DIRE DEFENCE DROP UNITED RIGHT IN IT
More agony for Goodwin after injury to Fletcher
FOR Dundee United, the build-up to this vital relegation match at Livingston had been overshadowed by the loss of injured talismanic striker Steven Fletcher.
But if the Tannadice side’s relegation is confirmed on Wednesday night, the root cause of their drop to the Championship will be the recurring slapstick defending that has scarred their season.
First, a lapse in communication between goalkeeper Mark Birighitti and Loick Ayina gifted Livi their opening goal, albeit it took a phenomenal finish by Bruce Anderson to find the net.
Then when Ian Harkes had volleyed United back into the match with another first-class piece of skill, United pressed the self-destruct button all over again as Charlie Mulgrew’s miskick was the precursor to James Penrice’s winner.
United boss Jim Goodwin had set his sights on three wins from his team’s last three matches.
But his side are now three points adrift of Kilmarnock and Ross County and next they host Derek McInnes’ Killie on Wednesday.
What a tense occasion that promises to be with nothing less than a win required for this toiling team. Defeat, combined with a Ross County victory at home to St Johnstone, and United are down.
The loss of the veteran Fletcher to a groin strain was undoubtedly a hammer blow for United.
The 36-year-old has belied his age this season, scoring nine goals in 37 appearances while contributing clever hold-up play.
Goodwin was short of options with striker Sadat Anaku already out for the rest of the year with a ruptured Achilles.
That saw the United boss pair talented 17-year-old Rory MacLeod up front with Glenn Middleton on his return from injury.
MacLeod worked hard and did well but he has yet to score for the club and that did not look likely to change at the Tony Macaroni Arena as mistakes at the back for United reared their ugly head once more.
When Livingston’s Cristian Montano punted the ball up the park in the 11th minute there seemed little danger.
But Birighitti raced off his line when his defender Ayina looked to have the danger covered.
Anderson beat both to reach the ball first and he knocked it to the left of Birighitti before supplying a wonderful lofted left-foot finish into the net for 1-0.
Luiyi De Lucas thought he had made it 2-0 for Livingston after a dangerous Stephen Kelly free-kick into the box. But his effort was quickly flagged off for a handball by Montano in the build-up.
United capitalised on the let-off as they came back into the game just as the large travelling support were wondering where a goal for their side would come from.
After young MacLeod kept the ball in play with a high ball, a game of head tennis in the Livi box ended with the ball falling perfectly for Harkes at the edge of the box.
It was United’s first shot on goal and it was a cracker, flying past the helpless Shamal George.
Livi’s Kelly then tried his luck with a 30-yard free-kick but his fine effort dipped onto the roof of Birighitti’s net.
And when the home side took the lead after the break it stemmed from another defensive blunder that left Mulgrew with his head in his hands.
The former Celtic and Scotland player sliced a clearance with his weaker right foot into the air and as United’s defence switched off, Kelly cleverly diverted the ball towards Penrice.
The Livingston man looked up and angled a fine drive past the diving Birighitti.
Dundee United were now in deep trouble and Goodwin took off MacLeod and Middleton and sent on Peter Pawlett and 18-year-old Miller Thomson for his first league appearance of the season.
Livingston had been off the boil since failing to get into the top six with David Martindale’s side on a run of five defeats in six games.
But as United remained toothless, Livi looked the likelier side to add to the scoring.
When Kelly robbed Mulgrew and bore down on goal, Ayina used his strength to outmuscle the midfielder, allowing Birighitti to gather the ball.
Then just as the match was entering stoppage time a golden opportunity presented itself to Pawlett. But the United sub shot straight at George from point-blank range. It was a glorious chance and United should have earned a precious point.
Worse was to come when Aziz Behich was shown two yellow cards then a red for dissent towards referee Don Robertson. It was poor from the Australia international who is now suspended for Wednesday’s crunch clash with Killie.
Afterwards Goodwin admitted it was touch and go that Fletcher could be fit for Wednesday.
His return would offer hope against a Kilmarnock side that has won just once on the road all season in the Premiership.
If he does not make it, the worry for United fans is that a lack of bite up front — combined with a continuing inability to defend — is the perfect recipe for being a Championship club next season.