Dundee United 3 v 0 St Mirren
After Wednesday nights gruelling League Cup victory away to Hibernian, United made six changes to the team that started in Edinburgh. Sean Dillon, Callum Morris, Calum Butcher, Charlie Telfer, Mario Bilate and Nadir Ciftci all came into the starting line up, replacing Blair Spittal, John Souttar, John Rankin, Gary Mackay-Steven, Chris Erskine and Ryan Dow.
The Buddies only made one change from last weekends draw to Ross County, as Gary Teale came in for the injured John McGinn.
Fist half
United's first chance came after two minutes, Paul Paton's wide free-kick met the head of Calum Butcher, the resulting header firing into two St Mirren defenders before Jim Goodwin scampered the ball clear of danger.
At 9 minutes, United went close again after a nice passing sequence. Aidan Connolly jinked past two St Mirren defenders before squaring the ball to Nadir Ciftci, whose low skimming shot dragged well wide of the post.
Despite United controlling much of the opening 15 minutes, St Mirren almost took the lead through Callum Ball. The strikers header from point blank range smashed against the head of Cierzniak and out of play for a corner.
As the first half wore on, St Mirren found success from pressing United high up the park, giving the United defenders little time in possession to pick a pass. Because of these tactics, St Mirren began creating a few more chances. A prime example of St Mirren's pressing allowing the Buddies into the match came at 22 minutes, Paton's sloppy pass was swiftly intercepted by Teale who played a precise pass into the feet of Adam Drury, whose curling shot was excellently tipped wide by Cierzniak.
On the stroke of half time, it was United who took the lead. On the right flank, the dangerous Connolly had a cross deflected off Jeroen Tesselaar, before Tesselaar's deflection fell perfectly inside the box for Paton to instinctively lash a shot passed the helpless Marian Kello.
Second half
Eight minutes into the second half, United looked dangerous again, when substitute Stuart Armstrong brilliantly drove past the St Mirren midfield. before cleverly switching the ball into Dillon on the right, who chipped an inviting cross onto the head of Calum Butcher and into the palms of Kello.
Two minutes later, it was St Mirren's turn to attack. Reilly's excellent through ball split the United defence allowing Drury a one on one with Cierzniak. Reilly's powerful effort again forced Cierzniak into a fine save.
At 56 minutes, United doubled their lead, when the robust Butcher dinked a delightful ball over Goodwin and into the path of Connolly. The 5'4, 19 year old sprung higher than his height to win the header, but Kello could only parry Connolly's effort into the path of Ciftci, who then side footed the ball into the empty net.
The game continued at a blistering pace, and United began threatening every time they went forward. Thanks to intense pressure from Calum Butcher, the midfielder nicked the ball off Tesselaar, allowing Butcher a one on one with Kello. Despite Butcher's golden opportunity to put United even further ahead, his tame shot was gathered by Kello.
With 20 minutes to go, on the left, the confidence growing in Armstrong helped him brilliantly drive from the left wing into the box and past two St Mirren defenders. After continuing his run well inside the box, Armstrong poked a powerful shot just wide of the goal, from a tight angle.
At 73 minutes, United rounded off a wonderful move with the third goal of the afternoon. Ciftci played the ball into Connolly, who then committed three defenders inside the box, before slipping Charlie Telfer in an advanced position inside the box. Telfer then expertly slotted the ball underneath Kello and into the back of the net for his first Dundee United goal, on his first start.
Right up till the final whistle United continued to threaten the St Mirren goal, with Dow, Connolly and Erskine all creating chances to to add to the already impressive scoreline.
It was a brilliant performance from United, and although many of these players are not regular starters, the match showed that United have great strength in depth for positions that they were lacking in last season
Article by Joseph James
After Wednesday nights gruelling League Cup victory away to Hibernian, United made six changes to the team that started in Edinburgh. Sean Dillon, Callum Morris, Calum Butcher, Charlie Telfer, Mario Bilate and Nadir Ciftci all came into the starting line up, replacing Blair Spittal, John Souttar, John Rankin, Gary Mackay-Steven, Chris Erskine and Ryan Dow.
The Buddies only made one change from last weekends draw to Ross County, as Gary Teale came in for the injured John McGinn.
Fist half
United's first chance came after two minutes, Paul Paton's wide free-kick met the head of Calum Butcher, the resulting header firing into two St Mirren defenders before Jim Goodwin scampered the ball clear of danger.
At 9 minutes, United went close again after a nice passing sequence. Aidan Connolly jinked past two St Mirren defenders before squaring the ball to Nadir Ciftci, whose low skimming shot dragged well wide of the post.
Despite United controlling much of the opening 15 minutes, St Mirren almost took the lead through Callum Ball. The strikers header from point blank range smashed against the head of Cierzniak and out of play for a corner.
As the first half wore on, St Mirren found success from pressing United high up the park, giving the United defenders little time in possession to pick a pass. Because of these tactics, St Mirren began creating a few more chances. A prime example of St Mirren's pressing allowing the Buddies into the match came at 22 minutes, Paton's sloppy pass was swiftly intercepted by Teale who played a precise pass into the feet of Adam Drury, whose curling shot was excellently tipped wide by Cierzniak.
On the stroke of half time, it was United who took the lead. On the right flank, the dangerous Connolly had a cross deflected off Jeroen Tesselaar, before Tesselaar's deflection fell perfectly inside the box for Paton to instinctively lash a shot passed the helpless Marian Kello.
Second half
Eight minutes into the second half, United looked dangerous again, when substitute Stuart Armstrong brilliantly drove past the St Mirren midfield. before cleverly switching the ball into Dillon on the right, who chipped an inviting cross onto the head of Calum Butcher and into the palms of Kello.
Two minutes later, it was St Mirren's turn to attack. Reilly's excellent through ball split the United defence allowing Drury a one on one with Cierzniak. Reilly's powerful effort again forced Cierzniak into a fine save.
At 56 minutes, United doubled their lead, when the robust Butcher dinked a delightful ball over Goodwin and into the path of Connolly. The 5'4, 19 year old sprung higher than his height to win the header, but Kello could only parry Connolly's effort into the path of Ciftci, who then side footed the ball into the empty net.
The game continued at a blistering pace, and United began threatening every time they went forward. Thanks to intense pressure from Calum Butcher, the midfielder nicked the ball off Tesselaar, allowing Butcher a one on one with Kello. Despite Butcher's golden opportunity to put United even further ahead, his tame shot was gathered by Kello.
With 20 minutes to go, on the left, the confidence growing in Armstrong helped him brilliantly drive from the left wing into the box and past two St Mirren defenders. After continuing his run well inside the box, Armstrong poked a powerful shot just wide of the goal, from a tight angle.
At 73 minutes, United rounded off a wonderful move with the third goal of the afternoon. Ciftci played the ball into Connolly, who then committed three defenders inside the box, before slipping Charlie Telfer in an advanced position inside the box. Telfer then expertly slotted the ball underneath Kello and into the back of the net for his first Dundee United goal, on his first start.
Right up till the final whistle United continued to threaten the St Mirren goal, with Dow, Connolly and Erskine all creating chances to to add to the already impressive scoreline.
It was a brilliant performance from United, and although many of these players are not regular starters, the match showed that United have great strength in depth for positions that they were lacking in last season
Article by Joseph James