Match Report | RCFC 0-2 DUTD

Ross County fell to defeat to Dundee United at the Global Energy Stadium that saw the Tangerines pick up their first win of 2021.

Second half goals from Lawrence Shankland and Ryan Edwards shocked County after a spell of relentless pressure after the interval.

After just 8 minutes, Dundee United should have went into the lead! Celtic loanee, Leo Hjelde, made a defensive error after missing a swiped attempt at a clearance allowing United marksman, Lawrence Shankland, clean through on goal. However, the Scottish international was put off by the onrushing Ross Laidlaw in goal who forced Shankland to try take the ball around him before he ran the ball out of play.

10 minutes later, Shankland found himself in again! Jamie Robson’s pass from deep in Ross County’s half was dummied by Marc McNulty before finding Shankland in space as he raced towards goal. The striker tried to round Laidlaw again, but the keeper was able to scoop the ball up with an outstretched arm to prevent Shankland from a certain goal.

In the 33^rd minute, County had their first sight of goal. Great hold-up and link-up play from Jordan White allowed him to pick out Tony Andreu in space on the edge of the area. The Frenchman then advanced into the box before trying to wrap a left-footed effort into the far-left corner, but his shot drifted wide of Benjamin Siegrist’s goal.

5 minutes before half-time, Tony Andreu came close to scoring again. Harry Paton’s deep free kick was partially cleared, and it fell to Carl Tremarco who knocked the ball back into the box and found Andreu. The attacking midfielder tried to take on the ball first-time, but he slipped before connecting and his weak volley trickled into the arms of Siegrist.

Both teams had chances in the first half, and both enjoyed periods of sustained possession. but the league’s two lowest-scoring clubs went into the break goalless.

After dominating early proceedings in the second half, County came very close to scoring one of their goals of the season after an excellent team move. Tony Andreu picked up the ball wide of the right-hand side of the box before pirouetting with the ball between Jamie Robson and Adrian Sporle. He then found the feet of Jermaine Hylton inside the area who flicked the ball onto Jordan White, but the striker could only fire his powerful right-footed effort wide of the goal.

Despite all of County’s second half superiority, it was Dundee United who broke the deadlock in the 63^rd minute. Lawrence Shankland, who missed 2 glaring opportunities in the first half, knocked the ball into the bottom left corner from close range after receiving the ball from Liam Smith to complete an incisive counterattack from the visitors.

13 minutes later, Dundee United doubled their lead when Ryan Edwards’ stooping header from an in-swinging Peter Pawlett corner found the bottom left corner of the net. Edwards, who had been immense all day in defence, lost his marker, Callum Morris, before his header brought County’s league-record tally of goals conceded from set-pieces in the Scottish Premiership this season to 12.

The second goal took the sting out of the Staggies who slumped to defeat and will have to wait to record back-to-back victories in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since the opening 2 games of the season.

Micky Mellon’s Dundee United won their first match since 23 December however the Staggies couldn’t make it two on the bounce after the midweek win against Hamilton.