Ciftci gives United three points

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

Subs: Townsend, Dow, Connolly, Spittal, Telfer, Smith and Szromnik

Booked: Watson and Rankin

Subs Used: Dow, Connolly and Spittal

Starting XI (Partick Thistle): Fox, O'Donnell, Seaborne, Balatoni, McMillan, Bannigan, Osman, Craigen, Lawless, Elliott and Doolan

Subs: Stevenson, Gallacher, Frans, Carroll, Eccleston, Wilson and McDaid

Booked: McMillan, Bannigan, Osman and Seaborne sent off

Subs Used: Carroll, McDaid and Stevenson

My Man of the Match: Sean Dillon

It was the first match after the international break for both teams. Dundee United were looking to keep pressure on Hamilton at the top of the league and Partick Thistle were looking to gain more points to climb the table.

For the first two minutes or so there wasn't much action from either of the teams. It was Partick who go the first major chance of the game as Morris gave away a corner. However, this corner didn't help play. 

Four minutes in and the action started to build. Erskine having a shot on goal but it just went wide of the post. Right up until ten minutes in only Doolan and Craigen had attempts on goal. 

Right up until the 15th minute, there wasn't much action at all. Both teams didn't create much action at all. It was end to end play which wasn't very exciting to watch for the over 6 thousand strong crowd watching.



20 minutes gone and it was United who were getting back into the game with the team having two good chances. 

For the remainder of the first half, it was mostly dominated by the home side. However, the last 5 minutes Partick Thistle tried to get back into the game. Ciftci stopped the away side gaining the lead as the teams went into the second half.

Half Time Dundee United 0 - 0 Partick Thistle 

Second half under way and the half time talk seemed to work wonders for Partick Thistle who took control of the first 5 minutes of the game.

United managed to get back into the game with two corners in a row. These never managed to come anything though. They were still managing to pressure the Partick back line.

10 minutes in and both teams are back neck and neck. Ciftci and Lawless having a shot for their sides just to name a few of the attempts that were taken right up until the hour mark.

Bookings and substitutions filled right up until the 80th minute.



Pressure from United in the closing stages of the game got the United crowd excited and pushing their team to get the three points that they vitally needed.

Partick were still pressuring with Elliot doing well at breaking down the United defence. 

83rd minute, Seaborne brings Nadir Ciftci down in the penalty area. Ciftci himself stepped up to the mark to take the penalty. A right footed shot goes past Fox to give United the lead with less than 7 minutes of regulation time to go.

This goal gave United the boost they needed and continued to stop Partick getting past the half way mark. Craigen was the only Partick player who managed to get forward through the boosted United team. Spittal had the last attempt of the game. 

It ended with Ciftci getting the only goal of the game and United getting the vital three points after a poor game for both sides.

Full Time Dundee United 1 - 0 Partick Thistle

My man of the match was Sean Dillon because he shows what a captain should do for the team. He managed to get the team sorted out and made sure that they were pressuring as much as they could. Other than doing captain duties, he also done well at defending. After coming back from a small injury he has done well to get back into the team.

Attendance: 6756

Kilmarnock are too powerful for United

Starting XI (Kilmarnock): Samson, Barbour, Hamill, Connolly, Clingan, Johnston, Obadeyi, Eremenko, Chantler, Magennis and Pascali
Subs: Brennan, McKenzie, Ashcroft, Slater, Ngoo, Westlake and Muirhead
Booked: Barbour, Eremenko and Connolly
Subs Used: Brennan and Muirhead

Starting XI (Dundee United): Cierzniak, Watson, Fojut, Morris, Dillon, Paton, Rankin, Armstrong, Dow, Erskine and Ciftci
Subs: Szromnik, Spark, Telfer, Spittal, Smith, Mackay-Steven and Adeyemo
Booked: Adeyemo and Mackay-Steven
Subs Used: Mackay-Steven and Adeyemo

My Man of the Match: John Rankin

Kick off time. Dundee United are looking to make sure that they can go five points clear and Kilmarnock are looking to get 12 points at home for this season.

