Absolutely brilliant second half performance

Enjoy sapsford as much as you can cause that lad will not be here long, been an absolutely tremendous find.

Sevelj made a massive difference in second half, felt for Bert in the first half got hung out to dry got absolutely zero cover from anyone

Fatah is doing great out on the left too.

Sibbald my motm again, the guy is brilliant, superb on the ball, calm and a he’s a wee dog, due a new deal.

Graham made a huge difference to defence since his return

That is possibly the first time under Jim Goodwin i have been really proud of a Utd performance/win.

Yes, we won the Championship, but that was our basic objective.

Yes, we secured European football and 4th spot, but the football was 1 dimensional, basic and often a hard watch.

The Rapid games were great but ultimately they bore no fruit.

Tonight we were a demoralised outfit, on the canvas after twenty minutes, with a major achilles heel that was being ruthlessly exploited at will (Strain and Esselink down the right hand side).

I'll be honest, at half time all i foresaw was the usual limp, depressing 2, 3 or 4 nil defeat.

But, by God that was a brilliant 2nd half full of running, fight, desire, passion and (thankfully) skill and talent. I can only imagine Goodwin went absolutely through everyone at half time (deservedly btw) because from the first minute of the 2nd half we looked like a different animal. We ran faster, we tackled harder, we looked like we wanted a fight.

I put up a post last night stating the shocking stats Utd have endured vs Celtic and i done so purely as motivation (i know for a fact some players and coaches read the Forum). A challenge to them to rectify that. And they stepped up massively and ended that sorry run.

Massive praise to all the players and Jim Goodwin for finally delivering a win against Celtic after over a decade. Let's hope the next win is nowhere near as far away.

This has been by far the strangest season i have ever watched United in 40 years, i think. I've described us as being 'Jekyll & Hyde' and that is absolutely what we are.

Undefeated against the Old Firm (could/should have won all three).

Better team at Easter Road, better team at Tynecastle, went toe to toe with Rapid home and away.

And yet tonight was our first win in 12.

I believe this is a very talented group of players who if we can get the balance right, the tactics right and importantly get a bit of luck on the injury front, can definitely go far in the Scottish Cup. They all seem to rise to big matches.

 I think they showed tonight in the 2nd half, particularly from minutes 45 to 65 just how good a team we can be. We destroyed them in those 20 minutes and ultimately won the match. I would love our players to start playing with this belief, hunger and desire in every match.

Been a long time since we got a win versus the Hoops. My Son actually turned to me at full time tonight and said in happiness 'I've never seen us beat Celtic before' He's 17 on Tuesday. That was a huge win for the club tonight and the support not only craved it, but deserved it, as did the players and management. Hopefully a turning point in a strange season.

My player ratings -

Richards 8/10 -  The last two games against Motherwell and Celtic have allayed my fears somewhat about our Goal keeping situation. I thought Richards was very, very good tonight. Not just shot stopping, but his handling at crosses, distribution and most of all kicking (superb power on his kicks).

Strain 6/10 - Alongside Bert he contributed to our diabolical 1st half performance whereby Celtic were destroying us down our right hand side. That changed 2nd half but i'm not sure that can in anyway be attributed to Strain. I have always thought he was a mediocre player and my thoughts are the same despite tonight's win. So, so slow.

Esselink 5/10 - I never try to give less than a 5 out of 10 because i'm not trying to be nasty. That's all i will say about Bert's rating. I like him btw. He has some good qualities, but if that is how he is exposed to pace then we need a big think about how and when we implement him.

Graham 7/10 - Thought he played well over all and got his head on a lot. There's a 'glass ceiling' with him and he'll never get a big move, but i think he'll be a player that when fit will always be an important one for us.

Keresztes 8/10 - I know i may be in the minority, but i will say again. I really  rate this kid. I have seen many players in my time watching Utd. Some great, some bad, some mediocre and some (at best) competent. I think he is a very talented lad, i really do. Yes, he isn't the finished product in terms of defending and positioning, but he makes up for that in terms of ability. After that horrorshow first half he set the tone in the 2nd half by going to the half way line and winning the ball and getting it forward. It was the start of Utd being a physical force in the match and it set the tone for the 2nd 45. I trult believe he'd be an excellent CDM, much in the same way that we wasted Calum Butcher at CH until we played him in midfield. His goal a brilliant, composed finish for a defender (or for any player). Of all the players on loan, he's be the one i'd sign if possible.

Ferry 8/10 - Been very critical of him for months. Thought he was very, very good tonight. For the first time in ages some great deliveries. And was positionally and defensively sound.

Sibbald 7/10 - A hard task playing against a team pinging the ball about and looking seemingly like they have more men. Thought 2nd half he was excellent. Got stuck in and won tackles.

Stephenson 7/10 - I'm not sold on Luca in midfield at all. He is a very good RB or RWB. He is not an industrious central midfielder. I don't know what exactly Jim Goodwin sees in him in this role. Regardless, in the 2nd half tonight he done well, but i just wish we'd play him in his best role.

Fatah 6/10 - Not his best performance and in the 1st half was marshalled well and outmuscled by Ex-Utd man Tony Ralston. I will give him credit though that in the 2nd half he was better and he gave everything he had (as always). Not sure why he was made to play the entire match when he was clearly knackered after 70 (looked like he was running in slow motion at one long ball played by Ferry in about the 80th minute). We need to remember this kid is still only 21 and as such his form will dip at times. I'd be delighted if by some miracle how were able to sign him permanently. I love watching him play for Utd.

