McMullan spot on for Highland steal
THE ROAD back to the Premiership, as Dundee United can testify, can be a treacherously long and rocky trek. But the Championship favourites began their campaign positively after Paul McMullan’s spot-kick sank last season’s relegated top-flight side.
Only time will tell if the path is surmountable for a much-changed Inverness under John Robertson, but despite yesterday’s defeat, there were positive signs.
The Highlanders enjoyed good spells of pressure without finding a cutting edge as United held firm.
The visitors’ breakthrough came inside 13 minutes.
Brad McKay tripped the lively McMullan in the penalty area and referee Craig Thomson pointed to the spot. The former Celtic youngster (below) took the kick himself and sent Mark Ridgers the wrong way.
Robertson was sent to the stand after querying the award.
‘I just asked the linesman if he was sure, because Paul McMullan went down very easily. Our players are adamant there was no contact,’ said the former Hearts striker. ‘That’s what I was sent to the stand for — no swearing, no misconduct. The fact is the referee doesn’t even want to discuss it.’
Anger seemed to stir Robertson’s men and the best play through the remainder of the half came from them.
Riccardo Calder, the former Aston Villa and England youth winger, proved an increasingly dangerous creative outlet on the left. That home frustration turned to outrage a minute before the break when Tam Scobbie seemed to trip Ross Draper as he jinked past challenges in the area, only for Thomson to wave away appeals. Robertson complained: ‘We then have a stonewall penalty ourselves — Ross Draper is clipped from behind — and he doesn’t give it. He books him. There were interesting decisions. We could have been level and playing against 10 men. ‘But in terms of our play, I thought we were terrific today.’ For all the home pressure and momentum, though, there was little to show for it. United, despite spending much of the second half pinned back, stood strong to fortify their status as most fancied in this most competitive of divisions. Delighted United manager Ray McKinnon insisted Robertson had got it wrong on the early penalty decision. ‘There was no doubt about our penalty award — it was clearcut,’ he stressed. ‘I’m very happy. It’s a tough place to come, Inverness. Our goalkeeper didn’t have a lot to do and a clean sheet is great.’