Doran heaps misery on Laszlo’s United
● First-half winner revives Caley Thistle hopes of late-season surge into play-offs
Aaron Doran’s vital winner last night deepened Dundee United’s gloom and anxiety and set cup-winning Inverness Caley Thistle’s sights on a late-season surge back into promotion contention.
Victory lifted John Robertson’s side above Falkirk on goal difference and cut the gap on the Tangerines to 11 points with a game in hand.
More significantly, it sliced thegaponplay-offcontenders Morton to 12 points, with three games in hand for the Highlanders offering a route back into the hunt.
United, with just one win in the last eight outings, sank deeper into damaging form.
With all the crisis talk surrounding Csaba Laszlo’s United, it was easy to forget at the outset they were the team embedded in the Premiership play-off zone and Caley Thistle, at kick-off, stood a full 14 points behind them.
Robertson’s side, jubilant after Irn-bru Cup final success, were just four points above second bottom Dumbarton as play began and as much looking to ease relegation fears as relaunch the promotion dream.
Chances were sparse and creativity thin on the ground, but a Coll Donaldson free-kick from deep created a home opportunity after 17 minutes. Nathan Austin’s pace took him away from the United defence but the connection on his header was weak and easily gathered by Harry Lewis.
An incredible Caley Thistle miss followed after 22 minutes. Another terrific turn of pace from Austin set him free to the right of the United box and his chipped attempt beat Lewis and may have been going in. Striker George Oakley met it with his head two yards out and somehow skied the finish over the bar.
Just as the first half seemed to be petering out, the hosts found the breakthrough a minute before the break.
Oakley peeled free of his marker to the right and slipped a clever disguised pass into the path of Doran to fire in low off the keeper’s body.
Sixteen-year-old Daniel Mackay, fresh from a goal in Scotland’s victory against England schoolboys and a cup final assist, entered the fray after the hour – and almost scored two minutes later. Twisting onto his right foot on the left side of the box, Mackay’s fierce, angled strike drew a fine parry for a corner from Lewis. Doran’scornerdippeddangerously across the six-yard box without takers.
Moments later, Mackay, pictured, clattered heftily through United’s Jamie Robson and was booked.
The hosts might have doubled their lead 11 minutes from time as they went through three-on-two on United but, when Oakley threaded a short pass wide for Mackay, his strike was shut down superbly by the diving Lewis.
ST MIRREN
Morgan 13, 85, Smith 32, Mullen 49, Reilly 70
DUMBARTON
St Mirren took another step closer to a top-flight return as Dumbarton were left staring at the prospect of the play-offs as their route to Championship survival.
The Buddies stamped their authority from the start, and it only took three minutes for their first sight of goal when Cammy Smith beat Andy Dowie to the ball on the left before cutting into the box and forcing Scott Gallacher into a smart stop. Saints, though, were not to be denied and they went ahead when Smith found Lewis Morgan on the edge of the area, and the on-loan Celtic man expertly curled the ball into the far corner.
Dumbarton had a chance to level with 27 minutes played but Kyle Hutton headed wide after escaping his marker from an Andy Stirling corner.
The Paisley side continued to apply pressure and almost went two in front when a Kyle Magennis corner eluded everyone and looked destined for the net before David Smith headed off the line.
But Saints didn’t have to wait long before doubling their lead, Danny Mullen crossing low for Smith who bundled the ball over the line to give the hosts a cushion with 32 minutes played.
The visitors looked for an immediate response after falling two behind when Stirling crossed for Kevin Nisbet but his shot was well turned behind by Craig Samson.
The Buddies could have extended their lead further as the first half drew to a close but Stephen Mcginn fired wide before Ryan Flynn’s sliding effort flew over the bar.
Saints made the points safe on the restart when Mullen metacammysmithpasswith a near-post finish that gave Gallacher no chance.
Sons, perhaps suffering a hangover from their Irn-bru Cup final exertions, had little to offer as the game wore on and it was little surprise when St Mirren extended their lead through substitute Gavin Reilly’s decisive 14-yard strike.
The champions-elect were still not finished and added lustre to a polished performance when Morgan took a pass from Cammy Smith and drilled an unstoppable shot high into the net from just outside the box.