Dying Hard!

There's an old saying about bad habits dying hard and this is so true about United's defending. Time and time again I've criticised our defenders on their bad habits in allowing wingers to get their crosses in. I've also criticised our complete lack of the basics in our game. Firstly our ability to take or defend corners, in which there has been a slight improvement, but still needs a wee bit more adjustment as our taking of them is too predictable. Then there's the thing we still haven't mastered, throw-ins. We can't defend them, we're always 6 yards away from the receiver and then even further away from the taker. While our ploy in taking them seems to be a hopeful lob in the direction of a target man, but no plan after he gets it, which rarely happens anyway. These are the things we need to work on, get them sorted and we might have a chance of holding onto fifth place, but at the minute I fear we are in a false position.

United manager Roy Walker made one change to his starting line-up, Carson as expected returned after suspension, while Mo dropped down to the bench. Roy also moved Rory inside and Hanly onto the wing, which meant in my opinion, our midfield never really functioned. One of the major talking points was the absence of team captain, Gazza, from the bench, if he wasn't injured I fear this was a major gaffe as we could have done with his battling qualities in the later stages of the game. United weren't at the races in the early stages as the 'slick moving' Swifts forward line exposed our defensive frailties and but for home keeper Dwayne Nelson would have deservedly went in at halftime with a comfortable lead.

During the opening 25 minutes they carved open the United defence on at least half a dozen occasions and Nelson saved our bacon on at least 3 occasions, while Archie, made a couple of timely interceptions. Denver, who was having a bit of a nightmare found some inspiration from somewhere and after that we steadied the ship somewhat. Our defence was allowing winger Ryan McIlmoyle to get his crosses in and I feared this would lead to our downfall and unfortunately I was eventually proved right. Cutch, who hasn't scored for five games, somehow managed to wriggle past a defender, but shot wide, our first real chance.

Then after a nice bit of play, Carson burst through and his shot from the edge of the box was pushed for a corner by ex-United keeper Sean O'Neill. Eamon Murray had already showed his wing prowess as he skipped past another former United player, Craig McClean, but failed to find anybody with his final pass, something he needs to work on. United weren't helped at the back by a couple of gaffes from the linesman at the Fisherwick end, as he missed two blatant offsides but thereafter did okay. United got a somewhat undeserved lead a minute before halftime, when Cutch helped a Nelson clearance into the path of Murray and he burst into the box before chipping O'Neill to put United one up, his third goal in a Sky Blue shirt. The home fans were delighted as they couldn't remember the last time they actually took the lead against their opponents and held it at halftime.

2nd half
United seemed content to hold their one goal lead, a fatal ploy in my opinion, although when the visitors missed an absolute 'sitter' it appeared to be a reasonable idea. The home defence went asleep, not for the first time I might add and allowed a visiting player to have a pop at goal. The ball cannoned off Nelson's crossbar and a visiting player headed over from point blank range, a real let off. This would have been the perfect time to bring Gazza on, but of course he wasn't there, or switch Rory to the right wing and Murray to the left. Roy of course had other ideas and to my utter surprise took Rory off and brought Colligan on. Colligan took up a left midfield slot (a position he can't play), with Hanly moving inside to partner Taggart.

This substitution was of no benefit to us and in fact meant that we defended deeper and deeper, with little or no outlet. Murray, who had been a bit of a thorn in the flesh, saw little of the ball in the 2nd half as we tended to attack down the left, but failed miserably in getting our crosses in. Murray in fact, twice had to come to our rescue in defence.Then we had one of those incidents that totally amaze me, when after Denver and Adamson tangled, Adamson was clearly seen head-butting the United defender, a straight red card offence, but referee Halliday cautioned the United player and only cautioned Adamson for dissent, is head-butting now an acceptable form of tackling I wonder? Cutch somehow missed our best chance of the 2nd half when after being played in he completely mis-kicked and the chance went begging.

The visitors deservedly levelled the scores when after Mike Smith went on a mazy run and instead of passing to the unmarked Murray he gave the ball away cheaply and United were caught on the hop. The ball was quickly fed to McIlmoyle and as he sprinted down the wing Albert had to come out to tackle him, this in turn left us exposed at the back post and when Albert allowed the winger to cross, Ward, another ex-United man, ghosted in at the back post to fire home. This goal had been coming for a long time and with 20 minutes left I wondered if there was more misery in store for us. Roy finally bit the bullet and took off Taggart, with George Young coming on and soon after took off Gibbo and brought on Sparky.

Neither substitution did anything for us really and I'd rather have seen Gibbo stay on and Cutch go off as he was badly off form. Somebody actually said that Cutch was playing better when he had bruised ribs, but as we know 'form is temporary', while 'class is permanent' and the wee man will find his form soon. Cutch actually had another chance to tie up the points, but dragged his shot wide. United held out for a draw and are still in a tie for 4th spot and a chance to move into it alone when they entertain former manager Tommy Wright and the Whites on Tuesday night, let's hope our defence won't be so benevolent in that game. Somehow I think a certain Spike Ferguson would have relished taking our boys apart on today's performance, if it's not sorted, things could be really bad!

Nelson (7), M.Smith (5), Albert (5), Denver (5), Archie(6), Murray (7), Taggart (4)(Sub: Young 6,), Carson (6)(Sub: Colligan 5,), Hanly (5), Gibbo (6)(Sub: Sparky 6,),Cutch (6)

Man of the match: Dwayne Nelson