Dundee United manager Robbie Neilson watched his side breath new life into their title hopes last night as they rocked rivals Ross County – then challenged them to turn up the heat ever further.
Calum Butcher’s decisive seventh-minute header was enough to take Neilson’s promotion hopefuls to within eight points of Championship pacesetters County, with just eight games left in the frantic fight to seal an automatic route to the Premiership.
It represents a massive boost for Neilson’s men who will get another chance to put pressure on Stuart Kettlewell’s Highlanders when the two teams meet again in what promises to be another influential fixture at the start of next month in Dingwall.
Neilson said: “It’s a massive win. Now we have two league games before County play in the league again and a chance to put more pressure on them.
“Hopefully we can do that as we’ve closed the gap a little bit more with this win.”
United knew this was a must-win fixture and wasted no time in breaking the deadlock.
Midfielder Butcher lost his marker from Peter Pawlett’s corner, cleverly glancing home a header past Scott Fox from eight yards.
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County were stung by this, and a reckless foul by Mark Connolly on Michael Gardyne almost brought an equaliser with the ex-United favourite going just inches wide with his free-kick.
Then, in the 37th minute, Ross Draper almost troubled home keeper Benjamin Siegrist with a low drive just past his post.
The second half almost started with a bang for the visitors as Gardyne powered away from Connolly and presented Ross Stewart with a gilt-edged chance but the
striker’s shot was somehow cleared by the dangling legs of Siegrist.
County threw on ex-United forward Brian Graham after the break, while the hosts were forced into a reshuffle with Connolly pulling up and being replaced by Algerian Rachid Bouhenna.
United then had a shout for a penalty when Jamie Robson tumbled under Marcus Fraser but the claims were waved away.
Against the run of play, Nicky Clark had the chance to kill the game in the 83rd minute when he was sent through with a brilliant Paul McMullan pass. However, the striker elected to shoot rather than round the keeper and it was well saved.
County face Welsh outfit Connah’s Quay Nomads in Inverness this weekend while United get the chance to close the gap further at the top of the table when they host Alloa.
County manager Stuart Kettlewell said: “We never reach the heights we have done this season so just have to make sure we take our medicine.”
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