2007–08 Dundee United F.C. season

Dundee United finished the Scottish Premier League 2007–08 season in 5th place with 52 points. Noel Hunt was the top scorer with 18 goals.

Dundee United
2007–08 season
ChairmanEddie Thompson
ManagerCraig Levein
Clydesdale Bank Premier League5th
Scottish CupFifth round
CIS Insurance CupRunners-up
Top goalscorerLeague: Noel Hunt (13)
All: Noel Hunt (18)
Highest home attendance13,613 (vs Celtic, 22 May)
Lowest home attendance5,845 (vs Inverness CT, 1 December)

Review and events

The pre-season period began with two new permanent signings at the club, Polish goalkeeper Łukasz Załuska and Darren Dods having signed deals in June. Irishman Willo Flood also arrived from Cardiff City on a season-long loan deal. In July, former Ajax youngster Prince Buaben signed after a successful trial and was joined by a second Polish keeper, Grzegorz Szamotulski, in time for the league season. Englishman Jordan Robertson became the second long-term loan signing when he arrived from Sheffield United in late August.

A number of players who were out of contract left the club following the end of the 2006–07 season. Lee Mair signed a pre-contract deal with Aberdeen and Derek Stillie moved to England to pursue a law career. David McCracken and Collin Samuel were both released. Also leaving the club were a number of younger players who had failed to earn extensions to their contracts. These were Gregg Burnett, Barry Callaghan and Ross Gardiner. All had played at least once for the first team.

The first game of the season was home to Aberdeen in the SPL, and ended in a 1–0 victory.[1] As the season progressed, United maintained their high league table position, ending 2007 in 4th place.

The club lost to Rangers in the CIS Insurance Cup final in March, losing on penalties. The Scottish Cup campaign was ended by St Mirren in the fifth round.

Chronological list of events

This is a list of the significant events to occur at the club during the 2007–08 season, presented in chronological order. This list does not include transfers, which are listed in the transfers section below, or match results, which are in the results section.

Match results

Dundee United played a total of 46 competitive matches during the 2007–08 season,[20] as well as four first team pre-season friendlies. The team finished fifth in the Scottish Premier League.

In the cup competitions, United were runners up in the final of the CIS Insurance Cup, losing on penalties to Rangers. United lost to St Mirren in the Scottish Cup fifth round, after a replay.