Watters 6/10 - My early thoughts on Max Watters were that he looked like a 'bagsman'. 3 goals against  Rapid (all different type of goals) and a clinical finish against Falkirk away. Since his return i'm really not sure at all. He's offered nothing tbh. Missed that penalty at Kilmarnock and just looks a bit cumbersome and languid. He had a few great chances on a plate tonight that any Striker worth their salt scores (or at least hits the target). The one on one he took so long to hit and then a pathetic shot. Maybe he is still 'rusty' or not 100% match fit, but to be honest that sounds like excuses. He needs to start offering more, a lot more. Starting Saturday.

Sapsford 8/10 - Nothing was going right for him 1st half. You know what i love about this kid though? He never chucks the towel in or lets his head go down. Had a shit 1st half, so what. Comes out 2nd half and is right away our main player who is trying to dictate a change in circumstance. His finish for the winner just sublime. He only ever scores great goals for United. A major worry however that he was subbed off holding the back of his calf. 

Subs -

Moller - 5/10 - Did he even touch the ball? A complete empty jersey. What does Owen Stirton have to do to get minutes or a chance? 

Dolcek 5/10 - I am bitterly disappointed in this guy. Looked a real player in the Summer months. Dropped and subsequently only seen sporadically since. Has offered nothing and i mean nothing since that Aberdeen game in September. Not even a wee 'flash' of magic or something where you think 'Och, we need to persevere with him, he's got ability'. Just offering zero, sadly.

Sevelj -8/10 - I thought when Vicko came on against Motherwell on Saturday that he looked a lot more like the little Warrior that we had grown to love last season. Thought, again tonight that he was very good again for United. He's a big player for us if he does his basics right and shows the industry and fight we know he's capable of. Every team needs two or three 'Dogs'. He's one of our Dogs, and we need him to be back to doing what he does best. Fighting for everything and driving the team on.

JG gave a very good analysis of the game in that we were lucky to be only 1 down at HT. That was an unbelievable miss from Kenny. It looked like in that first half that our midfield had been issued with a restraining order not to go within 10 yards of Mcgregor.

I felt Fatah going around Ralston at the start of the 2nd half lifted the mood of the crowd who not surprisingly were a bit subdued due to the all too familiar performance against Celtic up to that point.
The crowd though did stay with the team last night, maybe because it was about 500 or so down on normal as many of the JG out brigade maybe gave the game a miss.

Can we back this up at home with a win on Saturday?  The up and down nature of this season would probably say no.

I was shocked when I checked the table this morning to see we’re on 20 points. For some reason I thought we’d maybe be on 15 or 16. Given how shite the season has felt so far, and the amount of mistakes we’ve made between the defenders and the keeper more or less every week, that’s not a terrible return and it gives us a chance to kick on and salvage something from the season.

Get a centre midfielder that can control games, and a solid goalkeeper, and we can really kick on. I wouldn’t object to another centre half, but the other two positions I named are much bigger weaknesses in our team. A change in shape and better players protecting the centre halves can cover for their weaknesses. They do need to be more aggressive though, and I’m not sure if that’s something you can coach into them.

Esselink I think is the soft spot at the back for us, get’s away with murder cause he has a catchy song, he’d lose his place in the first choice XI for me. He got absolutely bullied physically in the first half last night. There was a moment where one of the Celtic attackers who was about half the size of him just tossed him out the way when they both went for the ball. He’s not for me at all.

I said even before he was appointed that Nancy would be a terrible choice for manager,I'm so fucking happy they never listened to me 🤣 He came from managing teams with fuck all expectation and pressure into the hate filled cauldron of bigot central, how was that ever going to work? I sincerely hope they keep him a little while longer until we play them again but I seriously doubt it tbh.

Fucking brilliant to beat those cunts and I'm about to enjoy the whole game again
Hope we can beat their wee cousins at the weekend too! FTD 🧡🖤🧡🖤🧡

Agree with the jist of most of the aforementioned.

I'll just focus on one thing though - Sapsford.
- This is a laddie with a golden future in the game.
No just tireless, relentless, strength and girrintaethem attitude off the ball but the goals he scores have a unique ability to them.
- v Celtic scraps for the ba, tight angle, far edge of the box.
He's got no right to be even shooting fae there but gets in an audaciuos curler to back post.
What get's me tho' isnae just the laddies ability to get side spin on the ba to curl it but to get the deft wee bit whip he gets as well.   - You couldnae coach that.
... Oh aye, forgot tae say, modesty off the park.
Lets hope circumstances change and he gets a run for Oz in the Copa del Don.

Last edited by Shakey Isles Arab (18/12/2025 9:08 pm)

Must’ve watched Sapsford’s goal at least 20 times. The strike and the limbs were absolutely marvellous.

Special night on Wednesday.

Yeah if you're desperate for win might as well doing it in style.
23 games without a win, that's ridiculous is it not?

A word about Lady Luck. 85 mins or so, they canon a point blank header against the post, bounces to hit one of our defenders, lands softly in Dave's arms.
Then it's 2-2 and we're cursing like after the 90 +6 pen v the Huns. Luck can be very fair in evening out.

redford_must_score wrote:

United Arab Emarite wrote:

Yeah if you're desperate for win might as well doing it in style.
23 games without a win, that's ridiculous is it not?

A word about Lady Luck. 85 mins or so, they canon a point blank header against the post, bounces to hit one of our defenders, lands softly in Dave's arms.
Then it's 2-2 and we're cursing like after the 90 +6 pen v the Huns. Luck can be very fair in evening out.

 
When Zac's goal went in I nearly hit the ceiling, screaming like a kid on Christmas Day, neighbours must have been wondering wtf

14 years and you get a winner like that.

 
That's me every weekend mate, neighbours have long since had me down as a fucking bampot! 🤣🤣

Edit to say most weekends it's screaming at the ref, defence,goalkeeper etc 😂

Last edited by Arabdownsouth (Today 1:34 pm)