US midfielder nets first goal for United

Dillon Powers was left with a “mixed feeling” after seeing United’s lead grow while the team’s form slump continued, writes Ian Roache.

The US midfielder, whose first goal for the club should have set them up for victory over bottom club Partick Thistle, instead looked on as Stuart Bannigan’s penalty made it one win in nine for the Tangerines.

The players, though, must have cheered up when they made it to the dressing room and discovered that secondplaced Inverness Caley Thistle had been beaten by Alloa Athletic.

That increased the gap between United and ICT in the Championship table to 17 points. Powers admitted it was a strange feeling to be so downbeat after a match when you actually ended up better off in the promotion race than you were earlier in the day.

He said: “It is a little bit of a mixed feeling.

“At the end of the day, our goal is to win this league so if we are gaining a point in the lead then that’s great.

“In saying that, we always want to win our games, especially at home.

“When we are playing at home against a team that is down at the bottom then our fans expect us to win and score goals. That’s fair enough.

“I think, though, that we will take the point and look forward to next week and another game down.

“I also believe that you have to look at this stage of the season because everyone is battling for points.

“Teams recognise the importance of each match with so few games left.

“Everyone is digging in and so that means the games have increased in intensity.”