McKinnon: Utd were inept, unacceptable and comical

Dejected Dundee United boss Ray McKinnon said sorry to the Arabs fans for a Falkirk fiasco and confessed: We were inept – our defending was comical.

The Tannadice supremo saw his side blow the chance to cut the gap to Hibs at the top to three points as they meekly went down to goals from John Baird, Aaron Muirhead and James Craigen.

McKinnon (below) refused to excuse the collapse and said: “I’m bitterly disappointed, we had a real opportunity to put pressure on Hibs and have failed miserably.

“We worked all week on stopping crosses and the first thing we do is allow one in to lose an early goal.

“The two goa ls af ter half-time were comical, the players are claiming offside for the second but who knows? “Then we don’t deal with another cross at the third goal.

“I felt sorry for our fans, that was inept and I apologise

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them.” To make matters worse, it’s feared Blair Spittal has a broken foot and Lewis Toshney a hamstring injury – with both facing lengthy absences.

Falkirk blasted out of the traps and were one up within five minutes.

Ref Euan Anderson played a superb advantage after Scott Fraser hauled down Myles Hippolyte as he raided forward but the Bairns midfielder looked to have blown it.

His through pass to Lee Miller was sailing miles out but Arabs defender Mark Durnan’s judgment deserted him as he tried to head clear.

He only succeeded in taking all the pace off the ball and the veteran hitman gathered on the byeline.

Miller’s cross was precise to find Baird and he thudded a header off the underside of the bar beyond Luis Zwick.

Inside 10 minutes it could have been even worse when an isolated Peter Grant rose eight yards out only to see Zwick make an acrobatic stop. United gradually shrugged themselves to life and seven minutes f rom the break Fraser’s back- post corner found towering Dane Thomas Mikkelsen rising to loop in a header that bounced off the face of the bar.

McKinnon must have been a relieved manager to see Bairns striker Baird limp off to be replaced by Nathan Austin after picking up an injury.

Bairns boss Peter Houston said: “John and Lee Miller were terrorising their defence – he has never done his hamstring before so we hope it’s not bad.

“Nathan’s a di f ferent option, he’s like Bambi on ice sometimes. I don’t know what he is going to do and at times neither does he!

“Baird has four goals in three games now, though, so we hope he’s not out for long.”

Seven minutes after the break – with Spittal off injured and the visitors down to 10 men – it was Austin who sparked the crucial second.

Craig Sibbald sped forward to slide a killer ball through for Austin and he was taken out as he rounded outrushing keeper Zwick. It looked a red but ref Anderson settled for a booking before Muirhead slammed the penalty low into the corner.

United had dodged a bullet – only to shoot themselves in the foot bang on the hour.

Luke Leahy r ipped a bal l across the face of goal which Durnan could only prod weakly back out and Craigen reacted sharply to score the third.

Former Tannadice striker Miller had a header chalked off for offside. It was marginal and a fourth wouldn’t have flattered the Bairns.

Houston said: “We got off to the perfect start then outworked, outplayed and outfought them.

“This club should be in the play-offs and that remains our target right now.”