Passport renewal
Goal hero Harkes insists United pals are on the up and heading for Europe
IAN HARKES believes Dundee United are going places and if they can keep things up then European football has to be a realistic goal.
The American was the hero as his late strike was enough to sink Aberdeen and move Dundee United level on points with third-placed Hearts.
United, under Tam Courts, look to be a much-improved proposition and that was shown as they dug out another big win against their north-east rivals.
They weren’t at their best and both sides were reduced to 10 men but they found a way to grab the points.
Harkes said: “That’s always our goal [Europe]. We don’t want to set limits on ourselves. The gaffer has come in and we have had great results but he just looks at each game as it comes.
“That’s how he refocuses each week. We have a lot of tough games coming up and hopefully we can get through them with as many points as we can.
“No, we didn’t put any expectations on ourselves. We just want to show up and play the best game we can.
“We’re trying to take three points at home off everybody, regardless of who we play. Happily we did that.”
Harkes has netted some big goals this season and this was another one.
Scott McMann’s corner was missed at the near post by Charlie Mulgrew, it dropped to Harkes and he fired it past Joe Lewis with the outside of his right boot. He joked he shut his eyes and hoped for the best.
He said: “I was definitely happy to get that moment in a game that had everything. It was a pivotal moment and I was delighted to be in the right place.
“I just closed my eyes and swung at it. No, I’m just kidding! I’ve skipped through on the near post with Charlie and I think the keeper kind of gambled. “I just tried to get it on target so I went with the outside of my foot and caught it the right way.
“I was happy to see it go in. The goal came at a good time. We were up against it for the last 10 minutes but the boys did really well.
“The subs came on and did well. Louis Appere did great up top in relieving the pressure on us and he could have been man of the match. It was a good time to score and a good three points.”
United will be delighted they walked away with the points but all the talk will centre around the red cards.
United captain Calum Butcher walked first for hitting out at Christian Ramirez after he had tangled with Ryan Edwards. There was no need and it left his team up against it. Harkes said: “It happened so quickly. I think the Aberdeen striker was provoking Ryan and everyone kind of got involved and all of a sudden he’s gone down. I haven’t really seen what the incident was but the ref was quick with both red cards.
“It just changed completely. We had to get our heads right and try to respond.”
Referee Bobby Madden levelled things up just before half-time and it was harsh.
Funso Ojo’s momentum took him over the hoardings and into the advertising board at the front of the Eddie Thompson stand. He was then allegedly pushed by a fan.
Ojo looked surprised before he moved towards the crowd but thought better of it and returned to the pitch. Madden then showed him a second caution.
Harkes added: “I turned around but I didn’t see the confrontation or what happened. Those four or five minutes were a whirlwind and it was tough to get a grasp on what was happening while the game was going on.
“We knew if we got to half-time we could reset and refocus and come out and try to get a result. And that’s what we did and we were happy with that.”
Aberdeen boss Stephen Glass was unhappy with Madden and questioned him on the pitch and was sent off at the interval. He felt the official got a number of decisions wrong – including Peter Pawlett’s challenge on Jack MacKenzie – and vowed to make his points in front of the SFA’s disciplinary committee.
United’s Jeando Fuchs missed an early chance and Ramirez fired another wide at the other end. United had the better second-half chances. Nicky Clark’s overhead kick went close and Appere had a solo run Lewis pushed on to the post. Aberdeen came closest when Benjamin Siegrist kept out Teddy Jenks’ shot.