United Fall To Heavy Home Defeat

United were on the wrong side of a heavy defeat after a defensive display which will raise several questions. Having fallen behind early to a Billy McKay tap-in, Pavol Safranko had restored parity before quick fire doubles either side of half time turned the afternoon into a nightmare for the hosts, compounded with the sending off of Stewart Murdoch moments after entering the field.

Summary by Ally Stewart

The game opened with a huge chance for United when inside the first minute Yanick Loemba found himself clean through on goal following a short backpass from Liam Fontaine. With time to pick his spot a goal appeared certain only for visiting keeper Scott Fox to race out and block expertly. The hosts fell a goal behind in 11 minutes when a quick free kick caught out the United defence and allowed Josh Mullin time to cross into the heart of the penalty area. Keeper Matej Rakovan got a fingertip to the ball but could only watch on as the ball struck by McKay barely a yard out and rolled into the net. After surviving a let off moments, the Tangerines then drew level in the 17th minute. Fraser Aird swung in a cross to Pavol Safranko who steered the ball home first time at the back post. In the 29th minute County retook the lead and again problems stemmed from United’s left side. Mullin was provided time and space to cross and Rakovan’s punch landed nicely for McKay who drilled home first time from 10 yards. It had been an even contest for much of the half, yet the visitors went into the break 3-1 ahead after another soft concession by the home defence. A free kick wide on the United left was swung towards the back post by Liam Kelly and somehow the ball evaded everyone and drifted into the far corner of the net.

The second half began in disastrous fashion as County scored two goals in quick succession. In the  50th minute, after appearing to take the ball down with his arm, McKay ran into the box before squaring to Mullin who couldn’t miss from an unmarked position at the back post. Less than a minute later McKay completed his hat-trick tapping in from close range as another low cross was watched by the United rearguard. A terrible day turned even worse when in the 59th minute United were reduced to 10 men following Stewart Murdoch's sending-off. With the game now over as a contest, an uneventful 30 minutes followed and, aside from a turn and shot from sub Fraser Fyvie towards the end, neither goal was to be threatened again.

United: Rakovan, Frans, McMullan (King 46), Curran, Safranko, Robson, Bouhenna, Rabitsch (Fyvie 53), Aird (Murdoch 53), Watson, Loemba. Subs not used: Siegrist, Booth, Barton, Stanton.

Ross County: Fox, Kelly, Fontaine, Morris, Draper, Gardyne (Keillor-Dunn 7), Lindsay (Cowie 74), McKay (McManus 69), Vigurs, Mullin, Watson. Subs not used: Munro, Demetriou, Graham, Stewart.

Attendance: 4446

Referee: John Beaton