Dundee United v Ross County
Thanks to a 19th minute Nadir Ciftci header and a late Chris Erskine strike, it was United who collected the three points at Tannadice despite a spirited performance from the bottom of the league side Ross County.
The only change from last week’s loss at Celtic park was the injured Stuart Armstrong who made way for Mario Bilate, with McNamara giving the Dutchman his first start for the club since signing in the summer. Derek Adams travelled in hope that his ‘low in confidence’ Ross County team could pick up their first points of the season.
First half
After a flowing first few minutes it was United who had the first real opportunity. A Gary Mackay-Steven in swinging corner fell to Ciftci who had his shot fired into a Ross County defender before falling into the path of John Rankin. His strike was tipped over by Reguero.
Five minutes later, inside the centre circle Ciftci held the ball up nicely and spread the play into the path of the advancing Watson. The right back then played a clever inside ball to Ryan Dow who scuffed his shot just narrow of the target.
After skillfull play on the left flank by Ciftci, County’s Yoann Arquin cynically brought down the Turk and United were awarded a free kick in a wide position. Paul Paton delivered a floated cross into the back post which met the head of Ciftci as he escaped his marker and dinked a header over Reguero and into the opposite corner of the net giving United the lead at 19 minutes.
Half an hour gone and United were looking relatively comfortable. However, Ross County did pose a threat when attacking on the left hand side through Joe Cardle and Graham Carey. At 32 minutes Filip Kiss played a brilliant pass that spilt Jarek Fojut and Callum Morris forcing Cierzniak to collect the ball at the feet of Cardle who was looking to shoot.
Just a minute before the break United went close again as Bilate freed the dangerous Mackay-Steven inside the box. After jinking past a few County defenders, Mackay-Steven teed up Keith Watson who struck narrowly wide of the left hand post.
Second half
Just after the break, Ciftci played a delightful through ball to Mackay-Steven on the left with the resulting shot fired into the side netting of Reguero’s goal.
Despite United looking to have continued their confident build up play from the first half, at 51 minutes the score line was level. It began with Nadir Ciftci’s shot that was blocked in the County’s box, which fell into the path of Joe Cardle. He then drove up the pitch with pace before laying the ball to Graham Carey who used his killer left boot to deliver a perfect cross into the feet of Jake Jervis who volleyed past Cierzniak to make the game level.
For a short while after Ross County’s leveller, County appeared galvanised and began causing a few more problems for the United defence. However, with an hour gone on the clock Ciftci played a brilliant ball to Mario Bilate who went close with a left footed shot off the post. A chance that increased the volume of the United supporters.
At 63 minutes, County should have taken the lead after fine work by Uros Celcer on the left, he produced a well placed cross to Arquin who peeled away from his marker and miraculously missed the target.
Shortly after Arquin’s miss, John Rankin passed up a golden opportunity for United to go in front. Nadir Ciftci clipped an excellent ball over the head of Scott Boyd. Rankin stretched out his leg and failed to make contact with the nicely set ball as County cleared.
After a brilliant spell for on-loan signing Conor Townesend, At 75 minutes the left back displayed brilliant vision when he slotted a decisive pass in clear space for Nadir Ciftci. The pass giving United a 3v2 situation. Despite Bilate in space and unmarked inside the box, Ciftci opted for the shot and blazed the ball wide. A decision, that was not in Bilate’s favour.
Despite United looking the more likely team to score, the visitors did cause problems when attacking on the left. Carey again found Jervis unmarked who allowed the ball to bounce before volleying high and wide into the shed end.
With the clock running down, at 87 minutes, super-sub Chris Erskine gave United the winner after a corner was poorly punched by Antonio Reguero into the feet of Erskine who instinctively lashed the ball into the corner of the net giving United the hard earned three points.
Summing up
It wasn’t the most convincing win from United, however, to win when a squad isn’t performing brilliantly is a sign of a good side. All in all, 9 points out of 10 is a good return.
Man of the match- Conor Townesend.
Not the obvious choice for most. The left back’s defensive work and committed attacking runs gave Gary Mackay-Steven a good platform to perform on the left wing.
Dundee United: Cierzniak, Watson (Erskine 77), Townesend, Morris, Fojut, Paton, Rankin, Dow, Mackay-Steven (Telfer 88), Ciftci, Bilate (Graham 85).
Unused subs: McCallum, Spittal, Connolly, Smith.
Ross County: Reguero, Celcer, Boyd, Cardle (Quinn 77), Brittain (Boyce 89), Jervis (Maatsen 82), Kiss, Arquin, Fenlon, Balk, Carey.
Unused subs: Brown, De Leeuw, Ross, Frempah.
Referee: Steven McLean
Assistant Referees: David Watt and Kylie McMullan.
Fourth Official: Allan Muir
Attendance: 7179.
