THE UNHAPPY ANNIVERSARY
County defeat has tepid Tannadice men rock bottom as legends of ’83 watch on
DUNDEE UNITED’S leaguewinning heroes of 1983 were given a standing ovation when they took to the pitch at half-time in this relegation showdown.
But this damaging home defeat to Ross County ensured an unhappy anniversary for the Tannadice club who won their one and only Scottish title 40 years ago today.
Jordan White’s hat-trick ensured the rock-bottom Staggies leapfrogged their hosts with United now at the foot of the table with three matches remaining and their top-flight status in real peril.
With Kilmarnock winning 2-0 against Livingston and moving up to 10th, the battle against the drop is set to go down to the wire.
But Jim Goodwin knows if he is to steer his side clear of danger they will have to cut out the defensive errors that have hurt them all season and resurfaced here with a vengeance. The United boss also believes his side need to win their remaining three matches to survive.
He said: ‘The second half was really hard for me to take in terms of the goals we conceded. It was poor defensively, far too easy at times.
‘It was the basics, dropping players and not marking on the right side. That’s really difficult to take because I felt we were making progress. I thought we had eradicated it but it has raised its ugly head again.
‘We have put ourselves in a difficult position now with results elsewhere. We are bottom of the table again.
‘We have three games to go so we have to try to win every single one of them because Ross County and Kilmarnock will pick up points.’
Tannadice was packed but with just 38 seconds on the clock the atmosphere fell flat as County took the lead.
George Harmon swung over a corner from the right to Jack Baldwin at the back post. The County captain headed across goal and White easily brushed off the attentions of United captain Ryan Edwards to nod home from close range.
To United’s credit, they showed character after the early setback and they were looking the better team.
But they spurned a glorious chance to level when Ian Harkes’ clever ball sprung Loick Ayina free down the right.
He calmly cut inside Connor Randall but with the goal at his mercy the defender had a rush of blood to the head and lashed a wild shot high over the bar.
But United were awarded a penalty after VAR urged referee John Beaton to take a look at a handball by Josh Sims from an Aziz Behich cross.
Beaton pointed to the spot and Jamie McGrath did his customary clinical job from 12 yards, sending Ross Laidlaw the wrong way.
At half-time, the heroes of 1983 such as Paul Hegarty, Hamish McAlpine and John Holt took the acclaim of the home crowd.
But United were poor after the break. Keeper Birighitti has been no stranger to a mistake this season and he nearly gifted County a goal when he tried to kick a backpass and slipped. But Victor Loturi failed to capitalise.
The United keeper then pulled off a fine double stop to deny two shots by Sims from close range.
But Birighitti could do nothing to stop White making it 2-1 for County. Substitute Nohan Kenneh picked up the ball on the right side of the box and scuffed an attempted shot across goal. But it fell perfectly for White, who met the ball and clipped it over Birighitti from close range.
Then, capitalising on yet more poor defending by United, County substitute and former United striker Simon Murray sent in a cross for White to tuck away to complete his treble.
As the boos of the United fans filled the skies above Tannadice, the triumphant County fans chanted: ‘We are staying up.’
Afterwards County boss Malky Mackay praised his hat-trick hero White for silencing a packed and hostile Tannadice.
He said: ‘Coming out it was like the old days at Tannadice, all that tangerine, so it was terrific to see.
‘We knew we had to start fast, knowing there was going to be 10,000 fans and the intensity that could bring for Dundee United.
‘Jordan White takes some stick for not scoring goals but he’s been fundamental for me over the last two years.
‘Other clubs know he causes them problems and last season the goals other players scored, a lot of that was down to Jordan.
‘He’s looking good alongside the other strikers so I am delighted for him to get a hat-trick and be walking about with the signed ball. We are a team that does not look fearful in this (relegation battle) situation — and that is the way you have to be.’
DUNDEE UNITED (3-5-2): Birighitti; Ayina, Edwards (Middleton 75), McMann; Niskanen, Harkes (Fotheringham 75), Sibbald, McGrath, Behich; Fletcher, Macleod (Cudjoe 75).
Subs (not used): Newman, Graham, Djoum, Freeman, Thomson, O’Donnell. Booked: McMann.
ROSS COUNTY (3-4-1-2): Laidlaw; Randall, Baldwin, Iacovitti; Sims (Smith 55), Cancola, Loturi (Kenneh 55), Harmon; Dhanda (Tillson 75); White, Samuel (Murray 64). Subs (not used): Purrington, Edwards, HiwulaMayifuila, Munro. Booked: Dhanda, Samuel, Randall, Kenneh, White.
Referee: John Beaton. Attendance: 10,138.