Value For Money

With both Edinburgh teams relegated to the Championship at the end of last season my only chance of seeing my team - Dundee United - in action within walking distance this season was a cup tie, so l went along to Easter Road to see the League Quarter-Final between Hibs and United. And clearly United were keen for me to get my money's worth if it was to be the one chance to see them in Edinburgh. Three times they went ahead in the game, and three times they let Hibs come back. No goals in extra-time so it was on to the penalty shoot-out. Both teams lined up on the halfway line as players took it in turns to make the long walk to take their penalty. United were going first so arguably a slight advantage. But nothing between them after five penalties each, all scored.
Then another couple at the start of sudden-death, again both scored. Then the seventh United player put his penalty over the bar, and we thought that was it. Time to get up and start to make our way to the exit. But no, our goalkeeper saved the Hibs penalty and it was still even. No mistake with the next United spot-kick and the eighth Hibs penalty was also saved, and United had won 7-6 on penalties.
With better finishing I'm pretty sure Hibs would have won inside ninety minutes and United were very frustrating to watch at times with their constant keeping-possession-without-any-purpose. So many times they seemed to make pointless passes that went nowhere. Being generous it is still a work-in-progress and hopefully when they have the passing around thing sussed they will move on to passing at pace and with much more running off the ball to make better use of the possession they have.
Earlier spoke with my photographer friend A who was there behind the goals as usual with his cameras. Hopefully he will have got some good pictures of the game to partially compensate for the result, as he's a Hibee. And his team did show signs of progress.
I started off watching the game from the very front row of the away stand as that was my allocated seat - note to self, be sure to check next time that I'm not given a seat in row A. However there were sufficient away fans still arriving that they opened up the top tier of the stand and the guy next to me said he was heading up there to get a better view. Having had a poor view of the first United goal at the far end of the pitch I thought it was a good idea and headed up with him. Arriving at the top tier just in time to see Hibs equalise down in front of us. But it was a much better view to watch the game. I much prefer being high up to see the patterns of play, even if it does make you frustrated at times when the players down on the pitch fail to see a pass that looks so obvious from where you are.
Just using my pocket camera, this is a quick snap of the penalty shoot-out in progress.