United grateful for a big slice of luck
JUST when Morton looked like winning their first league game at Tannadice for 39 years, Mark Durnan saved the day for United without knowing anything about it.
With just seven minutes remaining Jim Duffy’s side were comfortably playing out time when they failed to clear an inswinging Scott Fraser corner from the right.
With goalkeeper Derek Gaston rooted to his line the ball went over Thomas O’Ware’s head and hit fellow defender Ricki Lamie before looping into the top corner off Durnan’s shin.
“The bad luck involved makes it more painful to take,” said Morton manager Jim Duffy afterwards.
“It was a cruel ricochet but that’s football.
“So there’s more than a tinge of disappointment in our dressing-room.
“We were outstanding in the first half. We were on the front foot and didn’t allow United to settle.
“I thought they’d come at us after the break but we were not really under pressure until near the end.
“There is nothing between us, United and Falkirk on the pitch or in the points tally.
“The hard part of the season is still to come. It’s always the last quarter when things are decided.”
The visitors had led from the 39th minute when United skipper Cammy Bell failed to come off his line to claim a Ross Forbes leaving Lee Kilday to head into the roof of the net from a couple of yards out.
United struggled to raise their game after the break, totally lacking in inspiration.
As usual Simon Murray injected some life into their ranks when he replaced the totally ineffective Nick van der Velden.
However, United have huffed and puffed up front all season and still don’t seem to know their best attacking permutation.
With rivals Morton and Falkirk both breathing down their necks, second place behind Hibs, who themselves have a lead of seven points, is far from assured.
United are finding, as other relegated teams have done in the past, that this is not an easy division to get out of in a hurry.
Although Durnan’s late saver maintains United’s unbeaten home record, they’ve struggled all season to record convincing wins at Tannadice.
Manager Ray McKinnon has persisted with a 4-2-3-1 formation but it’s never looked convincing to supporters.
They might be better trying to play a high pressing game which would have more chance of putting their opposition under real pressure.
“I’m going to give my team some credit because we got a point in the end,” said the United manager.
“The players didn’t do what I wanted in the first half but at least we made two or three chances after the break.
“It was a horrible game before the break and I just wanted to get in at 0-0 but it wasn’t to be.”
Tony Andreu fired high over mid-way through the first half after good play by Fraser.
Then Fraser himself did the same midway through the second following good play from Andreu and Charlie Telfer.
Morton always looked dangerous on the break and looked like ending their long run of defeats at Tannadice until Durnan got lucky near the end.