Dundee Utd 3 - 0 Inverness CT

League (Playoff) - SF Leg 2
Friday, May 17th, 2019, 7:45 PM at Tannadice Stadium, Dundee
Attendance: 8,540
Referee: Kevin Clancy
Dundee Utd Inverness CT

Goalscorers
Nicholas Clark (pen.46)
Osman Sow (54)
Pavol Šafranko (80)
None.

Team Managers
Robbie Neilsen John Robertson

Starting Eleven
Benjamin Siegrist
Jamie Robson
Mark Reynolds
Paul Watson
Mark Connolly
Peter Pawlett
Nicholas Clark
Rachid Bouhenna
Paul McMullan
Ian Harkes
Osman Sow
Mark Ridgers
Coll Donaldson
Shaun Rooney
Kevin McHattie
Brad Mckay
Jamie McCart
Joe Chalmers
Charlie Trafford
Tom Walsh
Aaron Doran
Jordan White

Bench
Fraser Currid
Frederic Frans
Pavol Šafranko
Logan Chalmers
Sam Stanton
Callum Booth
Cammy Smith
Cameron Mackay
Cameron Harper
Darren McCauley
Anthony McDonald
Ross Gunn
Roddy MacGregor
Nathan Austin

Substitutions
Pavol Šafranko -> Peter Pawlett (63)
Callum Booth -> Osman Sow (73)
Sam Stanton -> Nicholas Clark (78)
Nathan Austin for Shaun Rooney (56)
Darren McCauley for Aaron Doran (74)
Cameron Harper for Tom Walsh (90)

Bookings
Mark Reynolds (33)
Osman Sow (58)
Pavol Šafranko (70)
Aaron Doran (38)
Brad Mckay (46)

Red Cards
None. None.
Appearances & Goals To Date
Mark Ridgers (GK) 89 apps -
Brad Mckay 122 apps7 goals
Joe Chalmers 96 apps6 goals
Coll Donaldson 76 apps2 goals
Shaun Rooney 46 apps6 goals
Jamie McCart 49 apps1 goal
Kevin McHattie 15 apps -
Aaron Doran 243 apps38 goals
Charlie Trafford 66 apps2 goals
Tom Walsh 43 apps10 goals
Jordan White 52 apps16 goals
Cameron Harper (sub) 4 apps -
Darren McCauley (sub) 18 apps2 goals
Nathan Austin (sub) 48 apps13 goals

Starting Lineup
Youngest Player:Jamie McCart (21 years 336 days)
Oldest Player:Mark Ridgers (28 years 288 days)
Average Player Age:25 years 174 days
Domestic Players:9 (81.82 % of starting eleven)

Matchday Squad
Youngest Player:Roddy MacGregor (17 years 151 days)
Oldest Player:Mark Ridgers (28 years 288 days)
Average Player Age:23 years 217 days
Domestic Players:14 (77.78 % of matchday squad)

First Team Debuts

Milestones

Whilst the final scoreline looks comfortable enough, the outcome of this game hinged an a dubious penalty offered by Kevin Clancy in first half injury time. It's no shock that we succumbed to a controversial refereeing decision, the first leg went the same way, but it did leave a bitter taste in the mouth for the near 500 away support who were right behind the team. However, that incident on the stroke of half-time took the last embers of resistance out of the players and the second half just emphasised the difference a few grand makes. Nicky Clark scored from the spot and further goals from Osman Sow and Pavol Safranko ended our season, but not the bitterness as John Robertson said what we all knew. Looks like Robbo will be hauled in front of the beaks, but maybe it's about time they investigated their own backyard to see if the people they employ are up to the job.

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On BBC Sport:- Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager John Robertson branded the "arrogance" of Scottish officials as a "disgrace" after his side were condemned to another season in the Championship.

Robertson was sent off after Dundee United were awarded a penalty in his side's 3-0 Scottish Premiership play-off semi-final defeat at Tannadice.

The 4-0 aggregate loss loss ends the Highlanders' chances of promotion.

"I've had enough; I'm happy to go all the way with it," Robertson said.

"This can't be allowed to go on. The inconsistency of the refereeing is incredible. It might sound like sour grapes, and it is a wee bit tonight, but the standard is poor."

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Up to the penalty award, Inverness had been the busier side with Tom Walsh Aaron Doran and Joe Chalmers being denied by Siegrist in the Arabs goal. Jordan White headed just over from a corner and all was rosy. Up steps cowboy Kevin Clancy to ruin the entertainment and the rest is history. Nicky Clark hit woodwork twice when it looked much simpler to score, it mattered not, the damage had already been done, thanks Kev.

Absolutely titanic effort from the players who gave their all and were out of their feet at the end after being sunk by the iceberg Clancy.

It was also a titanic effort by the Caley Away fans, some of them going over and above the call of duty to get behind the team. And when was the last time United had over 8500 fans at Tannadice. Great crowd and I'm sure the Premiership accountants will be glad it's United that progress and not the famous Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Here's one such account from Immortal Howden Ender:-

Well I sat in a motorway queue for four feckin hours, made me hit the Forth Road Bridge at rush hour and got to Dungdee 45 minutes before the kick off. Feckin stone cold sober !! Up until that ridiculous penalty decision we were the better team, playing some nice football and looking the team to score by a country mile. But our lack of power and flair up front and the age old inability to take chances let us down again. We really should have been 2 or 3 up and there were scoreable chances for Walsh, White and Doran. The penalty, it's conversion and the timing appeared to simply break our hearts. But we put so much into that first half that it would have been a miracle if we had maintained that level after the second. Only a sniff of a comeback would have possibly riled us up. But the Arabs went for the throat from the start of the second half, pressed higher up the pitch and the second was the beginning of the end. It could well have been 5 or 6 in the end and we never looked like scoring. You would have to say that everybody gave their all but I thought that some showed their flaws. There weren't many who didn't look absolutely flecked 10-15 minutes before the end. Again that is the cruelty of our play off system.

I will leave the Smileymometer alone but Ridgers did nothing wrong, Rooney ran and ran and did well before being flecked. McCart was superb and my MotM. Should Coll have been playing when clearly 50 to 60% fit - I would say not. McHattie was caught out for the second goal and struggled defensively. Our midfield ran their socks off but we went for the long, high ball [often diagonal] too often and did not utilise the width and especially Walsh snuffed. Doran played like he did against Hearts and did not come up with the goods. White had little support but did not hold things up enuff and lost too much in the air. Not sure either where Brad McKay was playing but it did look like he was employed to provide cover for the ailing Coll which was a waste of a player. May sound critical but we played well until half time and missing chances killed us again. Some of the officials decisions, other than the penalty, were shocking and there were some ridiculous offsides called. BUT what an away support and not a bad home one either. Glad I was there to the seasons death.

Bring on the anguish of 2019-20. Caleytillidie

It's All Over Now.............

Match report written by TM4TJ & IHE