Shanks a million! Arabs boss hails fans’ role in late leveller
dUndEE UnitEd 1
Shankland (90)
moRton 0
Orsi (17)
Dundee United boss Robbie Neilson watched star striker Lawrence Shankland save their proud Tanandice record – then thanked their fans for sticking by them.
Dark-horses Morton came within minutes of becoming the first team to win at Tannadice in the Championship this season after Kalvin Orsi’s first-half header had given them a precious lead until the Scotland marksman’s dramatic last-minute leveller.
Shankland’s 26th goal of the season meant Neilson’s men stretched their lead over nearest challengers Inverness to 18 points.
And Neilson, whose side head for Easter Road on Tuesday for their Scottish Cup fourth round replay with Hibs, saluted the patient fans who drove his side on to find an equaliser.
Neilson said: “It’s very easy for fans to get restless but they showed their togetherness and belief in the team.
“They could have got disappointed and left before the end. But we gave them something back. The lads kept pushing and gave them something to shout about.
“So all credit to the players for keeping our home record going.”
The hosts thought they’d taken the lead after just 25 seconds.
Midfielder Ian Harkes’s shot was parried by Morton keeper Danny Rogers before being turned in by Osman Sow, but his effort was disallowed for offside.
David Hopkin’s visitors took until the 13th minute to forge their first attack when Nicky Cadden whipped in a dangerous cross which was turned behind for a corner.
But the visitors took the lead in spectacular style a few minutes later. Cadden’s in-swinging cross from deep was perfect for Orsi who surged past Liam Smith to bullet a header past Benjamin Siegrist from six yards.
United tried their best to level matters before the break. Louis Appere picked out Peter Pawlett who took a touch inside the box but couldn’t control it as the ball bounced off him.
Then, on the half-hour mark, Dillon Powers’ clipped pass allowed
Pawlett to ghost in behind the visiting defence. His lay-off across the face of goal looked menacing but Jack Baird managed to sweep clear.
Neilson threw on Paul McMullan at the start of the second-half at the expense of Ian Harkes. His side had plenty possession after the break but with the exception of Shankland’s crisp shot over the bar, Morton looked comfortable.
With 12 minutes left, Jamie Robson ought to have equalised for the league leaders when he got on the end of Powers’ clipped free-kick, only to glance his effort wide of the target from close range. But up stepped Shankland who popped up at the far post to nod home Smith’s hopeful cross.
Morton boss Hopkin said: “I’m delighted with the performance. We knew they were going to get a chance. And with a minute to go, it falls to the wrong person. Shankland is probably the best finisher in Scotland right now.
“We frustrated United and the players are disappointed, of course, that we didn’t hold on.
“I asked the players to rectify things for losing 6-0 here earlier in the season. They did that in abundance and we’re definitely getting stronger.”