LITTLE wonder Terry Butcher was so agitated.

The Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager was rampaging around his technical area during the closing stages of this encounter, he and assistant Maurice Malpas performing an angry concert as they beseeched their players to ensure they returned to the Highlands not only with the points but also perched at the top of the SPFL Premiership.

That the situation had become so tense was remarkable, given the manner in which the visitors overwhelmed a Dundee United side so drab they could count just two shots on target. It was not so much that Inverness were spurning openings, but rather that they were so superior that it was hard to countenance that the outcome was, notionally at least, in jeopardy in the closing stages.

In truth, Jackie McNamara's side could be playing now and still not have equalised Billy McKay's 20th-minute opener. Perhaps of greater concern, though, is that the manager has failed to address the defensive fragility that was at the root of United's inconsistency last term. Calum Butcher carries the requisite physical menace, as his robust debut at Firhill demonstrated, but the young Englishman was more hesitant yesterday alongside an equally unconvincing Sean Dillon, the duo tormented by the movement of McKay. The striker's cute pass had already afforded Graeme Shinnie the opportunity to lash a low shot against Radoslaw Cierzniak, and James Vincent had scudded a vicious goal-bound drive at Dillon's head by the time the visitors scored. McKay, 12 yards out, cushioned Richie Foran's shot, juggled the ball beyond Dillon, then prodded past Cierzniak.

"He's brilliant, isn't he?" said Butcher, who, pre-season, asked each player which animal their characteristics most resembled. "He said he was like a wasp because he buzzes around irritating people and getting in their faces and he's right because his workrate is phenomenal and he occupied both the centre-backs."

How right he was. McKay's continued influence contributed to United's ongoing defensive disarray. Gary Warren headed over a teasing Aaron Doran free-kick, then a McKay shot cannoned against John Rankin's hand, only for Steven McLean to wave play on then, after the break, an unmarked Nick Ross flashed over at the back post, McKay diverted a Doran drive wide with his head, then teed up Vincent to fizz an effort past.

That Inverness failed to burnish their lead remains mystifying. Perhaps the closest they came was with eight minutes left, Shinnie dispossessing a dawdling Butcher, releasing McKay, then tearing into box to meet the return, only to drag his finish wide under pressure from Dillon.

While the defensive problems were anticipated, United supporters had taken comfort from the attacking options at McNamara's disposal. The starting quartet of Gary Mackay-Steven, Stuart Armstrong and Chris Erskine behind David Goodwillie promised plenty, but almost the entire first half had elapsed before a chance was created; Erskine released Goodwillie, whose square ball was directed into the hands of Dean Brill by the onrushing Armstrong. A coruscating counter a couple of minutes later, Erskine and Mackay-Steven combining with Andrew Robertson, also foundered when the former's cross was cleared by a combination of Shinnie and Brill.

The hosts' inability to combat the physicality of Inverness prevented them from building a meaningful rhythm. Consequently, Goodwillie was isolated until the introduction of Brian Graham allowed United to shift the focus of the play towards the Inverness half and carve out their first real opportunity with just under 20 minutes to play.

Mackay-Steven for once made good progress down the left and slid a perfect delivery across the face of goal towards Goodwillie, but the striker's connection was so poor that he directed the ball back in the direction from which it came before Keith Watson swiped over after David Raven's panicked clearance fell to him.

It was a fitting motif for a hapless performance as United, who won at Tannadice just four times in the league last season, continued their dismal home record. "There was a lot of sloppy play and you could hear the fans' frustration," conceded McNamara. 'That's where the players need to be brave. It is about confidence, concentration and taking responsibility."