Scotty

Euro door is still ajar Inverness failed to clinch a European spot, despite St Johnstone going down heavily against Celtic, after their profligacy enabled Dundee United to steal all three points in a game where missed chances cost Inverness dearly. Last weeks hat-trick hero Billy McKay once more missed a penalty and Doran, Ross, McKay and Shinnie all passed up glorious chances to seal the points. Aaron Doran had opened the scoring but Ryan Dow levelled in a rare United foray forward and the sickener came in injury time when Gary MacKay-Steven knocked home the winner to stun Inverness. The Euro dream is hanging by a thread, a very thin thread at that after Inverness spurned enough chances to win three games. It was set up nicely earlier in the day as Celtic trounced St Johnstone 4-0 to leave Inverness the relatively straightforward task of beating an understrength Dundee United side to clinch their Europa League slot ahead of Perth and Dingwall, but it was not to be, despite Inverness pushing hard for victory on a blustery afternoon. It all started promisingly for Inverness with Foran and Shinnie directing shots at Cierzniak in the opening few minutes. It was over ten minutes before United came out of their shell and a lovely MacKay-Steven back heel set up Armstrong for a crack at goal but Meekings saved the day with a block in the six-yard box with Reguero beaten, the ball heading close to the far post. Meekings tried his luck with a free kick, no doubt inspired by his shot last weekend which set up the winner, but this time it was wide of the mark. There followed an untidy period as neither side were able to exert any sustained pressure although Inverness always held the upper hand and Billy McKay should have done better when he tried to tee up Doran but his pass never quite reached the Inverness man and the defence just squeezed the ball round the post for a corner. You got the feeling it was not going to be McKay's day as he fluffed a volley from twelve yards after Foran and Ross had teed him up with headers, but Billy trundled his shot goalwards allowing the keeper to make a diving save to claw the ball away. McKay and Doran had shots charged down by the overworked United defence and you could sense that something was about to give, and give it did. However McKay's day of woe would be complete as he passed up a chance from the spot after Rankin had felled Doran. He hit this one firmly enough but Cierzniak guessed correctly diving to his left to keep the ball out. Andy Shinnie then decided to take matters into his own hands and he tried in vain to get the opener, flashing a couple of attempts wide but Inverness took the lead in style when Aaron Doran turned sharply on the edge of the box and whistled a low shot across and beyond the outstretched arms of the keeper, the ball nestling in the bottom corner. Great goal after some neat interplay, Foran, Hogg, McKay and Raven setting up the chance. Daly had a chance to level matters just before half time but he headed straight at Reguero from 10 yards when a yard either side would have done the trick. That was about the last action of the first half with Inverness getting a foot in the Euro door. Half Time 1-0 Inverness came out after the break intent on extending their vulnerable lead and Doran tested Cierzniak before Foran fizzed a shot wide, but it was the visitors who made more headway as Ryan Dow pounced on a knockdown from Draper who was under pressure from the irritating Jon Daly to crash the ball past Reguero from seven yards. More ebb and flow about the game now and Doran fired one high over the bar. Russell tried a spectacular volley from thirty-five yards as the ball sat up nicely for him but Reguero was alert to it. Undeterred by this set back, Inverness pushed forward at every opportunity and this would eventually be our downfall. Shots were raining in at both ends and Reguero was fortunate as he flapped at a corner which the defence eventually hacked clear. With ten minutes left Doran missed a glorious opportunity to get the second foot in the Eurodoor but he blasted a cut back high over the North Stand from ten yards when a simple controlled stab would have done the job. The Eurodoor was slammed shut for now as United broke swiftly in time added on and MacKay-Steven showed Doran how to execute the trick by side footing home a brisk cross to steal all three points and leave Inverness' season hanging by a sliver. Still time for Andy Shinnie to bring his last home game to a close in style but Cierzniak was equal to it and that was game over in such disappointing style for the home fans who trudged away dreading the thought of next weeks Highland Derby deciding our seasons fate one way or another. Full Time 1-2 To summarise, we had enough chances to win this game and next weeks game, but for one reason or another we failed to capitalise on our superiority and United battled hard for their win, fair play to them. We were the architects of our own downfall and it sets it up now for a winners take all weekend next week. tm4tj MotM:- My award goes to Andy Shinnie in his last home game before heading South. He tried his utmost but those around him were incapable of providing the finishing touches to his link play. No doubt we will be the poorer next season without Andy and good luck to him at Birmingham. Meekings also put in another solid shift and Foran worked himself to a standstill, but it was not enough as United won the day. With Ross County losing 2-0 on Sunday afternoon, only two teams can now qualify, Inverness or St Johnstone, it is much clearer now what we need to do next weekend. 11th May 2013 - Scottish Premier League - Tulloch Caledonian Stadium Inverness CT: 1 TEAM: Reguero, Raven, G.Shinnie, Meekings, Hogg, Doran, Ross (Sutherland 87), Foran, Draper (Tudur-Jones 80), A.Shinnie, McKay SUBS: Esson, Polworth, Pepper, Devine, Taylor Scorers: Doran (42) Booked: Draper (54) Sent Off: none Dundee Utd: 2 TEAM: Cierzniak; McLean, Daly, Souttar, Dow (Millar 64), Flood, Rankin, Armstrong, Gauld (Gardyne 68), Mackay-Steven, Russell (Boulding 73) SUBS: Anderson, Ryan, Tornstrand, Johnston Scorers: Dow (50), MacKay-Steven (90) Booked: Rankin (34), Cierzniak (35) Sent Off: none Referee: Crawford Allan Attendance: 3728