In the build up to this Scottish Cup quarter final tie, both teams had been in relatively good form. Dundee United, being undefeated in five matches and scoring twelve goals while only conceding six in the process. Inverness on the other hand were just back from a 5-0 thrashing at Celtic park. However before the poor showing at Celtic they were undefeated in 6 games. Inverness throughout this season had only ever lost two back to back defeats on one occasion. This record shows that the Inverness side have a good mentality when on the end of a loss. The game looked a very close one, only on paper that is.
As soon as Inverness kicked off and Nadir Ciftci sprinted to take possession of the ball you could tell United were really up for this game. In the opening minutes of the game Inverness tried to get the ball down and play but the work rate of the Dundee United players was phenomenal. Every time the ball reached the midfielders of Inverness they would be under immense pressure from a United player.
The first goal was at 16 minutes, when John Rankin took hold of the ball and chipped a delightful ball to Nadir Ciftci who headed to the side of the rushing goalie Dean Brill and finished from a tight angle.
As soon as United scored the Inverness players heads seemed to go down and they found it difficult to string a sequence of passes together. The same couldn't be said for Dundee United however as the total football was returning to their game that had been there in the impressive run in November. In fairness to Inverness on occasions they looked threatening on the left at times, exploiting Keith Watsons lack of pace.
Ciftci scored again after comical defence by Inverness’s Josh Meekings. Meeking’s weakly passed it back to Goalie Dean Brill who was heavily pressurised by Nadir Ciftci, Brill’s clearance smashed against Meekings foot and laid perfectly for Nadir Ciftci to fire in from close range.
United were beginning to really dominate in possession and all aspects of the game. Inverness’s usual strength in midfield was instead being dominated by the dominant defensive duo John Rankin and Paul Paton.
At thirty six minutes the impressive United side were awarded a penalty when Gavin Gunning showed quick feet and was clipped in the legs by Shinnie, in a decision by Willie Collom that could have gone either way. After the penalty misses last week from Mackay-Steven and Ciftci, it was Gavin Gunning who took it himself and almost ripped the net with his blast through the middle of the goal.
Greg Tansey forced John Hughes to an even harder half time team talk when Tansey was sent off for a studs up challenge on Paul Paton.
The score at half time was 3-0 and United looked to be set for a semi-final day at Ibrox next month.
Three minutes into the second half Gary Mackay-Steven finished a fantastic counter attacking move when he picked up the ball up from half way and drove the ball past the disheartened Inverness players. The thoughts of everyone watching now in the stadium were how many United were going to score. 4-0 Dundee United.
The day got even worse for Inverness when Marley Watkins was sent off for another challenge on Paul Paton that could maybe be seen as a slightly harsh call by the gutsy ref Willie Collom.
The boys from Tayside were now rampant and were playing some lovely free-flowing football that the likes of Real Madrid would be proud of. Keith Watson on the right picked out Stuart Armstrong who headed across Brill to score a well worked fifth goal.
By this time the United fans were really enjoying themselves with cries of “we want ten” and even cheering when the shambolic Inverness strung a few passes together. Not easy viewing for Inverness fans.
United could have gone on to score many more goals, however Jackie McNamara rightly so decided to give star players like John Rankin and Nadir Ciftci who wouldn’t get his first hat trick in senior football a well earned rest.
McNamara brought on Brian Graham and Morgaro Gomis for a longer than usual chance to prove themselves in the first team. Like most of the season Brian Graham looked to struggle in McNamara’s 4-2-3-1 system. Although Morgaro Gomis looked pretty good for the time he came on.
United created quite a few chances in the final twenty minutes but failed to convert any, and in the last five minutes looked content to just pass the ball about.
It was a very good performance from United and showed some very good attacking play throughout the game. Credit should go Inverness, even when they were down to nine men they still tried to play football the right way. Overall an entertaining game for the neutrals, Dundee United fans but a day an Inverness fan will want to erase from their memory.
Player ratings-
Cierzniak- 8. Not much for him to do, but organised well at corners keeping Inverness giants out of the game.
Robertson- 8. Not his best match but still as willing to go forward as ever. Improved as game went along.
Gunning- 8.5. Good as always in the air. Good passing from the back that he sometimes struggles with.
Dillon- 8. Solid game. Needed a good game to build confidence.
Watson- 7.5. Lack of pace shown at times. Good tackler though and used strength well.
Mackay-Steven- 8. Wasn't at his most dangerous but still made some good runs and took his goal well.
Rankin- 8. Good work rate as usual.
Paton-9. Brilliant game. Stopped Inverness attacks before they could start. Composed with ball.
Armstrong- 8.5 Better game than last few weeks. Good header for his goal. Was Involved in game well.
Dow- 8.5. Looked good for time he was on kept possession well dangerous with ball. Was a shame about coming off injured.
Ciftci- 9. Brilliant control was a constant threat every time he got the ball. Took both goals well.
