DUNDEE UNITED 1 SAFRANKO (55) INVERNESS CT 1 WHITE (73)
John Robertson last night let rip at referee Euan Anderson – claiming he allowed himself to be bullied by Dundee United boss Robbie Neilson.
Inverness manager Robertson was furious at the sight of Neilson striding on to the park at half-time to complain about Caley Thistle’s tackles before following it up with further words during the interval.
The Highlanders had defender Coll Donaldson sent off in the dying minutes after striker Jordan White’s 73rd-minute header had cancelled out Pavol Safranko’s 55th-minute headed opener .
It helped preserve Inverness’s unbeaten Championship record but Robertson still couldn’t hide his anger as he prepared to raise the issue with refereeing supremo John Fleming.
Robertson said: “I don’t think it’s right that the referee should be approached on the pitch at half-time, nor should the opposition manager be speaking outside his room for four or five minutes at the interval.
“The result was that our first three tackles in the second half end up in yellow cards.
“It ultimately leads to Coll Donaldson getting sent off.
“I heard what was said at half-time and what Robbie said was spot-on, that a few of our boys were sliding in and maybe looked dangerous.
“I could understand that, but I’m sure that there are rules in place which state you can not go on to the pitch at half-time and then approach the referee at half-time and go to his door.
“I’m pretty sure that affected how the referee officiated the match at the start of the second half.”
Safranko struck with a textbook header from Fraser Aird’s corner as
Neilson looked set to pick up three points in his first home game in charge of United.
However, Inverness had other ideas and striker White rose among a ruck of bodies to head home Liam Polworth’s free-kick with ten minutes left.
Neilson said: “I just felt there were a few challenges which were borderline which the referee should have nipped in the bud.
“I thought it was a great game to be involved in and the supporters appreciated what the players put into it.”