It was Kilmarnock to start. Kilmarnock started pressuring the United back line very quickly. The first minute is played in the Kilmarnock half with United not having much of the ball.

 The first couple of minutes is all about Kilmarnock pressure with Johnston making it difficult for United to break away. Rankin manages to help United try and break down Kilmarnock, however nothing pays off for the Terrors.

Ciftci tries to play Armstrong who is waiting in the box. Armstrong doesn't manage to get enough power on it and Samson collects it easily. Up the other end Magennis has a fantastic chance on goal, Cierzniak makes a fantastic save to give Kilmarnock the corner.


The first ten minutes of the game is all about Kilmarnock who are use to the 3G surface at Rugby Park. Kilmarnock show that they are a good team and will be a challenging team for United tonight. United fans start chanting in the stand to try and get some motivation for the United side. It seems that the United fans managed to give the team some motivation as they push up the park and begin to put pressure on the Kilmarnock back line.



Cierzniak is doing well to prevent Kilmarnock from taking the lead, a series of good saves shows his skill as a keeper to help his team keep a clean sheet. United continue to put pressure on the Kilmarnock goal with captain Dillon having a shot at goal, there just wasn't enough on it, Samson lets it bounce and collects it.

The opening 20 minutes has been very mixed with Kilmarnock being the happier side, however United still having their out bursts of possession which could prove difficult for Kilmarnock if they do it rightly.

Fantastic opportunity for United, 25 minutes in and Dillon puts the ball past Johnston towards Ciftci. However the ball is just wide of the post and Ciftci isn't able to control it to put it into the back of the net. This has given United an extra boost to get up the park as the half hour mark approaches.

Half hour mark and United have gotten a boost of confidence. They manage to put pressure on the Kilmarnock goal for a couple of minutes. A few good attempts at goal, unfortunately they never game to anything. United continue to press.

10 minutes to go of the first half and it is all end to end play. Neither teams managing to break the dead lock. Both teams are putting pressure on both goals.



Magennis had an open goal with the United defence struggling to get back. However it hits the crossbar. Pressure is building on the Kilmarnock goal. Quickly play is moved back up towards the Kilmarnock goal where United are given a corner.

With minutes remaining, it continues to be an end to end game. Both teams are having good attempts on goal but neither team looking like they are going to break the dead lock. The best chance of the half came in around the 35th minute from Magennis.

A very poor first half and it ends with both teams unable to break the dead lock.

Half Time Kilmarnock 0 - 0 Dundee United

The second half will prove to be vital for both teams. Brennan will start the second half  due to Samson having a broken toe after a Armstrong challenge. United get the second half under way.

United start the second half well with them having the possession to start off with. Kilmarnock doesn't let this face them as they quickly gain back possession. Ciftci and Dillon do well to link up to try and get the ball up the park but Kilmarnock win it back once again.

Five minutes into the second half and the United half time talk seems to be working well. They are the team who is causing the most bother for the keepers. Paton has a very ambitious shot on goal but other than that it is mostly just trying to get the team up the park. Johnston continues to prove difficult for United to get past.



 As the hour mark approaches, Kilmarnock once again are the better team on the park. United are having their usual bursts of pressure like they did in the first half. Nothing major happens.

62 minutes on the clock, Kilmarnock are able to get past the United defenders and Tope Obadeyi gives the home side the lead.

65 minutes on the clock, Kilmarnock double their lead. Mark Connolly. Blasts it past Cierzniak.

After going down 2-0 very quickly, United need to try and get back into the game. Mackay-Steven is brought on for Armstrong to try and change the game for the Terrors.

70 minutes on the clock and both teams are having equal possession. However, Kilmarnock aren't letting United break through them. United are trying very hard to get back into the game. Mackay-Steven has a shot on goal, it is just over the bar.

75 minutes gone and Adeyemo makes his debut for the club after replacing Ciftci. United doing well to try and keep the ball in the Kilmarnock half. A Erskine shot on goal saved by Brennan and Adeyemo is waiting but doesn't manage to get a good shot on the ball.



