TAM ENDURES TANGERINE SCREAMS AS HIS

Tam Courts has insisted he felt the frustration of the Dundee United support – as his team were booed into the top six.

United could only take a point from second-bottom St Johnstone but it was enough to get them back into the top half, above Aberdeen who lost at Livingston.

Saints had Melker Hallberg sent off at the start of the second half and the away side were left disappointed they could not make that advantage count.

Courts said: “I think for the fans, particularly when St Johnstone go down to 10 men, they were thinking here we go, we are going to get the breakthrough.

“When they see us having wave after wave of attack and we don’t get the breakthrough I totally understand their frustration. The frustration is there for me and the plays more so.

“The key thing for me is that as long as we peak at the right time.

“We now need to turn the points we have gained into a value three on Wednesday (Motherwell) and to get through in the Scottish Cup (Partick Thistle) and that would cap a very good fortnight for us.”

Saints boss Callum Davidson was pleased with the point that took them further away from the bottom but disappointed with Hallberg’s red card.

Davidson said: “I’m not happy with the sending-off. I didn’t think there was anything in it and I still don’t after watching it back.

“If you are going to book players for what Melker did then every player on the pitch is going to get booked. For me it is really soft and another disappointing decision against us.

“It could have cost us the three points and it means we lose an important player for the next game.

“He has been fantastic since he signed and it is important he plays for us. I was told it was a tug and then told it was an arm around the neck. I still can’t see any of those.”

United started off the match frustrated by referee Colin Steven. He should have given a foul for a barge by Hallberg early in proceedings on Ian Harkes.

Steven did not give it and the Saints player ran on and found Ali Crawford, who cracked a shot off the bar.

Hallberg found Callum Hendry and he drove to the right and from a tight angle cracked in an effort that Benjamin Siegrist had to push behind.

United had plenty of the ball but defensively Saints were solid.

Young Ross Graham had an effort for the visitors but James Brown made a good block.

Dylan Levitt’s front-post corner was flicked on by Nicky Clark but neither Tony Watt or Ryan Edwards could knock it in.

Watt curled in an effort that Clark spilled and then gathered.

Saints had the last chance of the half when Peter Pawlett slipped and Hendry fired in a shot that Siegrist got down to block.

Ilmari Niskanen, who came on at the break, crossed for Liam Smith to head towards goal but Callum Booth made a denying block.

Harkes found Watt, who fired in a shot that was deflected wide. Harkes had been pulled by

Hallberg in the build-up and the referee let play go on before he showed a second yellow and a red.

Home boss Davidson was cautioned for his complaints before he made a double change.

United despite their numerical advantage couldn’t really make it

count. They did look more likely going into the final 15 minutes.

They produced a good move that saw Niskanen chip to the back post but it was just too high for Pawlett.

Butcher found Watt, who laid it back to Smith and he waited for

Watt to make the run and played him into the box.

The forward beat his man and cracked a shot off the outside of the post.

You could sense the restlessness in the away support as their team had plenty of possession but didn’t really do much with it. Saints substitute Glen Middleton had a shot at the death that Butcher managed to get a touch on to put wide.

United’s players and Courts went to clap their fans at the end but they were roundly booed.