Late goal piles misery on struggling United
morton 1 Ross (90 + 3) dundee united 1 Mohsni (59)
Frank Ross came off the bench for Morton and scored direct from a corner in 93 minutes to grab a sensational equaliser and send United out of the play-off spots. Morton boss Jim Duffy was happy to take a point from the encounter.
He said: “It was a scrappy game and a satisfying point. United were more of a threat than we were. But in the second half we were the team on the front foot.
“In a game of few chances I will take a point against a Dundee United team were fired up. There was a bit about them today.”
United, with just one win in their last eight games and having gone their last four without a victory, faced a Morton side with just one win in their last six.
It forced changes in both camps with Morton making two and United four.
Mark Russell was first to threaten for Morton, in five minutes when he fired a 20-yard drive just over goalkeeper Harry Lewis’ crossbar.
But United should have taken the lead in 12 minutes when Billy King darted down the left and his chip inside was cleverly stepped over by Scott Mcdonald for Paul Mcmullan. He took a return pass from King but ‘Ton goalkeeper Derek Gaston threw himself full length to his left to turn the ball round low down.
Gaston was in action again in 29 minutes when Thomas O’ware was slack with a pass in midfield and lost the ball to the razor sharp Mcdonald.
He ran on and slipped the ball to his right for Mcmullan who was unmarked in space, but his angled drive from close
range was superbly saved by the keeper.
Then in 35 minutes it was King’s turn to test Gaston with a fierce right-foot drive from 18 yards, but again the Ton number one was equal to it.
One minute from the break Mcdonald fired wide from 25 yards, a shot that was more in desperation than in hope, as United tried desperately to break the deadlock.
Seconds later United created their best opportunity of the first period they dominated, when Mcdonald curled the ball from 18 yards forcing the outstanding Gaston into another superb save.
Following up, Matthew Smith had the goal gaping, but he shot into the side-net from 10 yards, albeit from a narrow angle.
Morton showed more impetus after the break and in 56 minutes a Gary Harkins floated free kick from the left found Gary Oliver, but his flashing header went wide.
Three minutes later United finally got the breakthrough they deserved when Mcmullan whipped over a corner from the left for ex-ranger Bilel Mohsni to rise unchallenged eight yards out and head the ball into the net via the underside of the crossbar.
The Tannadice men might have added a second in 64 minutes when Smith turned sharply at the edge of the box, but his low drive was again well held by the overworked Gaston.
United boss Csaba Laszlo said: “I have to believe we have thrown away three points because it has happened. We controlled the game for 90 minutes and I don’t understand where the referee got six minutes stoppage time from. “I am not disappointed about the performance. It is not nice, but that’s football and we have to look forward.”