Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Four United talking points as Tangerines pull clear in title race
DUNDEE United have put some daylight between themselves and Raith Rovers at the top of the Scottish Championship.
Since Arbroath’s sensational comeback against Ian Murray’s side on Friday, the Terrors have taken four points from two difficult away fixtures.
It is now Raith who are playing catch up, both in terms of points on the board and through having a game in hand.
United boss Jim Goodwin was pleased with how his side stood up to the challenge of Morton on Tuesday night, putting in a cohesive performance to take all three points.
Tele Sport looks at the talking points from the 1-0 win at Cappielow.
ADVANTAGE UNITED
After a sticky spell, United will hope the win over Morton gets them back on track in the title race.
Though it would be folly to expect the Championship leaders to pull away hassle-free between now and the end of the season.
Three months ago, Raith Rovers were five points ahead having played one more game.
Now, the tables have turned. Goodwin’s side are four points clear and Rovers have a game in hand, away to Partick Thistle next midweek.
Raith took a point there on the league’s opening day after coming back from two goals down late in the game, a precursor to a series of comebacks in the first half of the season.
SCORING FIRST Opening the scoring had evaded United since their 1-0 win in Inverness at the start of the year.
Louis Moult’s first-half strike was enough to ensure all three points.
It could have been so different had Robbie
Muirhead finished a giltedged chance after Morton started better.
From 10 minutes – until around 10 minutes to go when the home side threw everything at it – United controlled the encounter and later chances for Moult and Jordan Tillson could have killed the game.
FIRST CLEAN SHEET IN SIX MATCHES
That was made possible by an excellent defensive performance, especially from Kevin Holt.
It was the Tangerines’ first clean sheet in six matches.
Liam Grimshaw was brought back in at rightback to give the side more physicality and was part of a back four that scrapped for everything.
An experienced and dogged midfield three helped, allowing Miller Thomson to play further forward, and he and Tony Watt to get forward and support Moult.
THE LATEST CENTURY
Scott McMann became the latest Tannadice star to play 100 games for the club, reaching the feat relatively quickly after joining at the start of the 2021-22 season.
“For a player to have been available as consistently as Scotty has been, is a testament to him and his level of professionalism,” said Goodwin following the win at Morton.
McMann has been one of United’s most consistent performers this season from left-back and is a big part of how they attack.
The 27-year-old came close to scoring in the draw at Partick Thistle last weekend after being set up by his fellow full-back.
On Tuesday, he was asked to play slightly more conservatively as part of a back four that did well to repel the threat from Morton.