Celtic prove too much for United

Starting XI (Celtic): Gordon, Ambrose, Izaguirre, Mulgrew, Van Dijk, Denayer, McGregor, Johansen, Stokes, Commons and Berget
Subs: Biton, Boerrigter, Zaluska, Griffiths, Kayal and Forrest
Booked: None
Subs Used: Griffiths, Forrest and Kayal

Starting XI (Dundee United): Cierzniak, Watson, Townsend, Rankin, Morris, Fojut, Mackay-Steven, Paton, Ciftci, Armstrong and Dow
Subs: Graham, McCallum, Erskine, Bilate, Telfer, Smith and Spittal
Booked: Morris, Fojut and Paton
Subs Used: Bilate, Erskine and Spittal

My Man of the Match: John Rankin

A strong start from both teams. In the opening minutes Celtic first attempt on goal hit the woodwork. United also had a shot on goal but nothing was made of it.

4 minutes into the game and Celtic take the lead. A poorly defended corner, allows Denayer to put the ball into the back of the net as they take the lead.

Quickly after play restarts, United try and get back into the game with Ciftci pressuring the Celtic defence. Coming up to the 10 minute mark play is travelling from end to end. Celtic looking like the stronger team within this first 10 minutes. On the 15 minute mark, Mackay-Steven has a wonderful shot on goal. He goes round the Celtic defender but Van Dijk manages to get the ball away.

25 minutes gone and for the previous 10 minutes Celtic are the only team in this game. Multiple chances on goal and poor defending from United. Which means they aren't able to get up with such a strong Celtic team. United were nearly able to get the goal back, Ciftci had the ball in the back of the net but the linesman declared that Mackay-Steven was off-side meaning the goal didn't count.

27 minutes passed and its another goal for Celtic. Kris Commons heads it past Paton and it falls into the back of the net.

33 minutes, Paton was put under so much pressure and looses the ball. Three goals from Celtic, this time coming from Johansen.

35 minutes passed and once again there is only one bit of pressure since the second Cetlic goal from United. Play has been up in the United half the majority of the first half. As half time approaches, this is a half that United want to forget. A very very poor first half from United, and Celtic having basically all of the possession and pressure on the United defence and goal.

Half Time Celtic 3 - 0 Dundee United

Very quickly after second half kick off, Celtic are already pressuring the United goal. Stokes causes Cierzniak a problem in the United goal as poor defending nearly allows Celtic to get their fourth goal. Ciftci manages to gets the ball back up the park, makes a fantastic effort on goal. However, it is held by Gordon in the Celtic goal. United look like they are coming back into the game slowly.

54 minutes gone, Anthony Stokes manages to put the ball into the box from a cross at the touchline which allows Celtic to take a four goal advantage.

Erskine comes on for Dow hoping to make an impact in the game. Celtic are still looking like too strong a team for United to break down.

61 minutes passed and its number FIVE for Celtic. Berget puts it into the back of the net.

70 minutes passed and its still all about Celtic. United aren't able to break down Celtic or even get into the Celtic half. It is all about Celtic.

Just passed the 71 minute mark, John Rankin blasts it passed Gordon. Giving United the goal that they need. 5-1 Celtic.

After the goal from Rankin, United start to get back into the game and manage to finally put pressure on the Celtic defence. Celtic are still doing a lot of pressuring on the United goal. 10 minutes to go and it has become a very dull game. Neither team doing anything really match changing. Corners come in the closing minutes of the game for Celtic, their chances don't pay off. As full time approaches, Celtic just want to see out this game.

91st minute, Berget puts the ball into the back of the net for the sixth goal of the game. Very poor from United.

Full Time Celtic 6 - 1 Dundee United

My man of the match was John Rankin, because he held strong even though the scoreline wasn't the best. He managed to get a constellation goal for United. He looks like he is going to have another very strong season ahead of him.

Super Mario gives United the Three Points

Starting XI (Dundee United): Cierzniak, Watson, Townsend, Rankin, Fojut, Morris, Dow, Paton, Ciftci, Armstrong and Mackay-Steven

Subs: Graham, McCallum, Erskine, Bilate, Telfer, Smith and Spittal

Booked: Armstrong

Subs Used: Bilate, Telfer and Erskine

Starting XI (Motherwell): Twardzik, Reid, Francis-Angol, Carswell, Kerr, McManus, Leitch, Lasley, Sutton, Erwin and Law

Subs: Ainsworth, Lawson, Nielsen, McHugh, Neill, Cadden and Ferguson

Booked: Ferguson, Ainsworth and McHugh

Subs Used: Ferguson and Leitch

My Man of the Match: Jaroslaw Fojut

The first half started off with Motherwell taking the ball straight up the park and gaining two very quick corners. For the first five minutes it was all about Motherwell and United weren't making much of an effort.