Scottish Premier League

4 August 2007 Dundee United 1–0 Aberdeen Tannadice, Dundee
15.00 D Robertson  90' Report Attendance: 12,496
Referee: M Timulty
13 August 2007 Kilmarnock 2–1 Dundee United Rugby Park, Kilmarnock
15.00 Gibson  79'
Nish  87'
Report Hunt  50' Attendance: 5,557
Referee: B Winter
18 August 2007 Dundee United 0–0 Hibernian Tannadice, Dundee
15.00 Report Attendance: 8,405
Referee: M McCurry
25 August 2007 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0–3 Dundee United Rugby Park, Inverness
15.00 Report Dillon  47'
Robson  58' (p),  81' (p)
Attendance: 4,178
Referee: J Underhill
1 September 2007 Dundee United 2–0 Falkirk Tannadice, Dundee
15.00 Hunt  58'
Robson  84'
Report Attendance: 6,864
Referee: I Brines
16 September 2007 Dundee United 2–0 St Mirren Tannadice, Dundee
15.00 Hunt  38'
J Robertson  68'
Report Attendance: 6,128
Referee: S Dougal
22 September 2007 Gretna 3–2 Dundee United Fir Park, Motherwell
15.00 Cowan  14',  36'
Jenkins  86'
Report Buaben  9'
Wilkie  65'
Attendance: 1,624
Referee: C Richmond
29 September 2007 Celtic 3–0 Dundee United Celtic Park, Glasgow
15.00 McDonald  7',  67',  72' Report Attendance: 57,006
Referee: D McDonald
6 October 2007 Dundee United 1–0 Motherwell Tannadice, Dundee
15.00 Dods  78' Report Attendance: 6,286
Referee: S Finnie
20 October 2007 Heart of Midlothian 1–3 Dundee United Tynecastle, Edinburgh
15.00 Kingston  90' Report J Robertson  14',  25'
Robson  89' (p)
Attendance: 16,661
Referee: C Thomson
28 October 2007 Dundee United 2–1 Rangers Tannadice, Dundee
14.00 Wilkie  28'
Robson  54' (p)
Report Cousin  51' (p) Attendance: 12,129
Referee: D McDonald
3 November 2007 Aberdeen 2–0 Dundee United Pittodrie, Aberdeen
15.00 Aluko  45'
Miller  90'
Report Attendance: 16,661
Referee: C Thomson
10 November 2007 Dundee United 2–0 Kilmarnock Tannadice, Dundee
14.00 Hunt  8'
Buaben  90'
Report Attendance: 6,065
Referee: D Somers
24 November 2007 Hibernian 2–2 Dundee United Easter Road, Edinburgh
15.00 Benjelloun  77'
Antoine-Curier 82'
Report D Robertson  66',  74' Attendance: 14,440
Referee: W Collum
1 December 2007 Dundee United 0–1 Inverness Caledonian Thistle Tannadice, Dundee
15.00 Report Black  19' Attendance: 5,845
Referee: I Brines
8 December 2007 Falkirk 3–0 Dundee United Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
15.00 Moutinho  5'
Barrett  41'
Higdon  66'
Report Attendance: 4,803
Referee: M McCurry
15 December 2007 St Mirren 0–3 Dundee United St Mirren Park, Paisley
15.00 Report D Robertson  49'
Hunt  77'
Flood  90'
Attendance: 3,490
Referee: C Thomson
22 December 2007 Dundee United 1–2 Gretna Tannadice, Dundee
15.00 Hunt  29' Report Deuchar  12'
Deverdics  42'
Attendance: 6,304
Referee: C Richmond
26 December 2007 Dundee United 0–2 Celtic Tannadice, Dundee
15.00 Report Vennegoor of Hesselink  68'
McManus  74'
Attendance: 12,357
Referee: E Smith
29 December 2007 Motherwell 5–3 Dundee United Fir Park, Motherwell
15.00 Hughes  11'
Porter  14'
McCormack  17'
Clarkson  55',  56'
Report D Robertson  36'
Hunt  75',  90'
Attendance: 5,227
Referee: C Allan
2 January 2008 Dundee United 4–1 Heart of Midlothian Tannadice, Dundee
15.00 Robson  23',  70' (p),  88' (p)
Hunt  84'
Report Berra  37' Attendance: 12,100
Referee: A Freeland
5 January 2008 Rangers 2–0 Dundee United Ibrox, Glasgow
15.00 Naismith  9'
Ferguson  40'
Report Attendance: 48,559
Referee: M McCurry
19 January 2008 Dundee United 3–0 Aberdeen Tannadice, Dundee
15.00 Hunt  50'
Robson  77',  84'
Report Attendance: 8,579
Referee: C Thomson
26 January 2008 Kilmarnock 1–2 Dundee United Rugby Park, Kilmarnock
15.00 Wales  82' Report Robson  31'
Conway  66'
Attendance: 4,803
Referee: K Clark
9 February 2008 Dundee United 1–1 Hibernian Tannadice, Dundee
15.00 Hunt  13' (p) Report Rankin  46' Attendance: 6,635
Referee: E Smith
16 February 2008 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1–1 Dundee United Rugby Park, Inverness
15.00 Paatelainen  84' Report Buaben  68' Attendance: 4,087
Referee: S Finnie
23 February 2008 Dundee United 0–0 Falkirk Tannadice, Dundee
15.00 Report Attendance: 6,835
Referee: M Timulty
27 February 2008 Dundee United 1–1 St Mirren Tannadice, Dundee
19.45 Dillon  69' Report Dorman  88' Attendance: 6,037
Referee: I Brines
6 March 2008 Gretna 0–3 Dundee United Fir Park, Motherwell
19.45 Report Kenneth  16'
Gomis  51'
D Robertson  64'
Attendance: 501
Referee: B Winter
12 March 2008 Celtic 0–0 Dundee United Celtic Park, Glasgow
19.45 Report Attendance: 45,000
Referee: M McCurry
22 March 2008 Dundee United 2–0 Motherwell Tannadice, Dundee
12.30 Swanson  76'
De Vries  89'
Report Attendance: 6,779
Referee: D McDonald
29 March 2008 Heart of Midlothian 1–0 Dundee United Tynecastle, Edinburgh
15.00 Kingston  27' Report Attendance: 16,871
Referee: E Smith
6 April 2008 Dundee United 3–3 Rangers Tannadice, Dundee
14.00 Kalvenes  37'
Hunt  51'
Cuéllar  65' (og)
Report Weir  44', Novo  58', Boyd  67' Attendance: 11,214
Referee: C Richmond
20 April 2008 Dundee United 1–1 Hibernian Tannadice, Dundee
14.00 Hunt  60' (p) Report Shiels  57' Attendance: 7,404
Referee: E Smith
26 April 2008 Motherwell 2–2 Dundee United Fir Park, Motherwell
12.30 Porter  17',  50' Report Craigan  45' (o.g.), Wilkie  86' Attendance: 5,027
Referee: K Clark
3 May 2008 Aberdeen 2–1 Dundee United Pittodrie, Aberdeen
15.00 Foster
Touzani  48'
Report Swanson  49' Attendance: 13,312
Referee: B Winter
10 May 2008 Rangers 3–1 Dundee United Ibrox, Glasgow
12.30 Novo  7',  18'
Darchville  90'
Report De Vries  76' Attendance: 30,293
Referee: M McCurry
22 May 2008 Dundee United 0–1 Celtic Tannadice, Dundee
19.45 Report Vennegoor of Hesselink  72' Attendance: 13,613
Referee: S Dougal

