Dundee United blew a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 against Aberdeen in a breathless showdown at Pittodrie.
The Tangerines appeared to be on their way to a crucial three points following an excellent first-half display which heralded goals by Vicko Sevelj and the Premiership’s top scorer, Sam Dalby.
However, Aberdeen turned the screw after the break – United becoming increasingly encamped in their own area and unable to alter the game from the bench – and Kevin Nisbet netted twice in the final 15 minutes.
Courier Sport was in the Granite City to analyse the action.
Wonderfully worked set pieces
While United rarely threatened from open play, it is clear Jim Goodwin spotted the Dons’ set-piece vulnerabilities and exploited them superbly.
The opening goal came when the Tangerines loaded the back post. The hulking figures of Declan Gallagher, Sam Dalby and Ross Graham were deployed – fairly – as blockers, allowing Sevelj to sneak behind the ensuing melee and head home.
Glenn Middleton’s delivery was absolutely on the money. Pinpoint.
It may look industrial, but there is an artistry to a well-worked corner kick routine. And a hell of a lot of work on the training ground.
Similarly, United knew that Aberdeen tend to only send one player out to guard against a short corner.
They took advantage when Kristijan Trapanovski, Ryan Strain and Craig Sibbald isolated Topi Keskinen, allowing the Macedonian winger to deliver a pin-point cross for Dalby to double United’s lead.
Allied with the perfectly good Dalby goal against Hibs that was erroneously ruled out last midweek, Goodwin’s side are a real threat from dead balls.
With an assist apiece – combined with their tireless defensive shifts, and the generally good balance of the 4-3-3 shape – Middleton and Trapanovski will have every right to feel aggrieved if they don’t start on derby day.
Sibbald the game-changer – from the start AND when he went off
Discussing Sibbald’s first start since October 5, boss Goodwin noted: “He was nowhere near fit enough to start the game on Sunday.”
A remarkable sentiment given how well the midfield dynamo performed against Aberdeen.
The United engine room had a fine balance in the first period at Pittodrie, with the peerless energy of Allan Campbell aiding Dalby as the first line of the press, Sibbald able to go box-to-box and Sevelj outstanding at the base of the trio.
They hurried, harried and ensured Aberdeen were unable to pen the Tangerines in.
Sibbald’s presence totally altered United’s approach.
If Sibbald’s importance to the side was evident when he was on the pitch, it was perhaps even more obvious when he was replaced by Jort van der Sande, who touched the ball eight times and completed one pass in his 28 minutes on the pitch.
That’s no slight on van der Sande. He is not a central midfielder and barely received a ball to feet.
The lack of like-for-like replacement on the bench was obvious and the tired legs were evident, but would Lewis Fiorini or David Babunski have retained possession more often? Hindsight is always 20/20.
The Tangerines completed just 41 passes in the second period – fewer than ANY other side during a half of Premiership football over the weekend.
Of course, one can pick holes in both goals but when inviting that much pressure, the galling finale was arguably inevitable – even with the heroics of Ross Graham, whose 22 clearances were more than any other Premiership player at the weekend.
A tale of two opportunities
For all Aberdeen’s pressure (and with an xG of 2.08 to 0.57, defeat would have been rather unjust), United had a golden opportunity to make the game safe with 87 minutes on the clock.
In one of the few coherent breakaways in the second half, Strain dashed down the right flank and produced a wonderful clipped cross to Kai Fotheringham.
With little pace on the delivery, Fotheringham had to generate the power on his header and ultimately cleared the crossbar from point-blank range. It is hard to shake the feeling that he would have rippled the net with that opportunity last term.
Two minutes and 52 seconds later, Alexander Jensen – the best player on the pitch and the Dons’ primary attacking threat – produced his second assist of the afternoon, whipping in a simply sumptuous, teasing cross for Nisbet to slam home.
Reflect, reset and rehabilitate
Once the frustration subsides and emotions calm, United can consider their position.
Fifth spot; two points off third; a five-point buffer to seventh with just 12 to play for prior to the split. The remaining four games? Dundee (H), Ross County (A), Hearts (A), St Johnstone (H).
That is a state of play most Arabs would have gladly accepted at the start of the campaign. However, the sentiment of we’d have taken this at the start of the season will only last so long.
There is no getting away from a record of two wins in their last 10 games. United must reignite their campaign – and there is no better opportunity to do so than derby day at Tannadice.
A free fortnight to prepare is ideal; a chance to reflect, reset and rehabilitate.
Especially given Declan Gallagher was added to an injury list that already included Will Ferry, Docherty and Louis Moult. If a couple of those key figures return, the Terrors’ options – especially in-game – will be far healthier.
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