Honours Even in Pulsating Draw

Dundee United were unlucky not to pick up three points in a dominant display against undefeated Inverness at Tannadice in Robbie Neilson’s first home game in charge.

By Gordon Aitchison

Robbie Neilson made one change to the starting line-up for his first home game in charge of Dundee United. Paul Watson was replaced, due to injury, by Stewart Murdoch. John Robertson, similarly made a single change from the Inverness teams last league game, a draw away to Morton, with Riccardo Calder replacing Doran. 

United started the game with a back four of Booth, Frans, Bouhenna and Murdoch with King and Aird wide in the midfield supported by Stanton and Fyvie and a front two of McMullan and Safranko. 

Inverness had the first real chance of the game after six minutes, Polworth doing well to make space for a cross that Freddy Frans did well to block at the near post, just in front of the onrushing White. McMullan won a corner a few minutes later which came to nothing. King then fizzed in a dangerous cross that was just cleared away by Donaldson as Safranko pressured. 

McMullan worked space at the edge of the area to get a shot away from a difficult angle, but his effort was weak and did not trouble Ridgers. Mid way through the half McMullan then had another chance, set up by Aird, his effort though was blocked well by Rooney. United were now in control of most of the possession. 

United did survive a scare on twenty-seven minutes, failing to clear their lines after Frans conceded a corner, but after a melee at the edge of the area the ball was cleared to safety. 

Booth profited from a fortunate bounce to allow him to roll a ball into the path of McMullan, his curled effort though was straight at Ridgers. King latched onto a Safranko knock down to again test Ridgers, but the Inverness keeper gathered easily. 

The best chance of the game then fell to Safranko, with the ball breaking six yards out, only a great tackle from Mckay stopped the tangerines going a goal up. The same man then blocked a piledriver from Aird as United upped the pressure. Chalmers was booked for a nasty challenge, out of character for the game, on the fortieth minute. 

Aird’s drive from twenty yards had Ridgers stretching, but the powerfull effort ended a yard wide of the post. McKay then denied Safranko at the front post after McMullan’s cross. Bouhenna then had an effort cleared off the line from the corner as United dominated. Arguably Safranko should have done better, getting it all wrong with a header from a Murdoch cross, just as the referee blew the half time whistle. 

Half Time: United 0 – 0 Inverness 

Jordan White should have put the visitors a goal up after just two minutes of the second half, heading high over the bar after great work by Tremerco. It was United that took the lead though ten minutes into the half. Good work by King and Booth resulted in a corner to United. McMullan’s cross was met, on the full, by fans favourite Safranko and he powered his header into the net. 

Inverness made their first change, just after the goal, Doran replacing Calder. This was swiftly followed by a yellow card for former United defender Donaldson after he made a late challenge on the tireless Safranko. 

Siegrist made a last ditch save from White after a dangerous cross rolled all the way thorough to the back post. Murdoch made a stretching tackle before the keeper jumped onto the loose ball. Fyvie and McKay were cautioned for squaring up after the later fouled the United captain. 

Welsh followed them into the “book” after upending Aird at the edge of the area, but the training ground free kick routine came to nothing. 

With seventeen minutes remaining Inverness equalised out of nowhere, a poor free kick conceded by Fyvie was sent into the area by Polworth, any number of players could have got a touch, but Col Donaldson was credited with looping the ball into the net. 

Nicky Clark was introduced into the action with fifteen minutes to go. Neilson had words with the referee, after Welsh had committed what looked like a bookable challenge on Clark. 

Jordan White could have had the Caley Jags ahead on the eightieth minute, finding space at the edge of the area, but his shot rolled wide of the goal with Siegrist struggling. 

Col Donaldson did see red just a few minutes later, foiling Clarks attempts to latch onto a neat one-two with Safranko. 

With minutes remaining McMullan saw the whole pitch open in front of him, electing for precision rather than power his curled attempt from eighteen yards sailed over though. Inverness’s Rooney was booked for chopping down McMullan as United pressed for the winner. From the same spot, Loemba managed to misplace his shot in much the same way after being setup by Stanton. Sam Stanton then just failed to get on the end of a McMullan through ball. 

Full Time: United 1 – 1 Inverness 

Summary: Robbie Neilson will wonder how his Tangerines dropped two points at home today. Often in control of the game and creating numerous chances United will play worse this season and still come away with three points. In a much-improved display, Neilson will take heart from this game as he looks to guide United up the league. 

Man of the Match: Pavol Safranko, the big Slovakian ran his heart out for the full ninety minutes, chipped in with a great headed goal and led a fluent United attack from start to finish. 

Dundee United: Siegrist, Murdoch, Booth, Frans, McMullan, Fyvie (C), King (Clark 75), Stanton, Safranko, Bouhenna, Aird (Loemba 84) 

Unused Subs: Rakovan, Barton, Smith, Robson, Rabitsch 

Inverness Caledonian Thistle: Ridgers, Rooney, Tremerco (C), Chalmers, Donaldson, Polworth, Walsh (MacKay 70), Welsh (McCart 84), Calder (Doran 55), White, McKay 

Unused Subs: Hoban, Austin, Telford, Harper 

Crowd: 5,628 

Referee: Euan Anderson