Dundee United maintain momentum but battle to avoid the drop heats up
Dundee United did all that they could to keep interest alive at the top of the Championship with a 2-0 win at
Inverness Caledonian Thistle, whereas interest is intense in the bottom half of the table where six clubs remain involved in relegation issues.
Ross County’s 3-1 success at Ayr United on Friday night meant they would have lifted the title on Saturday if the Tannadice men failed to win in the Highlands but Robbie Neilson’s side took the first step to ensuring that County will need to succeed under the own steam when they scored a fairly unique goal on 27 minutes.
It involved a long ball from their own half, three flickons and a stunning volley, with Peter Pawlett providing the final assist when he teed up Pavol Safranko, below, to crack the ball home from 20 yards.
United doubled their lead four minutes into the second half when Paul Mcmullan took advantage of hesitancy in the home defence as they waited for a foul for handball to drive forward and net.
Caleyfinishedwithtenmen after Brad Mckay picked up two bookings in injury time, with the defender yellow carded for diving and then carded again for comments made to referee Greg Aitken.
Neilson said: “Our attitude had to be right after Ross County winning the previous night.
“We also knew that a win would secure second place and we handled everything well.
“At this stage, momentum can be important and this result means that we are continuing to build that.”
Despite their defeat, the Highlanders confirmed their place in the play-offs, with manager John Robertson saying: “Dundee United were clinical and deserved their win but certain decisions were disappointing.”
Dunfermline were defeated 2-1 at Queen of the South and the Pars are still not
safe despite sitting in fifth spot. A strike from Iain Wilson from the edge of the box just before the break and a deft finish from Josh Todd just after it ensured that the points were staying in Dumfries long before Jackson Longridge headed in an injury-time consolation.
The Doonhamers are up to seventh, three points behind Dunfermline and three ahead of bottom side Falkirk, with Wilson saying: “I think that one win will be enough forusbutweknowthatevery win is tough in this league.”
Morton dropped their formermanagerraymckinnon and his Falkirk side into tenth place thanks to a 2-0 win at the Falkirk Stadium.
Greg Kiltie slid home a cut-back three minutes into the second half to give the Greenock men the lead and Charlie Telfer benefitted not long afterwards from comedic defending from Ciaran Mckenna and William Edjenguele to roll in the second goal.
A second-half rally from Partick Thistle ensured a 2-1 success over Alloa Athletic, with the result boosting their survival hopes and dragging the Wasps back into sight. Jack Aitchison cracked Jim Goodwin’s side in front on 13 minutes from 18 yards and that lead was held until two minutes into the restart.
Half-time substitute Joe Cardle drew the Jags level within two minutes of coming on with a drive from 25 yards and striker Scott Mcdonald grabbed the three points with a precise curling free-kick midway through the half.