
|
Robbie Neilson |
Peter Grant |
| Starting Eleven | |
|
1. Benji Siegrist 44. Paul Watson 6. Mark Reynolds 17. Jamie Robson 2. Liam Smith 12. Sam Stanton 18. Calum Butcher 23. Ian Harkes 7. Paul McMullan 27. Louis Appéré 10. Nicky Clark |
Jamie MacDonald .41 Scott Taggart .2 Robbie Deas .4 Andy Graham .5 Blair Malcolm .18 Jon Robertson .8 Steven Hetherington .6 Kevin Cawley .7 Iain Flannigan .11 Alan Trouten .10 Kevin O'Hara .17 |
| Bench | |
|
13. Deniz Mehmet 19. Troy Brown 3. Adrián Sporle 5. Mark Connolly 40. Chris Mochrie 25. Adam King 24. Lawrence Shankland |
Liam Buchanan .9 Nathan Gilhooley .16 Robert Thomson .19 Cameron O'Donnell .20 Paul Gillespie .23 Chris Henry .31 |
| Substitutions | |
|
Adrián Sporle for Paul McMullan (79) Adam King for Nicky Clark (88) |
Robert Thomson for Kevin Cawley (72) Liam Buchanan for Steven Hetherington (83) |
| Cautions | |
| None. | None. |
| Red Cards | |
| None. | None. |
| Match Officials | |
|
John McKendrick (Referee) |
Match Report
After dominating the first ten minutes, United fell behind to a fortuitous goal for the visitors. A cross from the right glanced off the head of Mark Reynolds and flashed past Benji Siegrist into the net. The Tangerines continued to play with style and panache as they prodded away at the resolute Alloa defence. Just as it looked as if they would reach half-time, Nicky Clark drove home an equaliser that was the least United deserved from a 45 minutes that saw Jamie MacDonald pull off save after save in the Alloa goal. United's first-half performance was at times scintillating and time and again they caused the visitors problems - particularly down the right-hand side with Liam Smith and Paul McMullan outstanding.
The second half started with the visitors encouraged to come out. Despite the game following a similar pattern to the first half, United didn't create a clear chance until Ian Harkes produced a surging run down the right-hand side and slid the perfect delivery along the six-yard line. The cross was met by Louis Appéré who stroked the ball into the back of the net for the lead.United continued to prod for an opening as the second half wore on and created plenty chances but again inspired defending and goalkeeping kept the visitors in the match. The closest United came to extending their lead was a tremendous run by Academy Graduate Jamie Robson that ended with the defender curling a right-footed effort off the inside of the Alloa left-hand post. Alloa threatened on the odd occasion and with the atmosphere prone to change when a team holds a one-goal lead going into the final stages, they were never out of things but this was another dominant United performance and anther three vital points.
Squad Statistics (as at December 7th, 2019)
| 2019-20 | All Time | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | Nat |  |
 |
|
|
|
| Benji Siegrist (GK) | 27 |
|
18 | - | 56 | - |
| Jamie Robson | 21 |
|
16 | - | 112 | 2 |
| Paul Watson | 28 |
|
11 | 1 | 40 | 5 |
| Liam Smith | 23 |
|
19 | - | 19 | - |
| Mark Reynolds | 32 |
|
19 | - | 37 | - |
| Sam Stanton | 25 |
|
19 | 1 | 99 | 10 |
| Ian Harkes | 24 |
|
18 | 1 | 38 | 2 |
| Calum Butcher | 28 |
|
18 | 3 | 64 | 5 |
| Nicky Clark | 28 |
|
16 | 5 | 52 | 20 |
| Louis Appéré | 20 |
|
20 | 3 | 24 | 3 |
| Paul McMullan | 23 |
|
20 | 3 | 103 | 19 |
| Adrián Sporle (sub) | 24 |
|
8 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
| Adam King (sub) | 24 |
|
7 | - | 7 | - |
Team Sheet (Scanned Photo)
League Table (as at December 7th, 2019)
| Pld | W | D | L | +/- | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | DUNDEE UTD | 15 | 12 | 0 | 3 | +22 | 36 |
| 2. | Inverness CT | 16 | 9 | 2 | 5 | +6 | 29 |
| 3. | Dunfermline | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | +8 | 25 |
| 4. | Ayr Utd | 15 | 8 | 0 | 7 | +6 | 24 |
| 5. | Dundee | 16 | 6 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 22 |
| 6. | Arbroath | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | -1 | 21 |
| 7. | QOS | 16 | 5 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 19 |
| 8. | Morton | 15 | 5 | 1 | 9 | -13 | 16 |
| 9. | Partick Th | 16 | 4 | 3 | 9 | -11 | 15 |
| 10. | Alloa Athletic | 16 | 3 | 5 | 8 | -12 | 14 |
| League results since United's last match |
|---|
| 23rd November 2019 |
|---|
| Inverness CT | 1-0 | Dundee |
| 26th November 2019 |
|---|
| Partick Th | 1-1 | Alloa Athletic |
| 30th November 2019 |
|---|
| Alloa Athletic | 0-2 | Inverness CT |
| Dundee | 1-2 | QOS |
| Dunfermline | 5-1 | Partick Th |
| 3rd December 2019 |
|---|
| Ayr Utd | 0-1 | Dunfermline |
| 7th December 2019 |
|---|
| Arbroath | 1-1 | Dundee |
| Dundee Utd | 2-1 | Alloa Athletic |
| Dunfermline | 3-1 | Morton |
| Inverness CT | 2-0 | Ayr Utd |
| QOS | 1-2 | Partick Th |
Manager's Programme Notes
After three weeks without a game, a busy one lies ahead with trips to Cappielow and Arbroath after taking on Alloa this afternoon. I was delighted with our 3-0 victory over Queen of the South in our last outing. We started the game really well and got an early opener through Paul McMullan. Nicky Clark getting a second just before half time was great too, and it was nice to see Stanton scoring the third, and his first goal of the season, to seal the three points. With Shanks on international duty, one of the major plusses was to see others step up when he's not there. It was a good overall performance and keeping another clean sheet was excellent as well. The only pity is that we have had to wait so long before hopefully carrying on our good form.
I was at Cappielow when the inspection was made last Saturday and, though Morton had done everything to get the game on, there is no doubt it was the correct decision. The area of the pitch along the front of the main stand was not going to get any sun and was frozen. We did appreciate them calling the pitch inspection as early as they did because we have a large travelling support and, hopefully, most of them will manage to make it through next Tuesday when the game is to be replayed. We immediately arranged a training session instead to keep the boys ticking over as we started focusing on the Alloa game. One bonus of the enforced break is that Shanks and Pawlett come back into consideration. Peter wouldn't have been involved last Saturday, but after another week's training and a few of the boys being in Tuesday's bounce game against Falkirk, we'll be in good shape to face Peter Grant's side. Last time we met, the 1-0 defeat was disappointing but, as we know only too well, it is a tough place to go. However, back on home turf and with the crowd behind us, we hope to do enough to get another victory. It is important that we keep winning because everyone else has been dropping points all over the place. With your support and the results we have had at home this season, hopefully that can continue this afternoon.