10 minutes to go, United still doing as much as they can to get back into the game. Muirhead replaces Eremenko. The ball remains in Kilmarnock possession.

Shot on goal from Paton with five minutes to go adds some pressure to the Kilmarnock back line. Muirhead shot on goal gains a wonderful save from Cierzniak. Kilmarnock looking to extend their lead with four minutes remaining.

United struggle to do much more in the Kilmarnock half. Three minutes is added on. This is an opportunity for United to get a goal back. Brennan is doing well to keep United at bay.

Not much pressure from United in stoppage time instead Kilmarnock are keeping the pressure on the United goal.

It ends 2-0 Kilmarnock, top of the league could be gone by the end of the weekend for United. Kilmarnock deserved the win. They were the better team on the night.

Full Time Kilmarnock 2 - 0 Dundee United

My man of the match was John Rankin because he was able to control the majority of the action that he was faced with. Every game he has managed to control the area that he is in. He gave 100% for the whole 90 minutes even though the score line wasn't what United expected.

Attendance: 3,953

United stay top after win over St Johnstone

Starting XI (Dundee United): Cierzniak, Fojut, Dillon, Morris, Watson, Rankin, Erskine, Dow, Ciftci, Paton and Bilate

Subs: Armstrong, Mackay-Steven, Telfer, Smith, Spittal, Szromnik and Spark

Booked: Morris and Ciftci

Subs Used: Mackay-Steven, Armstrong and Spittal

Starting XI (St Johnstone): Mannus, Wright, Anderson, Mackay, Easton, Caddis, McDonald, Croft, Wotherspoon, Davidson and O'Halloran

Subs: Lappin, Morgan, Banks, Miller, Brown, Easton and Kerr

Booked: Wotherspoon

Subs Used: Lappin and Morgan

My Man of the Match: Chris Erskine

This is the first time there has been a Tayside derby since the cup final in May. United were hoping that they would be able to get back to winning ways over the Perth side as they struggled last season.

United started the game off strong. Dow and Ciftci proving vital in a strong start for the Terrors.

St Johnstone don't let United away with an easy start to the game with Mackay doing well to pressure the United back four. End to end play began the first 20 minutes of the game.

22 minutes in and United are pressing right up the park. Ciftci onto the ball and it meets Chris Erskine's feet. A right footed shot, sees United go a goal up.

Play restarted and United were up for getting the double. It was all about the United end.

St Johnstone tried to get back into the game around the half an hour mark. They managed to get a corner however nothing came of it.

St Johnstone fouled the United side, quiet a lot in the closing stages of the first half. Other than the fouls and free kicks. It was only really end to end play with nothing really coming of the game.

The first half ended with United having the lead which could see them continue to be top of the league if they are able to keep the lead.

Half Time Dundee United 1 - 0 St Johnstone

The second half kicked off and St Johnstone started the second half strongly with Anderson having an attempt on goal 5 minutes into the second half. This was closely followed by Bilate having an attempt at the other end for United.

Right up until the hour mark, St Johnstone came out of nowhere and started dominating the park. Attempts from Lappin and O'Halloran were denied to prevent St Johnstone equalising.

There wasn't much action from either teams other than Ciftci having attempts on goal. This pressured the St Johnstone team.

71st minute, Paul Paton gets a left footed shot right into the centre of the box after a lovely assist from Watson. United double their lead.

Play restarted and St Johnstone didn't want the United to get another goal. It again was end to end play with Lappin having a few attempt for St Johnstone but they weren't able to break down the United defence.

There wasn't much action in the last 15 minutes of the game. For United it was pretty much all about making sure that they kept their two goal advantage.

 

The game ended with United getting the three points and staying top of the lead with a two goal lead over St Johnstone.

Full Time Dundee United 2 - 0 St Johnstone

My man of the match was Chris Erskine because since he went on loan to Partick Thistle last season he has come on leaps and bounds. In recent games he has shown how far he has come. He has shown how much he deserves to be in the starting XI. He gives his 110% in every game he is involved in and I know that there is more to come from Chris.

Attendance: 7,161