Dundee Utd 1-1 Inverness CT: Draw frustrates both managers

Managers Jackie McNamara (left) and John Hughes both felt their team should have won

A point apiece may have been the right result but neither Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara nor Inverness boss John Hughes will be happy.

United dominated the first half of the 1-1 draw at Tannadice and deservedly led through Billy McKay's second goal for the club, but could not add to it.

"We should have at least have had a second goal there," McNamara told BBC Scotland.

"In the second half we looked a little nervy at not getting that second goal."

United missed good chances, with Caley Thistle goalkeeper Owain Fon-Williams denying John Rankin and former Inverness striker McKay, who is on a year-long loan from Wigan.

"It'll come," continued the Dundee United manager, as he admitted his frustrations at a run of six games without a win.

"We'll keep believing and keep doing things properly. The biggest thing is fear in not getting that second goal.

"The game should have been over at half-time, it's not. We had a chance from a corner and it hits the post and the side netting, that's the way things have gone for us.

"I want to win, I want to win every game. It doesn't matter if you're at the top, the bottom or the middle. It doesn't change anything for me, I want to win games of football."

Josh Meekings (centre) is congratulated by his team mates after grabbing the equaliser for Inverness CT

Both teams harbour ambitions of a top-six place, cup success and European qualification, yet Inverness are ninth in the Premiership table and United are second bottom. Both teams have won one out of eight league games so far.

Hughes admitted his side were fortunate to still be in the game at the break after an inept opening 45 minutes.

The creative passing from Ryan Christie and Greg Tansey was not in evidence as United threatened to have the game done and dusted by the break.

However, there was a transformation in the second period. Within seconds of the restart they cut open the United rearguard and when Josh Meekings headed home the equaliser it looked like they were the more probable winner.

"Bitterly disappointed especially considering where Dundee United are at this moment in time," said Hughes. "It was about us getting the impetus and keeping the crowd quiet.

"Much improved second half, better team second half, and certainly deserved something out of the game.

"We never started at all. We never passed it, we never got on it. We asked players to be brave, we peppered their goal.

"We need to be at it for 90 minutes. It happened last week against Hearts and we got away with it."

Both sides have tricky League Cup ties in midweek against teams from lower divisions.

United entertain a free-scoring Dunfermline side who will feel they have nothing to lose while Hughes takes his players to Livingston, who will be desperate to claim a major scalp.

"We're still searching for that rhythm and style of play that we had last year," said Hughes.

"We're not going to be the team that we were last year. We're striving to be, but the guys that we've lost in terms of Billy McKay, Marley Watkins, Graeme Shinnie and so many others, and injuries.

"Next week it's Aberdeen and it's that frustration again, coming up against a player I loved working with in Graeme Shinnie and one or two others who were at Inverness. But I'm looking forward to it, it should be a cracker."