Neilson is backing misfiring Safranko to light up Tayside
ROBBIE NEILSON is convinced striker Pavol Safranko’s frustrating day in Inverness augurs well for the future.
The misfiring Slovakian proved luckless in front of goal, drawing two outstanding saves from home goalkeeper Mark Ridgers while passing up another couple of chances.
But Dundee United boss Neilson, far happier with his side’s showing after recent poor form, said better lies ahead for the Aalborg loan star, who has hit six goals this season.
‘Pavol is a great player, with his movement and his link play,’ insisted Neilson. ‘He’ll score goals, definitely. He was off with a couple a little bit today, but the pleasing things is he’s getting these chances.’
Caley Thistle led for long enough through Tom Walsh’s seventh goal of the season, but United’s second-half dominance was rewarded with a Billy King leveller late on.
‘I was disappointed not to take three points, but pleased with the performance. We controlled a lot of the game and passed it really well,’ said Neilson.
‘But it felt like they had their movement back, getting players into good areas. We just lacked that final touch.’
After a slow start the home side went ahead in 19 minutes through a lovely passing move.
Joe Chalmers fed Liam Polworth storming forward and the Caley Thistle midfielder in turn slipped through Walsh for a calm finish, low into the net, from 14 yards.
United held sway through much of the rest of the half, but were thwarted by two brilliant Ridgers saves from Safranko and Matty Smith.
Safranko missed with a header before United finally went level with 14 minutes left as King unleashed a fierce left-foot strike into the corner of the net from the edge of the box.
Safranko had a last-gasp chance of a winner, but from close range he headed straight into Ridgers’ arms.
Inverness boss John Robertson wants his board to loosen the purse-strings early in the New Year.
He said: ‘We have 13 fit firstteam players and no real legs to bring on to change the momentum of the game against a team as good as United.
‘We have to bring in two or three, possibly four, players to beef up the squad.’