Source: BBC Sport website: Scottish Premier

Scottish Cup

16 January 2008 Fourth round Clyde 0–1 Dundee United Broadwood
Robson  57' Attendance: 1,550
Referee: C Richmond
2 February 2008 Fifth round St Mirren 0–0 Dundee United Love Street
Attendance: 3,945
Referee: M McCurry
13 February 2008 Fifth round replay Dundee United 0–1 St Mirren Tannadice
Dorman  48' Attendance: 3,723
Referee: A Freeland

CIS Insurance Cup

Early stages of the 3–1 home CIS Cup win against Hamilton on 31 October
29 August 2007 Dundee United 2–1 Ross County Tannadice, Dundee
19.45 Hunt  65' (p)
J Robertson  86'
Report Barrowman  78' Attendance: 3,114
Referee: C Allan
25 September 2007 Falkirk 0–1 Dundee United Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk
19.45 Report Wilkie  60' Attendance: 2,804
Referee: C Thomson
31 October 2007 Dundee United 3–1 Hamilton Academical Tannadice, Dundee
19.45 Hunt  10',  77',  85' Report Offiong  79' (p) Attendance: 4,567
Referee: M McCurry
5 February 2008 Aberdeen 1–4 Dundee United Tynecastle, Edinburgh
19.45 Considine  19' Report Dods  23'
Kalvenes  60'
Conway  65'
Gomis  77'
Attendance: 12,046
Referee: I Brines
16 March 2008 Dundee United 2–2 (a.e.t.)
(2–3 p)
Rangers Hampden, Glasgow
15.00 Hunt  34'
De Vries  96'
Report Boyd  85',  113' Attendance: 50,019
Referee: K Clark

Source: BBC Sport website: Scottish Cups

Player stats

During the 2007–08 season, United used 30 different players on the pitch. The table below shows the number of appearances and goals scored by each player.[21]

No. Pos Nat Player TotalClydesdale Bank Premier LeagueScottish CupCIS Insurance Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK Łukasz Załuska 1801402020
13 GK Euan McLean 70601000
21 GK Grzegorz Szamotulski 2101800030
2 DF Sean Dillon 3923223040
3 DF Christian Kalvenes 2321811041
4 DF Lee Wilkie 3743033041
5 DF Darren Dods 3923213041
8 DF Daniel Grainger 1601402000
18 DF Garry Kenneth 2011910010
24 DF Stuart Duff 90900000
24 DF Mihael Kovačević 50400010
6 MF Willo Flood 4303503050
7 MF Mark Kerr 3702903050
11 MF Barry Robson 241221111120
11 MF Jim O'Brien 1001000000
12 MF David Robertson 2461961040
14 MF Steven Robb 1301200010
15 MF Craig Conway 1921512021
16 MF Morgaro Gomis 4313513050
17 MF Greg Cameron 30300000
20 MF Prince Buaben 2922321050
23 MF Danny Swanson 1321122000
32 MF Fraser Milligan 10100000
9 ST Jon Daly 90900000
10 ST Noel Hunt 431835133055
22 ST Jordan Robertson 1841431031
22 ST Mark de Vries 1731322021
25 ST Eric Odhiambo 40400000
26 ST David Goodwillie 20200000
30 ST Johnny Russell 20200000

Team statistics

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[lower-alpha 1]
3 Motherwell 38 18 6 14 50 46 +4 60 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round
4 Aberdeen 38 15 8 15 50 58 8 53
5 Dundee United 38 14 10 14 53 47 +6 52
6 Hibernian 38 14 10 14 49 45 +4 52 Qualification for the Intertoto Cup second round[lower-alpha 2]
7 Falkirk 38 13 10 15 45 49 4 49
Source: Scottish Professional Football League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Notes:
  1. Teams played each other three times (33 matches), before the league split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six) for the last five matches.
  2. Hibernian qualified for the Intertoto Cup as the highest ranked club to apply for a place in the competition.

Transfers

Playing kit

Home colours
Away colours

The jerseys were sponsored for a second[47] (and final) season by Anglian Home Improvements (who again sponsored Motherwell). The sponsor logo is displayed as a simple font across the chest, with white logo for the home top and black logo on the change strip.[48] The shorts were again sponsored by Ole International after the Spanish property firm extended the deal for a second year.[49] The shorts logo is displayed on the right hand side, above the club badge.[49] The expiry of both deals at the end of the season means the club will have at least one new sponsorship for 2008–09, as the option of a third year of shirt sponsorship[47] was passed for a new one-year deal with JD Sports' Carbrini Sportswear label for 2008–09.[50][51]

The club has no third strip, with the last third strip used in the 2002–03 season.

Awards

Craig Levein (October 2007)
Lee Wilkie (October 2007), Barry Robson (January 2008)
Danny Grainger (January 2008), Garry Kenneth (March 2008)
Willo Flood (2007–08)

References

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