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After watching St Mirren romp to a 5-1 win over Dundee United on Wednesday night I thought I'd put together a rough analysis of the game and some of its key incidents:
Micky Mellon moved away from his preferred 3/5 at the back formation to line up in a 4141 while Goodwin set up with Brophy and Obika leading the attack in a 442.
St Mirren started the match with Obika and Brophy aggressively pressing the Utd back line in an attempt to force them into playing aerial balls up to the lone striker, Shankland. The St Mirren CBs regularly won the aerial ball or the second ball due to Shankland's lack of support
If the ball bypassed the St Mirren press in the attacking third they would drop back into a lower block.
The vast majority of Utd's build up in the 1st half came down their right hand side to the extent where it was becoming very predictable.
McNulty (playing left midfield)...
The vast majority of Utd's build up in the 1st half came down their right hand side to the extent where it was becoming very predictable.
McNulty (playing left midfield)...
... played a strange role with little success where he would start on the left and look to come more central in possession. A similar role Paul Heckingbottom used him in at Hibs where he would look to come inside for cutbacks and arrive late in the box.
All this did for Utd was narrow up the pitch for them and crowd central areas.
St Mirren looked to back themselves in the air and played a lot of their football down the wings to create crossing opportunities. The @WhoScored graphic below shows they attempted 37 across the 90
St Mirren looked to back themselves in the air and played a lot of their football down the wings to create crossing opportunities. The @WhoScored graphic below shows they attempted 37 across the 90
St Mirren's first came from one of their 33 offensive aerial duels across the match while the 2 penalties they scored came from a cross and the phase directly after a cross.
At HT Mellon changed to a more conventional 442 to provide more defensive cover on the wings to stop St Mirren's crosses. McNulty returned to his more natural ST position.
However when Utd did have the ball in wide areas, St Mirren were extremely effective at overloading that side to shut them out. See example:
On 70 minutes St Mirren changed into their own 4141 formation and dropped into a lower block. Ethan Erhahon was particularly impressive for the Saints in the middle of the park and broke up many of the Utd attacks throughout the match.
Utd had to throw more bodies forward in the closing minutes while St Mirren used the pace of substitutes Connolly and McAllister to exploit the space in behind the Utd back line.
Excellent CF play by Dennis sent Connolly in behind for their 4th while Utd's inability to defend..
Excellent CF play by Dennis sent Connolly in behind for their 4th while Utd's inability to defend..
... crosses from the wide area continued when Flynn found Dennis at ease to make it 5 to top off a good night for Jim Goodwin and his team.
A dismal performance for Dundee Utd who are now without a win in 6.
A dismal performance for Dundee Utd who are now without a win in 6.
