Dundee United 1-1 St Mirren: Contentious Mark O'Hara penalty earns draw
- Published
‘Main throws himself down. It boils my blood’
A "soft" late penalty for St Mirren cost Dundee United a vital win, says manager Jim Goodwin, as his side's winless Scottish Premiership run was extended to 10 games.
Steven Fletcher's beautifully-taken goal gave United the perfect start, and they almost had the ideal end but passed up three late chances.
St Mirren improved after the break and levelled when Curtis Main was judged to have been tripped by Loick Ayina and Mark O'Hara dispatched the penalty, and they could have won it too.
United, two points adrift at the bottom, do nudge one closer to Ross County in 11th, but with nine games left to save themselves from relegation, it's victories they desperately need.
A point keeps St Mirren's top-six hopes alive but they drop to seventh behind Livingston with four games left to play before the league splits in half.
"We're disappointed to drop two points in the manner we did - it's as soft a penalty as I've seen given all year," Goodwin told BBC Scotland.
"I've got to be very careful what I say because I've got a suspension hanging over me from something I said earlier in the season.
"Some might say it's clever from the St Mirren centre-forward [Curtis Main] but for me there's minimal, if any, contact. He's went over very easily and it's gone against us and it's cost us the game."
Alex Greive's last-minute volley over the bar for St Mirren capped a frantic finish in which both sides could have claimed a huge three points.
United substitute Kai Fotheringham rattled a post, then Matthew Cudjoe was denied by goalkeeper Trevor Carson, and Ilmari Niskanen blasted over the gilt-edged follow up.
But with none of those chances hitting the net, the focus falls on the contentious St Mirren equaliser, where Main seemed to go down under minimal contact from Ayina.
O'Hara's powerful effort down the middle ensured his team got the goal their second-half play merited, having also had Richard Taylor's goal ruled out for offside.
The afternoon started perfectly for United, too, when Fletcher's magnificent touch and first-time finish into the bottom corner gave them the lead after just three minutes.
But despite the late chances, and two earlier efforts from Aziz Behich which flew just off target, United could not get the crucial second goal when they were on top.
Player of the match - Scott Tanser
Tanser created four chances, more than anyone else on the pitch, from his nine crosses, which was also more than any other player.
United fade as St Mirren get rewards - analysis
Goodwin walked into a club winless in seven league games and adrift at the bottom, and after three games in charge his wait for a victory goes on.
United had a much better structure to them in the first half, though, and played some good stuff. But they suffered when Peter Pawlett and Jamie McGrath were taken off early in the second half.
Goodwin had no choice, because McGrath had taken a knock and Pawlett was coming back from a hamstring issue, but it highlights the lack of squad depth.
A trip to Ibrox next means they are unlikely to improve their points haul, and then come huge games against Hibernian, Motherwell, and Livingston before the split.
St Mirren are not in great form - that's now one win in seven in all competitions - but they have a solid base level of performance which means they are usually in games.
In the second half they were direct and peppered the United box to put their fragile defence under pressure. Ultimately, it worked.
They still lack some finesse in midfield, with Keanu Baccus drifting in and out of the game. But they are never an easy side to play against.
What they said
Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "I don't know how we didn't score at the end. We could've taken all three points. I don't think there was a great deal between the two teams. Probably on the balance of play, a draw might've been fair.
"But for me it's the manner we concede the equaliser. I can't accept that with VAR and the technology to support us. There's not enough contact for me to warrant a penalty."
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "We started poorly for 20 minutes. We didn't land on second balls, turn them round and make them defend. That's the disappointing aspect.
"The reaction to that was fantastic. We controlled large amounts of the game. We score our goal, have one disallowed and have numerous chances to win the game."
What's next?
After the international break United face a tough trip to Ibrox (15:00 BST), while St Mirren host Livingston at the same time in a huge battle for a top-six spot.