Relief but Late equaliser can’t hide poor display from below-par Tangerines

PLAYERRATINGS

WHATEVER their strengths and weaknesses may be, one thing that can’t be argued about Dundee United is the fact they’re an honest bunch.

That’s why after the relief of the dramatic late equaliser against Queen of the South on Saturday had subsided, few of Ray McKinnon’s players felt they had much to smile about.

Yes, they’d showed character in coming back from the dead — 3-1 down with little over 12 minutes left — to snatch a share of the spoils via Simon Murray’s second goal of the game.

And but for a third excellent save from Lee Robinson in the Queens goal as he dived to his left to hold a Mark Durnan header deep in injury-time, United might have won.

But even if they had, the players would have known they had stolen victory.

For over the 90 minutes a draw was the very most they deserved and the very least the visitors’ efforts were worthy off.

In spite of the fact the hosts had made the perfect start as Murray blasted home from a Scott Fraser pass only four minutes in, for much of the game this was a flat performance lacking any spark.

Between Stephen Dobbie’s 28th-minute equaliser and Scott Fraser, with the score at 3-1 in the Doonhamers’ favour, grabbing a lifeline with his side’s second of the game, the visitors were the better team.

It was only with the introduction of substitutes Tope Obadeyi, Blair Spittal and, in particular, Charlie Telfer, the home team showed any sign of coming to life.

So while i n terms of emotion, excitement and drama, the fans got their money’s worth — the bottom line was this was not good enough.

And no one in the home dressingroom was pretending otherwise.

They were a hair’s breadth away from a third consecutive defeat and, even though Murray’s effort meant that unwanted statistic was avoided, by the end of the day the gap to Hibs at the top of the table had widened to six points.

For that not to grow further there is no question a considerable improvement on this performance will be required.

After shipping three goals at Hibs and now at home to Queens, the most obvious area where there is a need to do better is in defence.

On Saturday a rearguard that for so long has been the meanest in the division, looked all at sea.

Additionally, for all more than two goals were scored in a single game for the first time since this opposition were thumped 4-1 at Palmerston in early November, the attacking play could have been better.

New man Thomas Mikkelsen had a quiet home debut. Much of that was down to his new team-mates’ failure to utilise his aerial strength by not sending over enough crosses.

Put that right and a better return may be had from the 26-year-old and, if it’s given time to develop, his partnership with Murray may also bear fruit.

If there was a cause for optimism after another disappointing weekend, it lay in Murray’s display.

Both his goals were well taken and but for another fine Robinson save, the man who is now top scorer, would have had a hat-trick. His workrate, as usual, was also excellent.

For United to drag themselves back into the promotion fight, it will take more than one player doing well.