Penalty woe means 10-man United settle for a draw
DUNDEE UNITED boss Ray McKinnon was disappointed not to grab all three points despite his team being reduced to 10 men against a spirited Raith Rovers side.
McKinnon was making his return to Stark’s Park after leaving the Fife club to take over at United in the summer and received a frosty reception from the home fans.
The hotly contested match was anything but a nil-nil bore as the vocal crowd created a fiesty atmosphere and ex-Raith man Lewis Toshney was sent off for United before the depleted visitors blew the chance to win by missing a late penalty.
McKinnon said: ‘It’s a tough place to come. We’re walking away feeling disappointed we’ve not got the three points.
‘There are lots of positives though. That’s our sixth clean sheet and the attitude of the players trying to win the game with 10 men was fantastic.
‘Lewis is adamant he never touched the man for the sending off but we’ll check it out.
‘However, it’s a great point. We’re top of the league and we would have taken that three months ago.’
After a scrappy opening period, Raith began to settle down and started to play, with winger Bobby Barr testing Cammy Bell with a volley at the back post on 12 minutes before Ross Callachan’s effort from distance required a smart save from the United keeper.
McKinnon’s men then started to show some of the form that had seen them go unbeaten in their past ten league outings, as Blair Spittal warmed Raith goalkeeper Kevin Cuthbert’s hands with a free-kick.
Then Tope Obadeyi got his first sight of goal but could not force the ball past Cuthbert.
United centre-half Mark Durnan had Cuthbert scrambling on 25 minutes with an audacious Beckham-esque lob from distance, which flew narrowly over the bar.
Raith were almost one up at the break after a lovely switch of play from Kevin McHattie allowed Chris Johnston to get in behind Jamie Robson and float a cross into the area, but Declan McManus’ effort crashed back off the bar.
United were reduced to 10 men nine minutes into the second half when Toshney was given his second booking for hauling down Bobby Barr.
Despite the sending off, United blew a golden opportunity to take the lead with 15 minutes left when substitute Simon Murray was adjudged to have been brought down in the box, but Cuthbert saved terrifically at his right-hand post from Tony Andreu’s penalty.
Raith boss Gary Locke said: ‘I thought we looked dangerous against a really good side so we’re pleased. I didn’t think it was a penalty. It was a fantastic save and I felt we deserved that break.’