The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Shankland scores wonder goal for United
UNITED: Shankland scores from 53 yards
Lawrence Shankland scored a “special goal” on an emotional night when a special manager was honoured by Dundee United.
With tributes paid to the club’s legendary boss Jim Mclean before and during the 2-2 draw with St Johnstone, it was somehow fitting that Shankland’s wonder strike was delivered from near the touchline where Mclean reigned supreme for so long.
The lob measured 53 yards and sailed over goalkeeper Zander Clark’s head.
It wasn’t enough to win the game for the Tangerines, instead levelling the score.
It was still fabulous and would have brought a smile to Mclean’s face had it happened under his charge.
Home manager Micky Mellon said: “It was a special goal. He just knows where the goal is and he struck it so cleanly. It was like a golfer striking a drive. It was that kind of noise.
“It was so straight and so true that you think to yourself that’s got a chance of going in.
“It was a ridiculous moment to see it hit the back of the net.
“I’m pleased I’ve seen it. I don’ t know how you measure great goals but this one was certainly fantastic. Everyone should be celebrating what was a fantastic moment.”
McDiar mid manager Callum Davidson even joined in the praise for Shankland’s goal.
He said: “I thought the first half was pretty even but in the second half they didn’t create any chances apart from a wonder strike.
“I didn’t think he was going to shoot but it was just a wonder goal and sometimes you have to hold your hands up. He has the capability to do that and he showed that tonight.”
The game also saw Guy Melamed score his first goal for the Perth side, which pleased Davidson.
“It was great for Guy to get on the scoresheet as he has waited a long time,” said the Saints gaffer.
“It has taken him a while to get up to speed with the Scottish game without any reserve football.
“For me this was a reward for how hard he has worked over the past two or three weeks.
“He is a clever player who wants to succeed so hopefully he can push on from this.
“We know he is a goalscorer but I thought he also worked very hard outside the box as well.
“It was also good to see Chris Kane score as well.”
Astunning goal from Dundee United’s Lawrence Shankland, scored from just inside the St Johnstone half, wasn’ t enough to separate the Tayside duo.
It was a strike worthy of winning any game – and a goal of the season contender – but Shankland, his team-mates and opponents had to settle for yet another draw between the sides.
There have now been three in the Premiership and one in the Betfred Cup, albeit United won the bonus penalty shoot-out.
Louis Appere’s fine finish got United off to a flying start after just nine minutes but Saints levelled when frontman Guy Melamed nodded home his first goal for his club on 16 minutes.
A lovely glancing header from Chris Kane then gave the visitors a 2-1 lead on 38 minutes.
Those were pretty decent but were just the warm-up acts for S hank land’ s fantastic finish on 53 minutes, which saw the
Scotland striker lob visitors’ keeper Zander Clark from just inside the Saints’ half close to the home dugout.
T he match gave the Tangerines the first opportunity to pay tribute at home to legendary boss Jim Mclean, whose death was announced on Boxing Day.
There was a minute’s applause held before kickoff in honour of United’s greatest-ever manager.
Michael O’ hall oran missed out for the visitors through suspension and Saints gaffer Callum Davidson made four changes to his starting line-up after a 1-1 draw at Ross County last time out, with Liam Gordon, Liam Craig, David Wotherspoon and Melamed all given the nod. An unnamed Perth player was unavailable after testing positive for Covid-19.
United selected the same team that finished the goalless draw at Aberdeen on January 2. That meant young Lewis Neil son retained his place at the back, while Dillon Powers stayed in midfield after replacing the crocked Peter Pawlett at Pittodrie.
There was a spot on the bench for frontman Marc Mcnulty as he came back from injury.
T he Mcdiarmid men were first to threaten the opposition goal on seven minutes when Chris Kane’s cross to the back post was aimed at Murray Davidson, who got his boot to the ball but couldn’t trouble keeper Benjamin Siegrist.
The Tangerines soon settled, though, and took the lead with a wonderfully-worked opener just two minutes later.
Nicky Clark was the supplier after the defence sat off and the Tangerines’ forward created room on the right side of the penalty area. He then cut back perfectly for Appere, whose sidefooted strike took a deflection on its way into the net.
The visitors were on the front foot quickly, however, and Melamed tried, but failed, to beat Siegrist with a lob.
The leveller was just delayed slightly, though, with St Johnstone’s Israeli striker getting off the mark for the Mcdiarmid men to make it 1-1 on 16 minutes.
His header was a powerful one off David Wotherspoon’s corner that seemed to slip through
Siegrist’s legs and nestle in the back of the net.
Melamed was in the mood and had another effort saved by Siegrist before a poor clearance from Saints at the other end fell to Un i t e d ’ s Shankland, who just found the angle for his strike to be too tight.
Shankland was threatening again on the half-hour when he seemed to have a clear path to goal before Ali Mccann, playing at rightback, did superbly to nick the ball off his feet before he could test goalie Clark.
Unlike the other games between the sides this season, this match was an open affair and Saints scored again on 38 minutes.
Kane was the man on target this time as the hosts failed to deal with another ball into the box. Melamed
worked some magic out on the left before finding Wotherspoon, who twisted and turned before sending a brilliant delivery into the box that was nodded into the United net by Kane.
That was all just a taster, however, for Shankland’s stunner.
With the clock striking 53 minutes, there seemed to be little danger as United’s Appere made an interception near the halfway line. He quickly played the ball to his right to Shankland, who instead of racing up the line as expected looked up then embarrassed Clark with a fabulous chip.
With the contest tied at 2-2, the home side brought on Luke Bolton for Neilson and, a bit later, Mcnulty for Appere.
If the Perth men were
shocked by that incredible equaliser they didn’t show it and kept looking for the winner, as did United.
Wotherspoon, who was having a fine match for St Johnstone, went for goal with a free-kick on the left edge of the penalty box and Siegrist had to punch the ball away.
Stevie May and Scott Tanser came on for St Johnstone, replacing Kane and Callum Booth.
The two subs nearly teamed up for a goal, with
May driving into the United half before releasing Tanser, who drilled his shot low and inches wide of the far post.
Tannadice then saluted Jim Mclean for a second time, with another round of applause held on 83 minutes to mark the year of United’s Premier League title win under the great man’s leadership.
Both teams kept plugging away until the end but just couldn’t be separated from each other.