DUNDEE UNITED vs Hibernian Wednesday 26 February 2025 William Hill Premiership
AT TANNADICE PARK CalForth Construction Arena
Head of Football Operations
Head of Player Care
NIALL NICHOLSON
Head of Medical
MARCIN SZOSTAK
First Team Analyst
AIDAN CROLL
First Team Sports Scientist
EWAN ANDERSON
Strength and Conditioning Coach
ALLAN GARTSHORE
Club Doctors
DR DAVID NICOLL
DR STEPHEN GALBRAITH
Kit Manager
ANDREW BRYAN
Head of Commercial
MARK CUNNINGHAM
Ticket Office Manager
MOIRA HUGHES
Head of Retail
STUART BOOTLAND
Club Photographer
RICHARD WISEMAN
SHED TALK
Design and Editors:
LUKE BAIN AND PETER RUNDO
Contributors
MIKE WATSON
RYAN HALDANE
LEE SMITH
LYALL MACDONALD
Printed copies of Shed Talk are available
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Commercial Sales Manager
DECLAN PRIDDING
Catering & Bar Operations
Manager
JOHN RICHARDSON
THE GAFFER
Good evening everyone and welcome back to Tannadice!
We’re off the back of a crucial win against Motherwell where the most important thing was taking all three points. We’ve been on a difficult run, but Saturday was about performing at home in front of our supporters. It was great to be back at Tannadice after a few weeks away, and the players were looking forward to it.
We did the basics well. In the first half, we had plenty of possession and got into good areas. Motherwell had more of the ball in the second half and put us under pressure
late on, but Jack Walton didn’t have much to do in terms of saves. The main thing was finding a way to win. At this stage of the season, results are what matter most. We know we can play better, but getting the three points was the priority.
It was a huge win, especially considering other results. Not many expected St Mirren to win at Ibrox or Hibs to beat Celtic. If we hadn’t won, the table would look very different. With six games to go before the split, we’re still sitting fourth, but nothing is guaranteed.
The supporters were brilliant all afternoon. We know what’s at stake, and
that can bring anxiety, but I want the players to enjoy their football and express themselves. We set ourselves a target at the start of the season, and we’re on track.
It’s a big ask for the fans, with two home games in a week, but we’ll need a strong backing tonight against a Hibs side unbeaten in 13 or 14 games. They’ve just beaten the champions, so we know how tough it’ll be, but a big home crowd can make all the difference.
I hope you all enjoy the game!
- Jim Goodwin
TODAY’S MASCOTS
ETHAN SHIELDS
AGE: 12
FAVOURITE PLAYER: JACK WALTON
KAI MARTIN
AGE: 10
FAVOURITE PLAYER:
KAI FOTHERINGHAM
LUKE VARDY
AGE: 11
FAVOURITE PLAYER: WILL FERRY
CALUM MARTIN AGE: 6
FAVOURITE PLAYER: KRISTIJAN TRAPANOVSKI
OLLY OGILVIE
AGE: 6
FAVOURITE PLAYER: LOUIS MOULT
FAITH CAIRNCROSS
AGE: 11
FAVOURITE PLAYER: ROSS GRAHAM
POPPY MADDEN
AGE: 11
FAVOURITE PLAYER: DAVID BABUNSKI
ARRAN MURRAY
AGE: 10
FAVOURITE PLAYER: JACK WALTON
SAM DALBY EVERY WORD
ON HIS RED-HOT SCORING STREAK
From a personal standpoint, it’s been a great season for myself and that’s credit to the team and how well we’ve done. The boys are putting in great balls in the box every week that definitely help me out!
ON HIS LONGTERM
FUTURE
It’s not really something I’m thinking about at the minute. I just try to focus on my football and having a strong finish to the season to help the boys out as much as possible.
We’ve got a lot to play for, with the top six and then
Dundee United striker Sam Dalby spoke to the broadcast media to preview our William Hill Premiership clash with Hibernian on Matchday 28.
The league’s top scorer gave an insight on the key to his 2024/25 successes, the desire to stretch away from the pack and the influence of a vocal home support.
ON FINAL REFLECTIONS ON STEELMEN TRIUMPH
It was an important win - especially with all the results that there were across the league, with Celtic and Rangers both losing and the teams around us winning, so, it was important to get the three points.
hopefully the European spots as well so, I’m just focusing on that at the minute.