A very uneventful first 10 minutes where play was just going from end to end with nothing really happening. United tried to break the dead lock at the 15 minute mark approached through Mackay-Steven, his shot was just wide. Again for the next 10 minutes, it was end to end play. At the 25 minute mark Dow looked like he was going to break the dead lock but the ball was saved comfortably by Twardzik.

As the half hour mark approached United were beginning to look like the team who were going to get the much needed goal. Both Rankin and Mackay-Steven both doing well getting attempts into the box but they were either saved or just wide. Right up until the break it was just end to end play with neither team doing much to try and get the goal that would be needed going into the break.

Half Time Dundee United 0 - 0 Motherwell

The second half began strongly with Motherwell pressuring the United defence for the first 10 minutes. United managed to do everything they could to keep Motherwell at bay.

The hour mark approached and United finally managed to break forward. A series of corners and an attempt for Ciftci showed that United really wanted to get the goal. Bilate replaced Watson to change up the the United formation.

Three corners in a row and a saved opportunity for Bilate, got the United crowd pumped up and ready to back their team to get the vital three points. Another three corners for United but nothing came of them. 10 minutes to go and Paton attempt to get the goal for United, however he missed. Dow also had an attempt on goal, his shot was also missed.

82nd minute, Mario Bilate. From outside the box, blasted the ball into the top left hand to give United the lead with 8 minutes to go of regulation time.

A series of substitutions were made by both teams. Right up until the full time whistle went, United were just trying to keep their lead. 3 minutes of stoppage time and Reid had one more chance for Motherwell. The shot was blocked. That was the final play of the game and it ended with another win for Dundee United.

Full Time Dundee United 1 - 0 Motherwell



My man of the match was Jaroslaw Fojut because he managed to control the balls well in the danger areas. He showed what he was really able to do in defence. I personally think that he is going to be one of the key players for the United back four this season. He showed how powerful he is and what he can do in all areas of the park.

Attendance: 8,367

Terrors put THREE past Dons

Photo;travelling Arabs

Starting XI (Aberdeen): Langfield, Logan, Considine, Reynolds, Taylor, Flood, McGinn, Jack, Robson, Goodwillie and Pawlett
Subs: Monakana, Rooney, Smith, Low, Robertson, Brown and Shaughnessy
Booked: None
Subs Used: Low and Rooney

Starting XI (Dundee United): Cierzniak, Townsend, Fojut, Morris, Watson, Armstrong, Rankin, Mackay-Steven, Dow, Paton and Ciftci
Subs: Graham, McCallum, Erskine, Bilate, Telfer, Smith and Spittal
Booked: Watson and Paton
Subs Used: Erskine, Bilate and Telfer

My Man of the Match: Callum Morris



The first half began with Aberdeen on good form from playing competitive matches already in European games. Attempts from McGinn and Considine.

For the first 15 minutes, it was a very mixed game with both sides having a good chance on goal. Ciftci and Morris having attempts for Dundee United. After a short delay due to an injury on Robson. United manged to get back into the game after the delay.

28 minutes gone. The dead lock is finally broken. A shot from close range allowed Ryan Dow to get his foot onto the ball and put it into the back of the net. With just around 15 minutes to go in the first half, it was 1-0 United.



Aberdeen tried their best to get back into the game but the United defence was just to good for the Aberdeen strikers. It was all about United as the break approached. Morris and Mackay-Steven doing well for United along side Dow.

With seconds of the first half remaining. Gary Mackay-Steven, managed to slot home a ball from Ciftci on the right side of the box. To give United the lead in the 44th minute.

Due to the delay with an injury to Robson, their was an added on two minutes. In that time United were
looking to make it 3-0, however Ciftci shot was saved in the bottom corner by Langfield.

Half Time Aberdeen 0 - 2 Dundee United



Second half under-way and United had the double lead. For the first 5 minutes, Aberdeen was doing everything they could to get back into the game. However, nothing really came of the pressure from Aberdeen.

Ciftci got United back into the game with a chance but it was saved. McGinn also had an attempt on goal but he missed it.

Right up until the 70 minute mark, it was a pretty even game with both teams having equal attempts on goal. However, it was a worrying period for the United fans as Aberdeen was putting more pressure onto the United goal. They weren't able to break through.

The majority of the last 20 minutes of the game was multiple amounts of pressure and attempts from Aberdeen. United seemed like it was so hard to break them down. The back four of the United defence done a fantastic job not allowing the Aberdeen front line to break through and get that goal back which would bring them back into the game.

Right on the stroke of full time, 2 minutes injury time was added. With 10 seconds of that injury time remaining, substitute Chris Erskine slotted the ball home from the centre of the box. This would give the visitors the three points to open their league campaign and the three away goals which would see them sit top of the league.

Full Time Aberdeen 0 - 3 Dundee United



A fantastic start to the campaign for the Terrors. My man of the match was Callum Morris, this is due to all the hard work that he puts in at the back. He is also able to run up the park and put pressure on the oppositions goal. I personally think that he will be a fantastic asset to the United back four this season.

Attendance: 16,471 with 2016 travelling Arabs