The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Vital first win for United young guns
Tangerines seal Fir Park points with team with average age of just 21
MOTHERWELL 0 DUNDEE UNITED 2
Youth worked for Dundee United as their team with an average age of just 21 staged a grand finale to win 2-0 at Fir Park.
One of the great questions hanging over the Tangerines going into this Premiership season has been whether or not they were experienced enough to cope with the demands of top-flight football.
Not only did they handle the pressure in a tough away fixture on Saturday, youthful enthusiasm paid off for them as they polished off the Steelmen with a couple of late goals.
Against an upbeat Motherwell side who were coming off a fine win up in Inverness on opening day, United ended the game with a group of young guys who have either just found the key to the door or are still looking for it.
In goal was 21-year-old Luis Zwick, while ahead of him was a central defensive pairing of Mark Durnan and Coll Donaldson, aged 22 and 20 respectively.
Adding to the mix in the holding midfield area was John Souttar – an 18-year-old who plays like a 28-year-old – and Scott Fraser at a mere 20, who was making his first start for the club.
Ahead of them were Blair Spittal, Aidan Connolly, Robbie Muirhead – each aged 19 – while Simon Murray was the veteran of the attack at 23.
That all added up to an average age of 21 – or 21.27 to be precise – and the numbers game worked well for United as they looked lively and quick, both in action and thought, as the hosts wilted.
Pundit Alan Hansen once infamously said of the Manchester United team that boasted David Beckham, Gary and Phil Neville, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes that: “You can’t win anything with kids.”
One United’s ambitions for this season may be rather more modest than the other United’s were 20 years ago – the Red Devils went on to win the English title and FA Cup – but it just may be that the Tangerines’ tender years will come to be seen as a help rather than a hindrance as the campaign progresses.
With so many fresh legs on the pitch, they kept looking for the breakthrough, and it came on 83 minutes.
A sweeping move forward by the visitors saw the ball played out to Paul Dixon on the left wing.
The full-back took a touch then fired over a superb low cross that was diverted into his own net by Well’s Louis Laing.
That wasn’t enough for United, though, and in stoppage-time they took full advantage of home keeper Connor Ripley’s decision to run to the other end of the park for a Motherwell corner.
When the ball was cleared out of the United box the Tangerines broke forward at speed. Muirhead led the charge and managed to pass to Connolly before being blatantly taken out by the back-tracking Ripley.
Picking his moment amid the mayhem, Connolly then played in Murray and the former Arbroath man coolly slotted the ball into the net just as the keeper made it back.
Murray’s celebration, during which he fell flat on his face behind the net, showed just how much it meant to him to get his first goal for United.
The Tannadice men did get a slice of good luck with the own goal and possibly even the second strike, but perhaps they deserved it after losing to Aberdeen thanks to a fluke of a goal.
Manager Jackie McNamara was certainly happy to see his team get off the mark after that losing start against the Dons.
He said: “I thought it was a fantastic game.
“I thought Motherwell were excellent in the first 20 minutes. They pressed us really well and were dominant.
“After that we started moving the ball towards the end of the first half and caused a few problems.
“Both keepers had an excellent match and I’m delighted we got a clean sheet.
“Luis had a few fantastic saves and the two young centre-halves looked solid, composed and experienced despite being so young.
“It’s new to them as well coming here but they will only get better. I’m delighted with how they have settled into the team.”
McNamara was also pleased for goalscorer Murray, adding: “Simon has a lot of energy and the biggest thing he has is desire, which is one of the reasons why I brought him in. He can score goals but he has the desire to take the opportunity he has been given.”
Meanwhile, McNamara confirmed that summer signing Rodney Sneijder has returned home to the Netherlands to recuperate after falling ill last week.
He said: “He has taken a viral infection and is getting some tests. We will know more on Tuesday or Wednesday.”