Thanks to a 19th minute Nadir Ciftci header and a late Chris Erskine strike, it was United who collected the three points at Tannadice despite a spirited performance from the bottom of the league side Ross County.
The only change from last week’s loss at Celtic park was the injured Stuart Armstrong who made way for Mario Bilate, with McNamara giving the Dutchman his first start for the club since signing in the summer. Derek Adams travelled in hope that his ‘low in confidence’ Ross County team could pick up their first points of the season.
First half
After a flowing first few minutes it was United who had the first real opportunity. A Gary Mackay-Steven in swinging corner fell to Ciftci who had his shot fired into a Ross County defender before falling into the path of John Rankin. His strike was tipped over by Reguero.
Five minutes later, inside the centre circle Ciftci held the ball up nicely and spread the play into the path of the advancing Watson. The right back then played a clever inside ball to Ryan Dow who scuffed his shot just narrow of the target.
After skillfull play on the left flank by Ciftci, County’s Yoann Arquin cynically brought down the Turk and United were awarded a free kick in a wide position. Paul Paton delivered a floated cross into the back post which met the head of Ciftci as he escaped his marker and dinked a header over Reguero and into the opposite corner of the net giving United the lead at 19 minutes.
Half an hour gone and United were looking relatively comfortable. However, Ross County did pose a threat when attacking on the left hand side through Joe Cardle and Graham Carey. At 32 minutes Filip Kiss played a brilliant pass that spilt Jarek Fojut and Callum Morris forcing Cierzniak to collect the ball at the feet of Cardle who was looking to shoot.
Just a minute before the break United went close again as Bilate freed the dangerous Mackay-Steven inside the box. After jinking past a few County defenders, Mackay-Steven teed up Keith Watson who struck narrowly wide of the left hand post.
Second half
Just after the break, Ciftci played a delightful through ball to Mackay-Steven on the left with the resulting shot fired into the side netting of Reguero’s goal.
Despite United looking to have continued their confident build up play from the first half, at 51 minutes the score line was level. It began with Nadir Ciftci’s shot that was blocked in the County’s box, which fell into the path of Joe Cardle. He then drove up the pitch with pace before laying the ball to Graham Carey who used his killer left boot to deliver a perfect cross into the feet of Jake Jervis who volleyed past Cierzniak to make the game level.
For a short while after Ross County’s leveller, County appeared galvanised and began causing a few more problems for the United defence. However, with an hour gone on the clock Ciftci played a brilliant ball to Mario Bilate who went close with a left footed shot off the post. A chance that increased the volume of the United supporters.
At 63 minutes, County should have taken the lead after fine work by Uros Celcer on the left, he produced a well placed cross to Arquin who peeled away from his marker and miraculously missed the target.
Shortly after Arquin’s miss, John Rankin passed up a golden opportunity for United to go in front. Nadir Ciftci clipped an excellent ball over the head of Scott Boyd. Rankin stretched out his leg and failed to make contact with the nicely set ball as County cleared.
After a brilliant spell for on-loan signing Conor Townesend, At 75 minutes the left back displayed brilliant vision when he slotted a decisive pass in clear space for Nadir Ciftci. The pass giving United a 3v2 situation. Despite Bilate in space and unmarked inside the box, Ciftci opted for the shot and blazed the ball wide. A decision, that was not in Bilate’s favour.
Despite United looking the more likely team to score, the visitors did cause problems when attacking on the left. Carey again found Jervis unmarked who allowed the ball to bounce before volleying high and wide into the shed end.
With the clock running down, at 87 minutes, super-sub Chris Erskine gave United the winner after a corner was poorly punched by Antonio Reguero into the feet of Erskine who instinctively lashed the ball into the corner of the net giving United the hard earned three points.
Summing up
It wasn’t the most convincing win from United, however, to win when a squad isn’t performing brilliantly is a sign of a good side. All in all, 9 points out of 10 is a good return.
Man of the match- Conor Townesend.
Not the obvious choice for most. The left back’s defensive work and committed attacking runs gave Gary Mackay-Steven a good platform to perform on the left wing.
Dundee United: Cierzniak, Watson (Erskine 77), Townesend, Morris, Fojut, Paton, Rankin, Dow, Mackay-Steven (Telfer 88), Ciftci, Bilate (Graham 85).
Unused subs: McCallum, Spittal, Connolly, Smith.
Ross County: Reguero, Celcer, Boyd, Cardle (Quinn 77), Brittain (Boyce 89), Jervis (Maatsen 82), Kiss, Arquin, Fenlon, Balk, Carey.
Unused subs: Brown, De Leeuw, Ross, Frempah.
Referee: Steven McLean
Assistant Referees: David Watt and Kylie McMullan.
Fourth Official: Allan Muir
Attendance: 7179.