Soft-touch United
McNamara’s men fold as Caley cruise
THE contrast in the fortunes of these two teams was evident. Caley Thistle had a spring in their step and a hint of panache, while United were pedestrian, l acking confidence and ideas.
Given the respective mindsets following recent results, it came as no surprise the hosts prevailed once they had opened the scoring with Josh Meekings’ 55th-minute goal.
Substitute Nick Ross and Gary Warren added two more in the 80th and 83rd minutes. Job done with the minimum of f uss and to maximum good effect with a first Scottish Cup Final appearance on the horizon later this month.
Manager John Hughes knows the importance of momentum ahead of his team’s Hampden clash with Falkirk and was delighted they racked up a third consecutive victory to extend their unbeaten run to four matches.
They were helped, however, by United’s failure to rise to the challenge of pipping St Johnstone to fourth place and a potential Europa League slot.
United midfielder John Rankin, a former Caley Thistle player, hit the nail on the head when he declared: ‘We can’t be a soft touch for teams. We have to stand up and be counted. Inverness were more ruthless at both ends of the pitch.
‘ We wanted to retain our advantage for a European spot but now we need favours. Even if we do the business against Dundee next weekend, it won’t guarantee us fourth spot now.
‘People forget that not many of our team have played a full season in the SPFL and, at this stage, you need players who have been through it a few times to dig out a result.
‘We finished the match with five really young boys on the pitch and that’s what this club is all about, bringing through youth.
‘Next season, we’ll be stronger. But we also want to achieve something now and finishing fifth will be seen as failure.’
United boss Jackie McNamara was upset with his team’s failure t o defend set- pieces more effectively, claiming it’s been their Achilles heel all season.
He would have had even more to complain about had referee Craig Thomson not shown good s ense by booking Robbie Muirhead for attempting to stop Meekings scoring by sticking out a hand instead of administering a red card, as the ball had already crossed the line.
United suffered the additional misfortune of keeper Radoslaw Cierzniak sustaining a rib injury when Warren made contact while scoring his header. Cierzniak — who is out of contract in the next few weeks and is interesting Polish club Pogon Szczechin — had to be replaced by Michal Szromnik for the final seven minutes and must be a doubt for the Dundee derby.
Hughes has no such concerns. His only worry is who to leave out of the Cup Final.
Hoping to get the nod is Aaron Doran, who missed out on a starting place in the League Cup Final against Aberdeen 14 months ago, and was given a rare start on Saturday.
‘It was the only game where I was on the bench last season, so to make the team for the biggest cup game in Scottish football would be fantastic,’ said the Irishman.
‘I was downhearted after the St Johnstone game, as I scored and then dropped out of the team.
‘But I kept my head up, started again in this game, and, hopefully I can stay there for the Final.’