Tangerine supersub Clark nicks share of points at the death
DUNDEE UNITED 1
Clark (90)
MOTHERWELL 1
Watt (9)
Delirious Dundee United boss Micky Mellon heaped praise on supersub Nicky Clark – then admitted he’s given him a festive headache going into Wednesday’s trip to face Celtic.
Clark climbed off the bench to bag a dramatic injury-time equaliser for the Tangerines who looked all set to go down to Tony Watt’s ninth minute bullet header at Tannadice.
The fans’ favourite had only been on the park 13 minutes when he turned home Luke Bolton’s cross at the second attempt to get his side out of jail.
Now Mellon maintains the 29-year-old, who once more had to play second fiddle to front pairing Lawrence Shankland and Marc Mcnulty, has given him some timely food for thought as they head to Parkhead in midweek.
Mellon smiled: “Nicky always gives me a headache.
“I have to try and pick the best team which I think will win us games. You want people to be coming on and giving you performances like that in order to get your results.
“I’m delighted for him. He’s a smashing lad who has come up trumps for us.
“I think our point was thoroughly deserved and we almost nicked it at the end through Adrian Sporle.
“We lost a sloppy goal from a set-play early on but the group is relentless so full credit to the boys.”
Stephen Robinson’s Steelmen arrived on Tayside having not won since the end of October when they defeated Livingston 2-0.
And they were dealt another massive blow just hours before kick-off when it was announced their 3-0 Premiership “victories” awarded after Covid regulation breaches by St Mirren and Kilmarnock had been suspended pending appeals.
Mellon stuck by the same side which had propelled them into fifth place in the table thanks to Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Kilmarnock.
It was the visitors, though, who soon mastered the windswept conditions better which led to them taking an early lead.
Liam Polworth’s corner eluded the entire United defence and Watt rose unchallenged to power a header high past Benjamin Siegrist from inside the six-yard box.
Then, in 22 minutes, the visitors had a golden opportunity to go further ahead. This time Liam Grimshaw launched a deep cross into the box for Alan Campbell who had beaten the offside trap.
Campbell had more time than he thought as he looped a header just over the bar when he ought to have increased their lead.
It took until the 42nd minute for United to come close to scoring.
Paul Mcmullan’s cross was met by midfielder Jeando Fuchs whose low 25-yard drive was touched on to the post by Trevor Carson.
Motherwell remained on top after the break. In 62 minutes, Callum Lang saw his powerful strike hit the side-netting.
A few minutes later, Lang had another chance following Calum Butcher’s slack pass but couldn’t hit the target.
However, United were incensed when they were denied a penalty in 67 minutes.
Mcnulty was clean through when he was clipped by Mark O’hara but referee Bobby Madden saw nothing untoward as the striker’s shot was saved by Carson.
But Clark turned hero for the hosts right at the death.
Bolton crossed from the right and he calmly rolled home from 10-yards after his initial shot had been blocked, before Carson denied substitute Sporle what would have been a sensational winner for United with a smart save from the last kick of the ball.