Disaster Late collapse means Tangerines now have a mountain to climb

PLAYERRATINGS

DUNDEE United might just have pushed the self-destruct button once too often after a late disintegration saw them go down to Livingston in the first leg of their Premiership play-off semi-final last night.

Not for the first time this season the Tangerines snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

Leading 2-1 and looking a decent bet to stretch their lead, late in the second half at Tannadice they conceded two goals in three disastrous minutes to leave themselves trailing going into Friday’s deciding leg.

If that wasn’t bad enough, in a moment of madness skipper Willo Flood got himself sent off for pushing Livi’s Shaun Byrne and will be suspended for the second leg.

So often the driving force for United on the pitch, he will be sorely missed but only has himself to blame for that.

Byrne maybe made the most of the incident, when Flood gave him a nudge after they got into a squabble when United had been awarded a free-kick, and went down easily.

Even so, the vastly-experienced Flood should have known better than to get involved and could have no complaints when referee Nick Walsh flashed the second yellow and a red.

And he didn’t cover himself in glory as he aimed a verbal volley at his own technical area as he stormed towards the tunnel.

If he can be blamed for that, other than look on in horror and disbelief, there was little Flood could do about the way catastrophic defensive errors saw this game thrown away.

United had made the worst possible start, falling behind to a Rafa De Vita strike after just two minutes.

They roared back admirably and just a minute or so later Thomas Mikkelsen celebrated being restored to the starting line-up by firing the equaliser.

United then set about producing some of their best football since the turn of the year and deservedly went ahead when star man Anthony Ralston fired home from the edge of the area just short of the half-hour mark.

At that point they had the look of a team that could go on and finish the tie on the night.

With teenager Ralston marauding down the right flank and Scott Fraser pulling the strings in midfield, there seemed every chance the lead would be extended.

That’s how thing continued for a time after the break and, although there was something of a lull in their dominance as the second half wore on, moving into the final 15 minutes they remained the more likely side to add another goal.

As has too often been the case in this campaign, however, things went horribly wrong.

Thirteen minutes from the end, slack defending allowed Josh Mullin to run through for the equaliser and worse was to follow as a Stewart Murdoch error let Scott Pittman in for the winner.

That puts Livi in the box seat for Friday and, given the terrific season they’ve had, David Hopkin’s side have to be strong favourites to make it through to next week’s final.

If that’s the case it will be a bitter disappointment for everyone connected to the Tangerines.

Truth is, though, given the trials and tribulations of this season, it probably won’t come as too big a surprise.

There have been too many disasters this season for that.