CRIGHT AT END OF THE TUNNEL
Sean’s leveller has Daz dreaming of beating drop
Darren Dods insists more never-say-die performances like the one that saw Brechin hold high-flying United can see his side beat the drop.
The part-timers upset the odds as Sean Crighton’s second-half header cancelled out Scott McDonald ’s opener for the Tangerines who had defender Tam Scobbie sent off in the final minute.
Brechin are still searching for their first league win this season but are now just six points behind second-bottom Falkirk. And City boss Dods, a former United defender, said: “If we play with that spirit the wins will come – no doubt about it.
“We gave United too much respect in the first half but the guys gave a magnificent effort. To play a quality team like United and to limit them to just one shot on target in the second half speaks volumes for the players.
“We could have won it in the end and we played the game like a cup tie in the second half.
“This should give us great confidence. We have a great bunch of lads who are giving everything.”
Early on McDonald tested home keeper Graeme Smith who did well to parry his effort.
And the former Celtic striker was unlucky again in the 16th minute as his cute goalbound flick was cleared off the line.
It was only a matter of time before United made the breakthrough and they struck in 29 minutes.
Stewart Murdoch switched the ball across to Scott Fraser who knocked it on to McDonald and the Aussie hitman finished smartly from six yards.
United wasted chances to extend their lead and were shocked two minutes after the interval when unmarked Crighton rose to plant a header in the corner of Harry Lewis’s net from eight yards.
Af ter that the basement boys had the better of things, although McDonald missed an open goal as he scooped the ball over from point-blank range two minutes from time.
Then in injury- time Brechin sub Jordan Sinclair could have snatched a shock Brechin win, only to be fouled by Scobbie who collected his second yellow and marching orders.
And there was still time for Lewis to save United’s blushes as the keeper produced a wonderful stop from Finn Graham.
Frustrated United gaffer Csaba Laszlo, whose side remain one point ahead of St Mirren at the top, said: “In the f i rst 45 minutes we were dominant and should have had one or two goals more.
“But after the break it was a different story. We have to be honest and say we could have lost the game.
“We are disappointed for the fans who came here in good numbers and we have to look at being more clinical and focused.
“We must be honest again and say that we were saved by the keeper right at the end, although Scott should have won the game.
“We have lost Scobbie for our next game. I have to see the video again and I didn’t think it was a red card.
“From next week onwards we have to look at the chances we created and our capability to score.”