ON GENERAL THOUGHTS
HEADING INTO MATCHDAY 28
They’re in great form - I think it’s 13 unbeaten so they’re a very good team. But we’ve had some good results against them in the past and hopefully we’ll get the three points tomorrow.
They’ll be aggressive and press us high up the pitch to make it difficult for us, but we’ve got to match it and be just as aggressive with and without the ball.
ON THE MAGNITUDE OF THE MATCH GIVEN THE PROXIMITY OF THE TWO TEAMS
They’re creeping up on us and it would definitely be a big win if we could get that. We’re looking forward to it as a team because it’s an opportunity for us to open a little gap between the two teams.
At the start of the season, we’d have been happy with just staying in the league. We did have aspirations of top six and
we’re on track for that, and we’ve just got to keep going now and have a strong end to the season.
ON HAVING ANOTHER BIG HOME SUPPORT IN ATTENDANCE
The home crowd will
they will. It’ll be a big opportunity for us to increase the gap on Hibs tomorrow.
ON THE KEY TO HIS TANNADICE SUCCESSES SO FAR
box and attack every ball that comes in - that always gives you a good opportunity to score. I just try and take it game by game. I feel like that’s served me well me this season so far, and I’ll just continue to do that!
I feel like I’ve just tried to make it a big part of my game to get in the
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FOCUS ON HIBERNIAN
Hibernian’s season can well and truly be split into two very distinct halves. Last weekend’s superb 2-1 win over Celtic extended their unbeaten run to 13 matches. Compare that to the dismal run of just two victories in the 17 opening matches, and it highlights the strides made under David Gray since the start of the campaign.
The real turning point came at Easter Road in late November when Rocky Bushiri’s 96th-minute equaliser secured a dramatic 3-3 draw with Aberdeen. Without that late goal, Hibs would have
THE GAFFER DAVID GRAY
fallen 26 points behind third place. Instead, it provided a springboard for them to cut that deficit to just four points in the space of three months.
Both matches between us this season have been tight affairs. Few of a tangerine persuasion will forget our dramatic 3-2 victory in October, when two stoppage time goals secured three points in some fashion! A more sedate affair followed a few weeks later, although there was controversy surrounding Sam Dalby’s last-minute penalty in the 1-1 stalemate.
Manchester United saw enough promise in his development to pay £50,000 for the then 16-year-old full-back. After several loan spells away from Old Trafford and international recognition at U19 and U21 levels, he went on to play for Preston, Stevenage, and Burton Albion before moving to Easter Road in 2014.
Seven seasons in green and white followed,
capped by his lastminute winner in the 2016 Scottish Cup final. After three caretaker stints, he became Head Coach last June.
A defeat at Tannadice in October put his role under scrutiny, but the board’s faith was rewarded. Gray handled media pressure with integrity and has led Hibs into the European race.
ONE TO WATCH MARTIN BOYLE
Even at 31, the pacy frontman remains Hibs’ biggest goal threat. With 12 goals already this season, he is on course to finish as the club’s top scorer for the third time in four years.
Boyle made his senior debut for Montrose in 2010 and came to prominence during the 2011/12 campaign, scoring 22 goals in League Two despite Montrose finishing eighth. That form earned him a move to Dundee, but a tough start to life at Dens Park saw him loaned back to The Gable Endies.
Two years later, he moved to Easter Road in a loan exchange for Alex Harris, with the deal becoming permanent in the summer. That proved to be an inspired piece of business by Hibs, as Boyle has since made over 350 appearances and scored 91 goals for the club.
A club legend after lifting the Scottish Cup in 2016, the Australian international has also won the Championship with Hibernian—a trophy he previously lifted with Dundee.
The winter transfer window was a surprisingly quiet one for Hibernian. Despite five departures—including highly rated teenager Josh Landers, who sealed a dream move to West Ham United—the club made just a single signing.
That arrival was 26-yearold Gambian Alasana Manneh, who signed a three-and-ahalf-year deal after Hibernian agreed an undisclosed fee with Odense.
A product of the Aspire Academy, he joined
Barcelona’s La Masia at 17 but left in 2019 without a first-team appearance, having had loan spells at
seasons with Górnik Zabrze before moving to Denmark in 2022.
