The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
United’s young debutant plays
DUNDEE UNITED history was made at Pittodrie yesterday when John Souttar became the youngest player ever to line up for the Tangerines’ first team.
At the tender age of 16 years and 100 days, he beat the previous mark set in 1962 by Ian Mitchell by 43 days.
It would have been a special day for Souttar regardless of the scoreline but it was made even better because the Tannadice team got a deserved draw.
The Dons took the lead on 11 minutes when Scott Vernon side-footed home a Ryan Fraser cutback, then a Gavin Gunning close-range header brought the Tannadice men level.
A remarkable blunder by Aberdeen goalie Jamie Langfield saw him turn a Johnny Russell cross into his net for an own goal on 34 minutes, then the hosts equalised eight minutes into the second half thanks to a sweet set-piece from in-form Niall McGinn.
This holiday fixture to-ed and fro-ed all afternoon and provided the fans with a nice cure for any NewYear hangovers.
As well as Souttar’s promotion, there was a return to the Tangerines’ line-up for veteran Sean Dillon, the Irishman having recovered from a thigh injury.
Unexpectedly, defender Dillon was used in midfield, while striker Jon Daly went into the problem area of central defence.
Also into the side came Richie Ryan, with the suspended Brian McLean, the injured KetihWatson and Michael Gardyne making way.
There was a place on the bench for Gardyne alongside Rudi Skacel, while there was also youth aplenty in the form of Paddy Barrett, Robert Thomson and Darren Petrie.
Aberdeen created the first opportunity on five minutes when a Johnny Hayes corner was nodded over the bar by Russell Anderson.
A minutes later a Barry Douglas inswinging corner at the other end caused concern among the home defence before keeper Langfield gathered.
The Dons took the lead on 11 minutes when they cut the visitors open up the right flank.
Young winger Ryan Fraser was too tricky for the United rearguard and, when he cut back, Vernon was there to stroke the ball past goalie Radoslaw Cierzniak from 10 yards.
McGinn nearly made it two soon afterwards when he had Tannadice defender Gunning in a spin before Cierniak tipped his shot onto the face of the bar. Fraser tried to head in the rebound but the ball was scrambled away to safety.
They may have been under the cosh but, on 21 minutes, United were level.
Gunning was the hero, stooping low at the far post to nod home after Joe Shaughnessy had cleared a Daly effort off the line.
The 1300 travelling supporters danced for delight as Gunning ran towards them to celebrate.
Willo Flood was the United hero on 25 minutes when he intercepted just as McGinn was ready to shoot from close range, then a quick attack from the Tangerines saw Stuart Armstrong play in Russell and the frontman’s low shot was well held by Langfield.
As the match reached the half-hour mark, United had a golden chance to take the lead but it was squandered by Russell.
Excellent pressing play by Flood saw him charge down a ball from Mark Reynolds then play in his teammate. Russell looked likely to burst the net from 15 yards but instead his shot was high, wide and not so handsome.
They were only denied until the 34th minute and sadly for Dons keeper Langfield, it was another reminder of why he has the nickname of “Clangers.”
A neat pass with the outside of the foot from John Rankin set Russell free up the left flank. The striker raced on then played a cross over to Flood but the United man missed it.
It looked like Langfield would gather easily but he let the ball go through his hands, then his legs and ultimately over the line.
It was an embarrassing own goal and, after the away fans had stopped celebrating, they burst into song, belting out: “There’s only one Jamie Langfield!”
So United went into the break in the lead and now their task was to survive the second period.
The half was just three minutes old when it was nearly 3-1 to the visitors.
Flood played in Rankin up the right wing and the midfielder’s ball over was sliced on to his own crossbar by Shaughnessy and over for a corner that came to nothing.
On 53 minutes, however, the Dons were level.
Daly conceded a free-kick just a couple of yards outside the box and in a central position.
The potent McGinn stepped up and placed the ball perfectly inside Cierzniak’s left-hand post to pull the hosts level.
The Tangerines almost struck back immediately but Langfield repaired some of that earlier damage when he raced out to make an excellent save from Armstrong after the United midfielder had borne down on his goal.
On 62 minutes, the away team had a decent shout for a penalty ignored by ref Alan Muir.
A Barry Douglas corner made its way through to Gunning and the defender seemed to be pushed in the process of heading past the post.
McGinn had another go from a free-kick four minutes later but this time Cierniak got over to grab the ball out of the air.
On 69 minutes Souttar, having dealt well with the wing threat of Fraser and Hayes in turn, made way for fellow youngster, the 17-year-old Darren Petrie.
Both teams continued to play with ambition as this entertaining fixture entered its closing stages.
United came close on 85 minutes when a Flood cross hit the body of sub Gardyne and had to be saved by Langfield.
Gunning was then the hero for the Tangerines when he timed a tackle on McGinn perfectly, preventing the former Celtic man from shooting.
Then Cammy Smith tried to catch out Cierzniak with a low shot that was aimed just inside his near post but the United number one was wide awake and dived to cover.