Defensive lapses make it difficult for Inverness 

Inverness shot themselves in the foot once again as Spanish defender Roman Golobart's lapse put the highlanders behind just before the interval and they never recovered from this setback.

Dalla Valle had opened the scoring for the Tangerines before Nick Ross squeezed home an equaliser.  Tade and Golobart combined to let Danny Swanson lift United ahead just before the break and substitute Jon Daly sealed the win with his first touch of the ball as he headed home in the 68th minute.  Inverness had looked dangerous early on but they were eased out by United after a keenly fought contest saw the men from the North slump to the foot of the table.

Davie will be along to tell us how we managed to lose this one 3-1 and what can we expect to see next week when we visit Parkhead.

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Yesterday’s vantage point, high in the Jerry Kerr stand at Tannadice offered a healthy away support a panoramic view of just how Inverness CT come to be at the bottom of the league. It was a dissection that was played out on the public stage that at times had the look of an execution about it. Dundee United came into this game without problems to seek in terms of loss of personnel and injuries, but on the back of a decent display against Rangers. Inverness were in an almost identical position, after a bright showing against Hearts and loaded with their own selection difficulties.

The first 16 minutes encompassed the whole game. United started brightly, but were pushed back as three chances fell to Tade and Andrew Shinnie. Tade blasted the ball into the side netting from an acute angle and Shinnie’s diving header grazed a post. Both times, Pernis and his defence were beaten men and could offer little resistance to the crisp passing that created the chances. The optimism generated was, however rudely terminated in 12 minutes by Dalla Valle. The Fulham man drove into the space created by Inverness pressing, and Piermayr found himself exposed. The Finn created room rather too easily and drove a low shot past Esson for a barely creditable United lead.

Inverness were rocked by this, but replied in typical fashion in 16 minutes. Gregory Tade’s strong play on the left caused all kinds of problems for a hesitant United defence and when he delivered a low cross on the six yard line Ross just beat Dixon to the touch to equalise.

In an open game, Dalla Valle was denied by a superb Ryan Esson save and Graeme Shinnie’s direct style was paying dividends for Inverness down the right. As chances were traded, parity looked on the cards at half time until Flood dispossessed Tade in the centre circle in 43 minutes. Golobart, who had an excellent game to this point, hesitated between tackling Swanson and dropping back to allow support to arrive. Swanson didn’t, drove past him and chipped Esson from the 18 yard line. The Inverness defender looked crestfallen, and support from his team mates, so obvious in the past couple of weeks was conspicuously absent.

Half Time Dundee United 2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1

At half time, the main talking point aside from Jim McLean’s appearance was the arrival of David Proctor for the above mentioned Golobart. The reasons for his substitution are a matter for Terry Butcher, but he did not appear to be injured. Proctor’s introduction did nothing to shore up Inverness’ defence and it appeared that they could at times be bypassed at will. Swanson should have scored again and Gunning unleashed a thunderous drive that Esson saved well when he should have been closed down 30 yards out. Foran had departed to be replaced by Sutherland, who played manfully out wide without ever creating the chance that would have equalised for the second time. In fact the pivotal substitution came in 69 minutes, when Dow was replaced by Jon Daly. Accepted wisdom has it that you should never replace anyone just prior to a corner, but Houston did. Daly lumbered onto the field, into the six yard box and connected with a ball that evaded both Piermayr and Proctor. The sense of crushing inevitability was overwhelming at this point and in truth the game ended as a contest there and then despite quality chances falling to Tade and Shinnie.

Full Time Dundee United 2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1

The full time whistle was met with predictable Joy from United fans determined to celebrate recognition in Jim McLean, who took their ovation at half time. It was met with less enthusiasm from the Inverness fans and there were some unseemly scenes of bickering at the end, although the discontent was far from universal. The return up the a9 was met by rain of biblical intensity, that prompted more introspection. That this is fast becoming a team that can play passing football, but neither defend nor score effectively, in stark contrast to previous seasons is a concern. That no other team, with the possible exceptions of Hibs and Aberdeen look likely to lose points against us, is a concern. By the end of the second half of this game, there was only a barely discernable shape to the team. They looked unable to comprehend or execute the tasks allotted to them is a concern, but they were a match for United in all but the crucial areas; scoring and goal prevention. That this situation is caused in no small measure by a near catastrophic injury situation is beyond argument and it must get better as people return to the team. That is why yesterday was a matter for concern, but at the moment, no more than that.

Match Highlights from Arab TV