Climate change

Richard Winton

Assistant Sports Editor

Sunday 20 January 2013

MAYBE the decision on the future of Peter Houston was timely, after all.

Dundee United's Johnny Russell celebrates completing his hat-trickPhotograph: SNS

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Richard Winton

Just a couple of days after the announcement that the Dundee United manager would be abdicating his position at the end of the campaign, his side recorded a first victory in six matches.

They did it, too, with a performance lacking many of the flaws that scarred their efforts in recent weeks. Granted, a couple of moments of defensive doziness cost them two sloppy goals, but there was greater vigour and more diligence about the United players. It was almost as if a burden had been lifted.

Kenny Shiels certainly thought so. The Kilmarnock manager might have overstated his own side's claim to a draw, but his observations about United were correct. "You could see there was a relief in the demeanour of the players," he said. "Now that they know the destiny of the manager they are playing to impress a new suitor and you could see the psychological lift. But by no means were they better than us and that gives me a lot of satisfaction."Despite Shiels' protests, United did have the better of the contest and enjoyed the better chances, despite going behind to Manuel Pascali's 18th-minute opener. Johnny Russell, who ultimately scored a perfect hat-trick, had an effort disallowed after just six minutes, having been ruled offside as he nudged in Barry Douglas's free-kick, and Jon Daly came close on several occasions, first flashing a shot across the face of goal then twice failing narrowly to connect with tempting deliveries.Given that Houston's side had scored in their previous 16 games, it always appeared likely that they would breach Cammy Bell's goal and they did so two minutes before the break to equalise. Keith Watson surged down the right and, as Daly and Ryan O'Leary challenged for his low cross at the back post, the ball squirted towards the edge of the area for Russell to rattle an instinctive finish past the helpless Bell.It would not be the last telling contribution the striker made. Energetic and eager throughout, Russell was a persistent pest to the Kilmarnock back four and was rewarded with a second goal just after the hour. Watson impressed again down the right, galloping to the bye-line and hanging over a splendid delivery that Russell needed only nod past the exposed Bell. A third seemed inevitable given Russell's habit of scoring in bunches. The 22-year-old spurned a glorious chance when put through by the returning Gary Mackay-Steven, rattling his shot against Bell's legs, but he rediscovered his composure to secure the win with two minutes left, dashing on to Douglas's pass, taking a lovely touch and sliding past the goalkeeper. Houston, who was keen to commend the efforts of the entire side, rather than just the striker, was equally eager to deflect any suggestions that his players were unburdened after the events of the past week."I've stopped reading papers and internet forums," he said. "Whoever it might be [that replaces him], good luck to them because they'll have a great bunch of players. I've made my decision and now I want to focus on the rest of the season and work towards getting in to the top six."This victory moved United up to seventh but, if they are to advance higher, they will need to eradiate the calamitous concessions that have handicapped their season so far. Radoslaw Cierzniak had been beaten 13 times in the previous five matches and it seemed another anguished afternoon lay ahead when Kilmarnock established a lead. James Dayton's corner was cleared to the edge of the area but, when Ryan O'Leary skittered a shot towards goal, Paul Heffernan was afforded space to shunt the ball in to the path of Manuel Pascali, who scooped it high in to the net from close range.That aside, chances were scarce for the hosts. Dayton flashed wide, Rory McKeown almost caught out Cierzniak with a near-post effort and Mohamadou Sissoko sent a 25-yard half-volley bouncing narrowly past, but it would be three minutes in to stoppage time before Kilmarnock scored again, Pascali once more bundling in from a Dayton corner."There was nothing in the game," moaned Shiels, who reacted angrily to questions over Gary Harkins' mooted move to Dundee, insisting the deal was dead despite chairman Michael Johnston's suggestion that an agreement could be struck next week.

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