Sunday 30 January 2011

Day Thirty One: Dundee United (Tannadice Park)




Dundee United v Hibernian
Sunday 30th January
Scottish Premier League


For the second match of our weekend double header we're off to watch see if it'll be Dundee United who extend Hibernian's losing streak to five games or if Hibs can stop the rot. To do that mind they'll have to score their first goal(s) of 2011.


We're lucky enough to be joined on the trip to Tannadice by two very good friends of mine, Magnus & Ross. Both of whom are 'Arabs, by that I mine they are both followers of the Dundee side. I've known both of them since the glory days at Mai Thai, you'd often find me giving them a lesson on the pool table.


Anyway after yesterdays cross wires over our departure time I've made sure I'm up bright and early to allow myself as much time to get over to Cramond. As is my norm I get side-tracked by the television and Andy Murray's Aussie Open final. It's a shame to see the big fella getting tanked in the first to sets.


I pick Ross up at 10.45am and then Magnus at 11am and for a change I'm early when I arrive at my folks house. After a quickly introducing my parents to my two mates, I make the obligatory check of her fridge for some tasty goodness and then it's time to go. I offer one of them the front seat as is only right and settle in for the drive north.



Tuning in to Radio5 live it's disappointing to hear that Andy has been beaten in three sets but he's a young boy and his time will no doubt come.



We find a parking space a make the short walk over to the ground. Magnus & Ross pose for the pre match photo, look how happy they both look standing there in their United scarfs. They then nip off to the club shop whilst I buy a programme.



I've asked Magnus to take us to the part of the ground where we'll get the best view and atmosphere. He takes us to the far side of the ground and finds us a seat pretty much on the half way line. I've asked him who I should keep my eye on today and he tells me young Johnny Russell is a decent prospect for the future. Time will tell I guess.



The crowd are a bit slow to filter in and tucked away on the far right hand side of the main stand are a small pocket of Hibs fans. A really small packet, in fact it's probably the smallest away support we've seen for a SPL match. They are the first to sing some songs and make a noise though.



I nip back inside and join the queue for the refreshment booth. Looking up at the price list, I'm shocked to find that a Scotch pie is going to cost me £2. This makes it the most expensive pie so far in our visits to grounds around Scotland. It better be bloody brilliant.



It's not. It's good though, not to hot but hot enough and it's got plenty filling but it is let down by the fact it's dry and lacks crunch.



The stadium announcer reads out the teams and it's surprising to hear that Riordhan isn't even on the bench The game kicks off and three minutes in a poor clearance by Hibs keeper Smith lands at the feet of Craig Conway, he play's a lovely long ball in to the box where David Robertson should have done better than volley it well over from ten yards.



Hibs found their rhythm and had a couple of chances of their own. First Miller, then Towell tried their luck.



Ten minutes in and Hibs have the best chance of the game so far. A clumsy challenge on Nish leads to a free kick which Galbraith gets on the end of eight yards out but his left foot volley goes just wide.



Looking around the stadium it looks like the ground has a different floodlight at each end of the opposite side. I mention this to Ross and he informs me that this is true and that the stand we sit in has no floodlights at either end but that it actually has a band of lights all along the front at the top. He also points out that the Directors Box is not above the dug outs as usual but it's located in the corner of the top deck of the stand behind the goal. Apparently that's where you'll find Lorraine Kelly on most match days, tucked up with her tartan blanket.

Dundee United took the lead after thirteen minutes when a long ball was headed into the path of Jon Daly, who completely unmarked, put the ball into the net off the inside of the post.

He should have doubled his sides lead a few minutes later but he could only apply the faintest of touches to the ball with his head and it went harmlessly wide.

David Goodwillie is getting a fair bit of stick from the Hibs regarding his up-coming court case and it's probably best that I don't repeat any of their chants . Ross, who was up at United's recent cup replay against Ross County, tells me that the home fans were singing 'You only score when they're sleeping'.

Five or so minutes before half time a great dummy on the half way line and Goodwillie is suddenly in acres of space on the right wing. It's a three on two situation and he has ages to pick out one of his two team mates in the box. You guessed it he only managed to fire it straight at the only defender.

The half time whistle blows and Colin Calderwood is going to have to give his side the full hairdryer treatment to try and get his side to turn this around. For all their possession the middle of the park they are crying out for a striker. My dad still finds it hilarious that Hibs paid Kilmarnock £100,000 for Nish. He really is rubbish.

It's the home side who are first to test the opposition keeper in the second half but Goodwillie again fails to make the best of his opportunity firing wide from the edge of the box.

Six minutes in and United go two in front when a David Robertson pass splits the defense and it's a race between Hibs defender Dickoh and United midfielder Conway to the ball. Conway sprints clear before blasting the ball past the Hibs keeper into the net.



Heads seem to go in the Hibs team, fingers are pointed and voices raised as they start to play the blame game.

Wotherspoon had a chance to get their Hibs head raised and his team back in the match moments later when he stole the ball from Kenneth near the half way line, he skipped past two challenges but shot straight at Pernis from fifteen yards.

This attempt on goal by Hibs had a bloke sat just a few feet in front of us raging, he started shouting that United weren't trying hard enough and that he could do better. God knows what he'd be like if they were losing two nil.

United had the chance to kill off the game on the hour mark when Goodwillie play's the ball to Robertson at the each of the box but his shot goes over the bar from the edge of the box.

Then it's time for second comedy moment of the weekend when a mis-timed shot from a Hibs player balloons high and wide of the goal and lands right on the back of the head of a female steward with her back to the ball. She's down straight away and takes a few moments to get back to her feet. She's helped off down the tunnel by two St.John's Ambulance volunteers.

With twenty minutes to go Goodwillie is replaced by Johnny Russell.

Ten minutes later and Dundee United force a succession of corners and its from the third one that they score their third goal. Shocking defending by Hibs who fail to clear the ball several times leads to a cross ball into the six yard box. Russell sees his header saved by Smith but is first to react to the loose ball and he toe pokes it home. Magnus turns to me and says ' told you he was worth watching'. If only he could do the same with lottery numbers.

This third goal is enough for many of the Hibs fans and they leave en-masse from the ground.

At this point I must point out Ross's comment about the linesman's barnet - He's got more highlights in his hair than Hibs have had all season. Brilliant.

In the dying moments of the game Hibs were unlucky not to get a consolation goal when Matt Thornhill's header was cleared off the goal line.

At the final whistle the cheers rung out from three sides of the ground, the fourth side was pretty much empty. Dundee United move level on points with Inverness in 5th place and if they win their four games in hand could rise to fourth. Hibs on the other hand are second bottom, only two points above Hamilton. Are they too good to go down? Five defeats in a row and no goals scored this year, you'd have to say they are in relegation form.

I'd like to thank Magnus and Ross for joining us today, good banter all round lads.

Thirty one down, eleven to go and it's Livingston v Brechin City on Tuesday if you fancy the trip.


The Statistics


Ticket: Adult £22, Concession £12.
Programme: £3.00
Attendance: 6215
Pie: £2.00 - The most expensive yet!
Pie Marks: 7.5/10
Man of the Match: Dad & Ross - Sean Dillon (Dundee United) Magnus & I - Craig Conway (Dundee United)
Score: Dundee United 3 v Hibernian 0
Mileage: 117 miles.
Fascinating Fact of the Day: Dundee United are the only British side to beat Barcelona every time they have played them in European competitions. They achieved home and away victories in 1966 and the 1986-87 season. The Barcelona side in this latter match included Gary Lineker, Mark Hughes and Steve Archibald.

Next Game: Braidwood Motor Company Stadium (Livingston

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