Dundee Utd 3
Inverness CT 1
League (SPL)

Match Report

On a bitterly cold afternoon, United elected to play towards the Shed and immediately took the game to their opponents. ICT showed their intentions with a series of fouls which led to an early booking for McBain in only the 4th minute, when Samuel was brought down after going past two defenders.

United looked dangerous on both flanks and created several chances with good balls into the box. In 10 minutes a terrific cross was met by Hunt but his net bound header was saved at point blank range by Brown.

As United continued to press, Rankin was next to be booked for a foul on Robson. Robson then swung over a terrific cross which Conway just headed past.

Against the run of play United went behind in the 15th minute. Collin Samuel was booked after a clumsy challenge outside the box and Wilson’s free kick totally wrong footed Derek Stillie.

United pressed forward again and were unlucky to see a deflected effort by Hunt cleared off the line.

United drew level in 24 minutes when Noel Hunt got the merest of touches to a Craig Conway cross to deflect the ball past Brown.

United were much more dangerous using the flanks and ICT made increasing use of over-robust challenges to stop this. Hastings was booked in 40 minutes after bringing down Duff and from the resultant free kick, Robson blazed curled the ball just over the bar.

Any danger from Caley was mostly down the right hand side as they tried to exploit long balls over Kalvenes and Archibald. The first half fnished with another foul and another ICT booking before Sammy was put clean through but shot weakly past.

The second half continued in the same vein, with Brown saving well from Conway in the 50th minute.

In 60 minutes the referee continued where he left off and booked Robson for what appeared to be no more than a 50/50 challenge. ICT were by now coming more into the game and five minutes later Craig Levein made a tactical change. Greg Cameron came on to replace Samuel, moving to central midfield and Robson going wide right.

Within two minutes United were ahead. A great effort from Robertson was blocked for a corner. Robson’s inswinging corner caused mayhem on the goal line and Hunt was first to react and knock it in.

A few minutes later, it could have been three after Robson left two defenders in his wake only to see his shot again well saved by Brown.

United were then denied a penalty when a Mark Kerr shot was blocked by Brown and Robson appeared to be charged down as he went for the loose ball.

By now the game should have been out of sight and Noel Hunt almost did so but his free header from a Robson cross went a-begging.

In 80 minutes David Robertson was in the perfect position to knock home a Hunt cut back and make it 3-1.

Further chances were created with Barry Robson instrumental in nearly all the attacking moves.

Towards the end United could even afford to gift ICT a soft penalty which, thankfully, was blazed over the bar by Dargo.