Athletic and technically gifted, the midfielder made his Hibs debut earlier this month as a 71st-minute substitute in a 0-0 draw at St Mirren. However, his first outing was one to forget—booked within 60 seconds of coming on, he later received a second yellow card six minutes from time. Suspended at the weekend, he’ll be keen to make a more favourable impression this evening.
GRANT BREBNER
When Ian McCall signed midfielder Grant Brebner from Hibernian in August 2004, the United manager commented, “We are delighted to have signed Grant on a three-year contract. He’s a player I have chased for the last year and a half, and it’s good to finally get him, even though I am surprised that Hibs let him go.”
A Hibs fan, the 26-year-old admitted that Tony Mowbray was responsible for his departure from Easter Road. He confirmed, “The new manager came in and decided that’s what he wanted
to do. So, as a player, you just have to accept it.
“I’ve known for a while that Ian McCall rated me, and that helped my decision to come here. I had other offers from England, but I’m Scottish, and my family are settled here, so staying in the Premier League was always my first choice.”
As he wryly added, “I have always enjoyed playing at Tannadice and have a very good goalscoring record here. In fact, I think I probably scored more goals for Hibs here than I ever did at Easter
Road.”
And while not factually correct, his claim wasn’t entirely without merit. Delving into the record books, the midfielder scored 14 goals for Hibs, five of which were against United.
Indeed, his first goal for the Leith club came in a 2-1 win over United at Easter Road in May 1998. However, his header that put Hibs in front after 31 minutes was of little consolation, as Kjell Olofsson’s second-half double gave United victory and relegated the Hibees, ensuring Tommy McLean’s side survived.
At the time, Grant, a Scotland U21 international, was on loan at Hibs from Manchester United. He later returned to Old Trafford but was soon transferred to Reading for a £300,000 fee. His stay at the Madejski Stadium lasted just over a year, during which he scored 11 goals in 46 appearances for the Royals.
In his first season as a permanent Hibs player, he scored just once in the 1999/2000 campaign. The following season, he failed to find the net, either for Hibs or for Stockport County, where he played six times on loan during the last three months of 2000.
In the 2001/02 season, he was on target three times, including his first goal at Tannadice. However, despite giving the visitors a fourth-minute lead, United responded with two Jim Hamilton strikes and a Danny Griffin goal in the last 25 minutes to secure victory.
The following season brought a game that undoubtedly influenced his claim of scoring more goals at Tannadice than at Easter Road. In a Scottish Cup thirdround tie, Grant was United’s nemesis, netting a hat-trick to send Paul Hegarty’s side crashing out. Two goals before the interval put Hibs ahead, but Stephen O’Donnell and substitute Jim Hamilton’s penalty cancelled out their advantage.
However, Grant completed his hat-trick and sealed United’s fate with the winner three minutes from time.
After five seasons at Easter Road, making 151 appearances and collecting a runners-up medal in the 2001 Scottish Cup final (where Hibs lost 3-0 to Celtic), he became a free agent before joining United.
He made his debut on 28 August 2004 against Inverness Caledonian Thistle and was a regular in the side for the next two seasons. He captained United in the remarkable comeback at Fir Park, where they overturned a 4-2 deficit to win 5-4, with Grant scoring both the equaliser and the winner.
He also managed to score against Hibs, though, as had happened twice while in Hibs colours, his opener was overturned into a United defeat. In the Easter Road clash of September 2005, he netted after 14 minutes, but a Gary O’Connor penalty four minutes later levelled the match before Ivan Sproule hit the winner on 70 minutes.
Grant collected a runners-up medal in the 2005 Scottish Cup final, where United narrowly lost to Celtic, with Alan Thompson netting the only goal of the game. He left United at the end of the 2005/06 season, having played 69 games and scored six times.
Curiously, the opponents in his final match for the club were the same as in his debut, but this time, it finished 1-0 to Caley Thistle in the Highland capital.
After leaving Tannadice, he moved down under to Australia, joining Melbourne Victory. After six years there, he joined Victorian Premier League side Moreland Zebras. He later returned to Melbourne Victory as an assistant coach in 2020 before assuming the position of manager later that year, serving until his dismissal in April 2021.
FLASHBACK FOCUS
AUGUST 1960
DUNDEE UNITED 3 HIBERNIAN 1
Our first post-war meeting with the men from Easter Road produced not only a memorable match but also the biggest crowd for any Tannadice league meeting between the sides. Around 17,700 filled the terracing to welcome the return of First Division football for the first time in 28 years.
