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Shankland strikes again as Dundee United all but kill off any title challenge from Inverness Caledonian Thistle


By Alasdair Fraser

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Scottish Championship

Dundee United 2

Caley Thistle 1

Scorers: United – Appere 12, Shankland 59. Caley Thistle – White 32

A MOMENT of sheer class from Lawrence Shankland all but killed Caley Thistle’s lingering Championship title hopes at rain-lashed Tannadice.

Lawrence Shankland scores the winning goal. Picture: Willie Vass
Lawrence Shankland scores the winning goal. Picture: Willie Vass

The Scotland striker, the most expensive player outside the nation’s top league, again repaid the Tangerines considerable outlay in bringing him in from Ayr United with a brilliantly-taken second half winner.

There was little between the sides for long spells, but Caley Thistle manager John Robertson can only dream of being able to call on the goalscoring instincts of the 28-goal frontman’s calibre.

In unrelenting rain, Louis Appere got United off to a flyer, but a fine header from Jordan White squared it before the break.

But Shankland’s control and lethal finish almost on the hour proved the winner to send United 21 points clear at the top, with two extra games played.

Inverness attacker James Keatings was back in the starting 11 after finding himself at the centre of a national storm over his Challenge Cup sending off.

With the furore still simmering over the SFA judicial panel’s decision to uphold referee Greg Aitken’s diving accusation, Charlie Trafford dropped to the bench.

Otherwise, it was a team unchanged from that 2-1 semi-final victory over Rangers Colts.

United made one change from the team held to a 0-0 draw by Alloa, amid their run of five games – three in the league – without a victory.

In came Louis Appere, with Ian Harkes dropping to the bench.

United, for all their recent stutters, had beaten Caley Thistle twice already this season, with Lawrence Shankland netting four times in the 4-1 home win last time out at Tannadice.

The hosts’ prolific striker had a chance inside three minutes after Calum Butcher’s downward header found him in space 10 yards out.

Uncharacteristically, Shankland sliced his left foot attempt over the bar.

United had their tails up, though, and Rakish Bingham’s dangerous delivery from the right only just eluded the head of Peter Pawlett.

The breakthrough came after 12 minutes from slick build-up play from United.

Bingham dragged the ball across from the right to Louis Appere right on the edge of the penalty box and the United youth academy product placed his first-time strike perfectly into the bottom right corner.

United, for a short spell, flew forward looking for a second, with defender Mark Connolly bulleting a header over the bar and a Shankland dig at goal deflecting off Kevin McHattie for a corner.

Caley Thistle began to fight back, though, but struggled to seriously test home keeper Benjamin Siegrist.

Keatings, Miles Storey, Jordan White and Tom Walsh all had chances but all missed the mark.

But then, after 32 minutes, came the equaliser.

Keatings’ corner dipped at the front post and White did brilliantly to get in front of his marker and the goalkeeper to nod into the unguarded net.

White went close again before the break, while a Shankland back-heel from a Pawlett corner had to be smothered by Ridgers.

The Highland team started the second half positively with Walsh racing in to the right side of the box to draw a Siegrist save.

Paul Watson was booked for bringing James Vincent crashing at full-flight outside the United box, but Keatings’ free-kick came to nothing.

United’s support was growing restless, but they were back in good voice just before the hour.

Against the run of play, Bingham was again provider, curling a cross over from the right.

Shankland, with back to goal, controlled at the edge of the box, wheeled clear of the two centre halves and unleashed an unstoppable shot low past Ridgers.

United scented blood and Caley Thistle had to dig deep defensively for a spell to resist further damage.

Into the final quarter, the ball was holding up on the waterlogged surface and both sides looked leg-weary and short on ideas.

A long diagonal ball from deep right by Shaun Rooney found ICT skipper Carl Tremarco ruffling the side-netting as stoppage time approached.

But there as no way back for Inverness, who now re-focus all energies on the chase for second place, while United fans celebrated like the champions they are bound to be.

Dundee United (4-1-4-1) – Siegrist; Smith, Watson, Connolly, Robson; Powers (Harkes 58); Bingham (Bingham 88), Butcher, Pawlett (McMullan 58), Appere; Shankland. Subs: Mehmet, Sporle, Glass, Mochrie.

Inverness Caley Thistle (4-2-3-1) – Ridgers; Rooney, Mckay, McHattie, Tremarco; Carson (Trafford 58), Vincent; Walsh (Todorov 87), Keatings, Storey (Doran 66); White. Subs: MacKay, Toshney, Harper, MacGregor.

Referee: John Beaton.


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