El-Alagui- 8. Lost footing three times. Some nice passes and touches.
Graham- 7.5. Doesn’t look good enough for the level he’s playing.
Gomis- 8.5. Good in the holding role. Stole ball a few times and spread ball wide when needed.
By Joseph James
As soon as Inverness kicked off and Nadir Ciftci sprinted to take possession of the ball you could tell United were really up for this game. In the opening minutes of the game Inverness tried to get the ball down and play but the work rate of the Dundee United players was phenomenal. Every time the ball reached the midfielders of Inverness they would be under immense pressure from a United player.
The first goal was at 16 minutes, when John Rankin took hold of the ball and chipped a delightful ball to Nadir Ciftci who headed to the side of the rushing goalie Dean Brill and finished from a tight angle.
As soon as United scored the Inverness players heads seemed to go down and they found it difficult to string a sequence of passes together. The same couldn't be said for Dundee United however as the total football was returning to their game that had been there in the impressive run in November. In fairness to Inverness on occasions they looked threatening on the left at times, exploiting Keith Watsons lack of pace.
Ciftci scored again after comical defence by Inverness’s Josh Meekings. Meeking’s weakly passed it back to Goalie Dean Brill who was heavily pressurised by Nadir Ciftci, Brill’s clearance smashed against Meekings foot and laid perfectly for Nadir Ciftci to fire in from close range.
United were beginning to really dominate in possession and all aspects of the game. Inverness’s usual strength in midfield was instead being dominated by the dominant defensive duo John Rankin and Paul Paton.
At thirty six minutes the impressive United side were awarded a penalty when Gavin Gunning showed quick feet and was clipped in the legs by Shinnie, in a decision by Willie Collom that could have gone either way. After the penalty misses last week from Mackay-Steven and Ciftci, it was Gavin Gunning who took it himself and almost ripped the net with his blast through the middle of the goal.
Greg Tansey forced John Hughes to an even harder half time team talk when Tansey was sent off for a studs up challenge on Paul Paton.
The score at half time was 3-0 and United looked to be set for a semi-final day at Ibrox next month.
Three minutes into the second half Gary Mackay-Steven finished a fantastic counter attacking move when he picked up the ball up from half way and drove the ball past the disheartened Inverness players. The thoughts of everyone watching now in the stadium were how many United were going to score. 4-0 Dundee United.
The day got even worse for Inverness when Marley Watkins was sent off for another challenge on Paul Paton that could maybe be seen as a slightly harsh call by the gutsy ref Willie Collom.
The boys from Tayside were now rampant and were playing some lovely free-flowing football that the likes of Real Madrid would be proud of. Keith Watson on the right picked out Stuart Armstrong who headed across Brill to score a well worked fifth goal.
By this time the United fans were really enjoying themselves with cries of “we want ten” and even cheering when the shambolic Inverness strung a few passes together. Not easy viewing for Inverness fans.
United could have gone on to score many more goals, however Jackie McNamara rightly so decided to give star players like John Rankin and Nadir Ciftci who wouldn’t get his first hat trick in senior football a well earned rest.
McNamara brought on Brian Graham and Morgaro Gomis for a longer than usual chance to prove themselves in the first team. Like most of the season Brian Graham looked to struggle in McNamara’s 4-2-3-1 system. Although Morgaro Gomis looked pretty good for the time he came on.
United created quite a few chances in the final twenty minutes but failed to convert any, and in the last five minutes looked content to just pass the ball about.
It was a very good performance from United and showed some very good attacking play throughout the game. Credit should go Inverness, even when they were down to nine men they still tried to play football the right way. Overall an entertaining game for the neutrals, Dundee United fans but a day an Inverness fan will want to erase from their memory.
Player ratings-
Cierzniak- 8. Not much for him to do, but organised well at corners keeping Inverness giants out of the game.
Robertson- 8. Not his best match but still as willing to go forward as ever. Improved as game went along.
Gunning- 8.5. Good as always in the air. Good passing from the back that he sometimes struggles with.
Dillon- 8. Solid game. Needed a good game to build confidence.
Watson- 7.5. Lack of pace shown at times. Good tackler though and used strength well.
Mackay-Steven- 8. Wasn't at his most dangerous but still made some good runs and took his goal well.
Rankin- 8. Good work rate as usual.
Paton-9. Brilliant game. Stopped Inverness attacks before they could start. Composed with ball.
Armstrong- 8.5 Better game than last few weeks. Good header for his goal. Was Involved in game well.
Dow- 8.5. Looked good for time he was on kept possession well dangerous with ball. Was a shame about coming off injured.
Ciftci- 9. Brilliant control was a constant threat every time he got the ball. Took both goals well.
El-Alagui- 8. Lost footing three times. Some nice passes and touches.
Graham- 7.5. Doesn’t look good enough for the level he’s playing.
Gomis- 8.5. Good in the holding role. Stole ball a few times and spread ball wide when needed.
By Joseph James