On paper, it was no easy task for United on this auspicious occasion. Hibs were an experienced side and a major force in Scotland. The previous Saturday, they had destroyed Airdrie 6-1, with Joe Baker scoring four of the goals. Even as late as the early 1960s, there were still two members of the Famous Five in action. Bobby Johnstone had returned from Manchester City to team up again with winger Willie Ormond, whose brother Gibby was wearing the number 11 shirt for United.
The stage was set for a rousing contest, and United rose to the challenge of top-flight football. From the side that had won promotion against Berwick three months earlier, there were remarkably few changes in personnel—certainly fewer than might have been expected, given the step up to the top tier. Indeed, only three new faces featured in the side: Lando Ugolini, an experienced goalkeeper signed on a free transfer from Wrexham; winger Walter Carlyle, provisionally signed from Shettleston the previous March; and Tommy McLeod, an inside forward from Ayrshire junior club Ardeer Thistle. That trio replaced goalkeeper Alex Brown, winger Bobby Norris, and inside left Jim Irvine from the promotionwinning eleven, while left-back Jimmy Briggs— who would have played against Berwick but for injury—returned at the expense of Iain McFadyen.
United went out in determined mood and fought every inch of the way. In the first half particularly, they played a brand of football that Hibs simply could not match. Much of the credit for United’s victory went to the half-back line of Neilson, Yeats, and Fraser, who put a stop to most of Hibs’ attacking moves. By half-time, United had established a three-goal lead—but it might well have been six, as they celebrated their return to the First Division in style.
Who scored United’s first top-flight goal since Jimmy Dyet’s consolation strike against St Mirren— some 28 years earlier
in a 5-1 defeat at Love Street—is the subject of some debate. The Daily Record credited Dennis Gillespie but mentioned a deflection. Meanwhile, The Scotsman offered a more detailed description:
“Walker was on the spot to score from close range after a shot by Gillespie had rebounded from Muirhead.”
That came after 10 minutes, and United fans only had to wait another five before celebrating a second goal—Tommy McLeod netting in a build-up very similar to the opener. Both scorers were making their First Division debuts, and Walker added a third—his second—just before the break. Taking a short pass, he hammered a shot from the edge of the box into the top corner, undoubtedly the pick of the evening.
United had a goal chalked off and saw two strong penalty claims turned down. Inevitably, they tired in the second half, allowing Hibs back into the game. The
Easter Road men grabbed a consolation goal when Willie Ormond’s shot took a deflection to deceive keeper Ugolini early in the second half. But United’s defence stood firm to see out the game—and almost added a fourth when Gibby Ormond struck the bar in the final minute.
TEAMS
UNITED: Lando Ugolini, Tommy Graham, Jimmy Briggs, Tommy Neilson, Ron Yeats, Stewart Fraser, Wattie Carlyle, Dennis Gillespie, Eric Walker, Tommy McLeod, Gibby Ormond.
HIBERNIAN: Willie Muirhead, John Fraser, Joe McClelland, Duncan Falconer, John Young, John Baxter, Johnny MacLeod, Bobby Johnstone, Joe Baker, Tommy Preston, Willie Ormond.
Referee: William Mullen (Cardenden)
FIRST TEAM SQUAD
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OUR FIRST EUROPEAN VENTURE
Before anyone points out that United’s first European venture was that famous win over Barcelona in the Nou Camp, that is, of course, true in a competitive sense. However, having qualified for the InterCities Fairs Cup after finishing fifth in the 196566 season, Jerry Kerr wisely organised a tour of Iceland and Denmark in early June, given the Club’s limited experience in European competition.
The Club’s only previous exposure to European opposition had been in March 1966 when Örgryte IS visited Tannadice for what was, for them, a preseason friendly. However, it was far from ideal preparation as, despite being played in early March, the pitch was rock hard after an unusually heavy snowfall for that time of year. United came out on top, with Frank Munro and Finn Døssing scoring in a 2-0 win.
The picture above shows the official party heading off to Iceland for three games, which were followed by two further matches in Denmark. Although results were probably of secondary importance in what was primarily a learning experience, Jerry Kerr’s team won all five games convincingly, averaging a little over five goals per match.
