Inverness CT 1
Dundee Utd 0
League (SPL)

Match Report

In a quiet first half, made all the more difficult for both sides by a fierce gusting cross-field wind, chances were few and far between, as was attractive football in all honesty. The first chance came through a 30-yard free kick from Charlie Mulgrew, which didn’t quite bend enough as it went wide of Brown’s goal.

Inverness’s first opportunity came on nineteen minutes, when a low pass played across the edge of the penalty area found Richie Hart in space, but his low shot from 16 yards was saved well by Samson at his near post.

Despite the scrappy nature of the game, United were showing slightly more promise than the home side, and Mulgrew saw another free kick blocked on 21 minutes, before Brebner and Robertson saw efforts sail over the bar. Brebner’s shot, which looked like it may cause Brown to save, was then blocked by Samuel, who was unable to get out of the path of the shot.

The only other real opportunity in the first half for the Caley Jags came on 36 minutes, when Dargo couldn’t make contact with the bouncing ball after Dods had got his head to a deflected Keogh shot.

Referee Mike Tumilty showed two yellow cards in the first half, one to Ross Tokely after crunching challenges on Robertson and Samuel, and Mark Kerr got the other booking for a late tackle on Richie Hart on the half way line as Inverness broke forward.

Inverness came out the better side for the opening period of the second half, and were a whisker from taking the lead eight minutes into it, when Mulgrew cleared off the line to spare Samson’s blushes, after the goalkeeper had dived over a Dargo header from Hart’s corner.

Mulgrew was to again save United from falling behind two minutes later, as he slid to take the ball from Wilson as the Inverness winger was poised to pull the trigger in front of goal from Dargo’s cross.

In between times, the on-loan defender was involved at the other end, as he crossed from the byline, but a carbon copy of last week’s goal was not quite possible as Robertson was just unable to get the touch at the near post.

Another set piece opportunity for Mulgrew almost won the game inside the final ten minutes, this time after substitute David Goodwillie had been fouled by Darren Dods. However, despite a deflection off the defensive wall, Brown reacted well and saved.

Despite a seemingly certain draw, United were again made to pay for an individual error two minutes into stoppage time. A seemingly harmless through ball was toe-ended from the hesitant Archibald, and Craig Dargo made no mistake in pouncing to get into the box and fire a powerful shot into the far corner from twelve yards to score his 19th goal of the season.

A demoralising blow for United to take, but once again they can only blame themselves for the nature of the defeat. There was only one further booking in the second half, Paul Ritchie the recipient after his second foul on Dargo inside a few minutes.