Ross Graham’s header with quarter-hour remaining noticed Dundee United all-but mathematically safe their place within the William Hill Scottish Premiership’s high six.
The match was frantic at instances towards Ross County, however lacked high quality in entrance of purpose so it was maybe acceptable the sport’s decisive second got here from a set-piece within the 1-0 victory.
Whereas Don Cowie made a single change to his beginning line-up with Alex Samuel taking the place of Nohan Kenneh, reverse quantity Jim Goodwin made two adjustments to a squad who had been stewing over their derby defeat all through the worldwide break.
Declan Gallagher and Allan Campbell dropped out, with Ross Docherty and Craig Sibbald within the beginning line-up.
Josh Nisbet arrange Noah Chilvers to have a blocked effort from the sting of the field, and Dundee United had two VAR opinions for penalties – each of which went with the on-field choice of no fouls.
Halfway by means of the primary half, County had been inches away from scoring when Eli Campbell’s lengthy throw was flicked on in the direction of the far publish by Kacper Lopata, just for visiting goalkeeper Jack Walton to get throughout to smother Alex Samuel’s try from shut vary.
Within the 69th minute, United will really feel like they need to have gone forward when Graham headed a nook into the bottom, solely to see it bounce previous a publish.
The same state of affairs would see the away aspect break the impasse, with Dundee United virtually repeating the transfer 5 minutes later, however this time Graham would discover the web to place the guests within the lead.
Shortly afterwards, Campbell was wanted to make a spectacular clearance off his personal line to stop Louis Moult making it 2-0.
Sam Dalby might have scored late on too, however noticed his header fly straight into the fingers of Jordan Amissah.
Though there was loads of late drama in Dingwall this season, together with within the first assembly between these two sides, County couldn’t discover an equaliser to salvage one thing for his or her efforts.
Victory means Dundee United are six factors away from St Mirren in seventh with two video games to go till the highest flight splits, whereas the Staggies are 4 factors behind sixth-placed Hearts and 4 away from the relegation play-off spot.
What the managers mentioned…
Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin:
“We knew how difficult the game was going to be, and it was going to take a bit of resilience and team spirit to get this result.
“It wasn’t fairly and it wasn’t a sport filled with actual high quality. Two aggressive groups had been going at it and we at all times thought one purpose could be sufficient.
“We spoke during the week about getting back to basics and we set the players the target of a clean sheet because we always believe we’ll score.
“I have been within the sport lengthy sufficient to understand the highest six isn’t carried out although. Till it is mathematically carried out, we cannot be celebrating something.
“St Mirren are in great form and they will fancy themselves in their next few games, and the goal difference isn’t so huge that it can’t be cut down.
“We can’t get carried away. It was essential to get again to fundamentals and try this properly, and now we’ll sit up for Hearts.”
Ross County boss Don Cowie:
“It’s irritating {that a} set-piece was the distinction as a result of there wasn’t a lot in it within the first half.
“Dundee United are in the top six because they are relentless and we didn’t do enough to get back in it when we were 1-0 down.
“At no stage did we create any actual momentum. We are saying on a regular basis that we are able to go 1-0 down, it is about how we react.
“There was plenty of time left in the game, and we didn’t show enough. We had plenty of quality on the pitch and with the way the squad is right now everyone is chomping at the bit to play, so I wanted to see a bit more.
“We’re an sincere group they usually know they might have carried out higher in that second half.”
