The display the United fans put on as teams came onto the park
Subs: Dillon, Goodwillie, Erskine, Dow, McCallum, Graham and Gomis
Booked: Wilson and Paton
Subs Used: Gomis and Graham
Starting XI (Aberdeen): Langfield, Hector, Hayes, Flood, Anderson, Reynolds, Jack, Robson, Vernon, McGinn and Pawlett
Subs: Shaughnessy, Smith, Wylde, Low, Weaver, Magennis and Shankland
Booked: Flood and Magennis
Subs Used: Magennis and Shaughnessy
My Man of the Match: John Rankin
photo;man of the match in action
Dundee United make 7 changes to the side that got beat 3-0 by St Johnstone on the 29th December, with Gomis, Erskine, Paton, Graham, Dow and Goodwillie being dropped to the bench to allow room for Rankin, Armstrong, Mackay-Steven, Ciftci and Souttar. With Butcher and Watson being out of the team due to suspensions. Aberdeen make 2 changes to the team that beat Ross County 1-0 on the 29th December, Shaughnessy and Low being dropped to the bench to allow room for Anderson and Robson.
With Dundee United looking for their first win in the festive period they try and start of the first half strong, however this doesn't work as Aberdeen are the first team to get the chance in the first half coming in only the 3rd minute. Aberdeen were looking to keep their winning running going.
The first 20 minutes, were pretty open with both sides, having chances, gaining free kicks and having possession for long periods of time. As we approached the 30 minute mark it looked like it was going to be a pretty open game, neither side had, had a proper attempt on goal even though corners looked threatening from both ends.
The finally 15 minutes of the first half, looked like Aberdeen were going to get the break through however, the United defenders managed to keep the Aberdeen strikers at bay. Both sides only had two real chances in this period for United Gauld and Robertson had attempts on goal. For Aberdeen Pawlett and Vernon had their shots stopped.
A very open but violent first half saw both teams go into the break level. It is still a wide open game at this point. Both teams making the most they can with the weather conditions
photo: Souttar and Gauld celebrating his first senior goal
After an open first half, Aberdeen were trying to make the break through, through Jack and Pawlett in the opening 5 minutes. Cierzniak makes a fantastic save from Pawlett to allow United to get up the park.
Goal 1 (Dundee United, John Souttar, 50th Minute): A corner from Wilson. Floats it in right footed. It drops to Souttar who is not being defended. He manages to tap it into the back of the goal to give United the break as they approach the hour mark.
After United had manged to make the break through, Aberdeen seem to settle down for a bit and just have free kicks given to them. This was the only action between goals.
A hand ball from Robertson leads to a penalty for Aberdeen.
Goal 1 (Aberdeen, Penalty, Barry Robson, 64th Minute): Robson floats the ball over the top of Cierzniak, hits the back of the net and Aberdeen are back level with 35 minutes remaining.
With both teams now being back level, United seem to sit down and let Aberdeen run about the park. This would turn out costly for United. For the remainder of the game it was all Aberdeen, with all the chances coming from them.
Goal 2 (Aberdeen, Peter Pawlett, 90th Minute): A free kick that is floated into the box, Graham tries to clear it but Cierzniak manages to save it but not enough. Pawlett manages to get a head on it and its into the back of the net to give Aberdeen the 3 points in the dying minutes of the game.
The final kick of the ball was an attempt from Graham which was missed. It was too late for United to take a point from Aberdeen. A poor game from United with the only real threat coming before Souttar scores his goal.
Full time Dundee United 1 - 2 Aberdeen
photo; Cierzniak trying to save Robsons penalty.
Attendance: 12,601
The New Firm Derby proves a difficult task for United, with loosing out to a late goal from a Pawlett header. It was poorly defended, but onwards and upwards. Dundee United were to laid back and allowed Aberdeen to have most of the possession. After they equalised Aberdeen were running rings around United. Hopefully this gets sorted and we go into the Hibernian game on the 5th January, stronger than we have been for the past few games.
My man of the match was John Rankin because he managed to gain the ball back and defend well as well as going froward with the ball trying to get the Terrors up the park. In recent weeks, Rankin has proven that he is worthy of a place in the Starting XI, every week. This week it was a close call for man of the match with Paul Paton also becoming a real asset to the squad. Both players can defend the ball well and manage to allow players to get into a space that they need to get into.
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