United’s current form very up and down

IT'S BEEN an up and down month for Dundee United since our last report.

Firstly, United took on Hibs at Easter Road and couldn’t have got off to a better start with Luca Stephenson putting them into a first-half lead before Hibs equalised after a howler from the United keeper who inexplicably punched the ball into his own net. United then went 3-1 up with Ivan Dolček and Zac Sapsford also finding the net and looked to be cruising to victory.

Kieron Bowie netted for the Edinburgh side on 50 minutes to really set the game alight and set up a grandstand finish. The main taking point of the game however would be a controversial late penalty awarded to the home side after a VAR review. In the same incident United’s Vicko Ševelj was issued a red card for an alleged handball and with McGrath converting the spot kick the game would eventually end 3-3.

Neither side was happy with a point and Jim Goodwin was obviously aggrieved at the decision to dismiss Ševelj on 84 minutes, which arguably changed the outcome of the game. A referee review later in the week deemed the decision incorrect and an apology was issued as well as the red card being overturned on appeal. As we know with VAR, neither of these factors put more points on the board.

Aberdeen came to Tannadice hoping to end a miserable streak of not recording a league win or scoring a single goal thus far this season. From the off it was evident that Goodwin’s side were out to add to the Dons despair with numerous chances going a begging before the William Hill Premiership Player of the Month Dolček rifled home a half volley just before half-time. In truth, United could have been three up by this time with Aberdeen repeatedly guilty of misplaced passes and poor decision making.

United went further ahead in the second-half after a corner routine straight from the training ground allowed centre-half Bert Esselink (above) to head home his first goal for the club and seal all three points.

A comfortable win for the Tangerines in the end who piled more misery on their east coast neighbours with the climax of the evening seeing both sets of fans joining in on a chorus of ‘sacked in the morning’ to the unfortunate Jimmy Thelin in the Aberdeen dug out.

United would then take on Kilmarnock with the visitors recording their first league win of the season and coming away easy 2-0 winners. A late penalty missed by United’s Sapsford just about summed up the day and Arabs will be hoping they will not see that flat a performance again this season.

A visit from Livingston was next and given The Tangerines dreadful record versus the West Lothian side it was hardly surprising that Goodwin’s side again came away with little to show.

In the first period, United were simply dreadful and Livvy took full advantage from a mistake from Esselink for the tireless Stevie May to provide an assist for Pittman to put the visitors 1-0 ahead at the break.

One can only assume that Goodwin gave his men the proverbial rocket up the backside at half-time and the equaliser came quickly into the second half with Hungarian centre-half Krisztián Keresztes finding the net for his first goal in Tangerine. United piled on the pressure, but simply couldn’t find a way through a resilient and stubborn defence and the game ended in a draw with the visitors leaving Tannadice the happier on the day.

Dundee United it seems may be having a slight wobble and will travel to Ibrox for their first game after the international break to take on a Rangers side, who at the time of writing are without a manager after the recent departure of their latest recruit in the hot seat—Russell Martin. Goodwin will be hoping to take advantage of his opponent’s poor start to the season by coming away with a positive result and improve on their current position of sitting in fourth place.

Finally, on the international front, congratulations go to current captain Will Ferry who received his first call-up to the Ireland squad for the games against Portugal and Armenia for the World Cup qualifiers.