Comedy on the Sabbath



Goals from Ciftci (twice), Gunning, Mackay-Steven and Armstrong, aided by poor defending and red cards for Tansey and Watkins made it a Black Sabbath for Inverness who have conceded 10 goals in their last two games.

Inverness were totally embarrassed by Dundee United on and off the park as tangerine dominated both aspects of this game. Some folk wondered why other fans would not make an appearance as the game was being played on the Lord's day. It would appear that they were the lucky ones as comedy defending handed United an unassailable lead before half-time which Inverness never recovered from and then it all went tits up with red cards and more goals.

A massive vocal away support mustered in the South stand and could not have dreamt of the gifts that Inverness were about to shower upon them. Little indication of what was about to happen in a frantic opening quarter as a typical cup tie evolved with neither club getting to grips with the sandy playing surface.

That would change after 16 minutes when Ciftci nodded a ball round Brill and slotted it into the empty net to open the scoring. Rankin had floated a hopeful ball forward after Raven lost out in midfield. Meekings tried to make up the ground and Brill came to the edge of his area, but Ciftci nipped in ahead of both to nick the opener. Sloppy defending part one, but worse would follow.

Inverness replied with a Tansey free kick flighted into the box. Warren directed it to the far post but McKay headed over from two yards when he looked certain to score.

The comeback was short lived as Inverness served up comedy part two. Meekings tried to usher or pass back to Brill who once more came to the edge of his box. Instead of placing the ball away to safety, he blasted it against Meekings and Ciftci pounced as it rolled towards the vacant goal where he made sure by tapping in the second. Turkish delight, Inverness sh**e.

Graeme Shinnie was one of the few home players who looked interested and he warmed the palms of Cierzniak with a fierce drive, but he was a one man band today as others around him made error after error.

It was game over after 36 minutes when the overworked Shinnie was adjudged to have taken Gavin Gunning down from behind inside the area and he blasted his spot kick high down the centre of the goal to put United three up before the interval.

Our day got even worse when Greg Tansey was sent packing by Willie Collum who had strangely chosen to ignore a similar clatter on Billy McKay.

Half Time 0-3

A comeback of Ayr United proportions was killed of swiftly after the break when David Raven was, not for the first time caught out of position after a free kick in United territory was wasted. Gary Mackay-Steven wasted no time in sprinting half the length of the pitch before firing across Brill and into the far corner to completely cheese of the home support, the huge United support reduced to laughing and doing the Conga. Fair play to them.

Armstrong added a fifth with a powerful header as Inverness caved in and double figures looked a distinct possibility at this juncture.

But, we were not finished yet and Marley Watkins was sent off for another alleged studs up challenge that the bold Collum saw fit to flash red, despite appearing to get the ball.

That was the straw that broke the camels back for many Inverness fans and the Highland clearance began, the away end swathed in tangerine and loads of decibels.

I can't really comment on the last twenty minutes as I departed the scene hastily trying to hide my embarrassment, declining the kind offer from the steward to return to my seat instead of standing by the touchline. "No way lassie, I'm no staying to watch any more of that rubbish".

I'm told it finished 5-0 to United, I'll take that, but I had better things to do and watched the end of the half marathon at the Bught Park. Well done Shaz for getting the job done.

Full Time 0-5

Inverness' MotM was Graeme Shinnie, stinging the paws of Cierzniak  twice but he was on his own. Dean Brill had a nightmare and looked edgy from the start, poor kicking and indecision which put us on the back foot from the off. Raven posted missing too often as was Vincent. Meekings and Warren played as though they didn't know each other. McKay and Doran had no service to work on and two red cards were not what we required.

Yogi. We have a cup final to play next week. I'm not sure the gung-ho 4-4-2 is working too well, can you please fix it before our season is in tatters.
 

Inverness CT 0-5 Dundee United

Inverness CT: Brill, Raven, Shinnie, Vincent, Warren, Meekings, Mckay (Christie 87), Foran (Polworth 60), Doran (Williams 60), Watkins, Tansey. Subs not used: Esson (GK), Ross, Devine, Tremarco.

Dundee United: Cierzniak, Dillon, Gunning, Paton, Rankin (Gomis 60), Armstrong, Mackay-Steven, Watson, Dow (El Alagui 54), Ciftci (Graham 60), Robertson. Subs not used: McCallum (GK), Butcher, Wilson, Souttar.

Referee: William Collum.

Attendance: 3,164.