United’s Travel Party Before Boarding the Flight to Iceland from Glasgow Airport:
Back row: Jerry Kerr (Manager), Finn Seeman, Jim Moore, Stewart Fraser, Johnstone Grant (Vice-Chairman), Jimmy Briggs, Tommy Neilson, George Fox (Chairman), Billy Hainey, Dennis Gillespie, Donald Mackay, Andy Dickson (Trainer), Duncan Hutchison (Director), Jimmy Littlejohn (Director).
Front row: Sandy Davie, Frannie Munro, Ian Mitchell, Bobby Carroll, Ronnie McFall.
In case you are wondering about the absence of Örjan Persson and Lennart Wing, they were already on board, as the flight had originated in Copenhagen. Two other significant absentees were Doug Smith and Tommy Millar, who had yet to re-sign at that stage, while Doug Smith had chosen to remain at home for private reasons.
1938
ALLOA ATHLETIC 2-4
DUNDEE UTD | LEAGUE (DIVISION TWO)
United created a mild surprise by returning victoriously from Alloa. It was the club’s first win since sensationally knocking Hearts out of the Scottish Cup. Albert Robertson opened the scoring after 12 minutes, but the Wasps levelled
26 FEBRUARY
through Williamson 13 minutes later. On the halfhour mark, Willie Rumbles restored United’s lead. But it was short-lived, with McKinlay levelling a minute later. However, Duncan Hutchison’s double just before the interval gave United a cushion, and United held on to win, though Williamson did miss a second-half penalty.
1972
DUNDEE UTD 3-0 PETERHEAD | DEWAR SHIELD (FINAL)
Having been dumped out of the cup by Aberdeen and left with an idle Saturday, United took the opportunity to play the Dewar Shield final against Highland League Peterhead. The first half is best forgotten by Arabs,
with the visitors taking all the plaudits. An interval lecture by manager Jim McLean obviously had the desired effect, with United going ahead almost immediately on the resumption. Andy Rolland’s inch-perfect cross was nodded in by Ian Mitchell. Kenny Cameron appeared to have increased the lead ten minutes later, but his rocket shot hit the stanchion and came straight out, with the referee waving play on. The authenticity of
Andy Rolland’s goal a few minutes later was never in doubt. Almost immediately, Paddy Gardner headed in an Archie Knox cross for the third.
1986
HIBERNIAN 0-1 UNITED | LEAGUE (PREMIER DIVISION)
Although the final scoreline does not reflect United’s superiority, this victory lifted us into second place, behind the other Edinburgh side from Tynecastle. Eamonn Bannon hit a great volley to give us both points after 32 minutes, having previously been denied by fine saves from Alan Rough. A free-kick on the right by Ian Redford was headed out by Mark Fulton, but only as far as Bannon, who volleyed powerfully past Alan Rough from around 10 yards.
1990
UNITED 2-1 QOS | SCOTTISH CUP (4TH ROUND)
Snow swirled around Tannadice as the match got underway, and there were shades of déjà vu when Stuart Gordon, who was in the Hamilton Accies side that eliminated us from the Skol Cup earlier in the season, put the Doonhamers ahead after only 105 seconds. Alan Main miscued a clearance for a corner, and Robertson’s corner was headed in by Gordon to give them a shock early lead. Three minutes from the interval, an equaliser finally arrived. Miodrag Krivokapic made a surging run before delivering a cross, which Paddy Connolly headed in. On 64 minutes, Darren Jackson knocked the ball down to Mixu Paatelainen, who crashed in the winner from close range.
1994
HIBERNIAN 0-1 UNITED | LEAGUE (PREMIER DIVISION)
Jerren Nixon started for the first time, and the Trinidad and Tobago striker made it an even more memorable afternoon by scoring the goal which ended almost five years without a victory at Easter Road. The build-up may have carried an element of luck, as Craig Brewster’s shot
was deflected into the path of Nixon, but there was nothing fortunate about the manner in which he lifted the ball over the diving Leighton with his left foot to open his Tannadice scoring account.
2019
DUNDEE UTD 1-0 INVERNESS CT | LEAGUE (CHAMPIONSHIP)
After three consecutive away games, United returned to Tannadice to meet Inverness Caledonian Thistle, the first of successive matches against the Caley Jags. The Highlanders had a great recent record at Tannadice, not having lost away to United for almost five years. But that came to an end as United edged proceedings with a 64thminute penalty. Peter Pawlett was fouled in the box by former United defender Coll Donaldson. Nicky Clark took it and sent Mark Ridgers the wrong way to win with his ninth goal of the season.
