Jim Goodwin says Dundee United should have held on against Ross County

Posted Sunday, August 11, 2024 by PA

Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin was left frustrated at conceding a stoppage-time goal in the 1-1 draw against Ross County in Dingwall.

After Eamonn Brophy missed a first-half penalty for the hosts, it was United who took the lead just after the restart when David Babunski struck.

But the Staggies levelled in the fifth minute of added time through Ronan Hale.

While admitting that a draw was a fair result overall, the manner of letting their lead slip was a serious fault as far as Goodwin was concerned.

“I don’t really know how to feel,” he said.

“I’m extremely angry and frustrated at how we concede the equaliser, but at half-time I felt extremely fortunate to still be level-pegging at 0-0.

“Ross County dominated the first half and we never imposed ourselves on them. We looked a shadow of the team that played against Dundee last weekend, albeit we nearly got off to the perfect start from kick-off and should have scored.

“To be 1-0 up and in the fifth minute of injury time, we should see the game through. There are three of our guys competing for one ball with Jordan White. We’ve got to manage that situation so much better.

“We end up with a two versus one in the middle of the goal and we’re marking space when we should be marking the player. I’m extremely frustrated because we should have held on. In saying that, I’m not sure our whole performance merited it.”

County boss Don Cowie, meanwhile, was happy with how his side battled to the very end after going behind so early in the second half.

“I thought it was a big step up from last week, which was more of a battling performance,” said Cowie.

“I was delighted with the first-half performance against Dundee United. We were really good in possession, with plenty of options for the man on the ball.

“We had a real cutting edge at the end of it as well. As I’ve spoken about to the group, the game can change so quickly.

“That’s what happened at the start of the second half. It’s about being prepared for that, and trying to swing that momentum around.

“We didn’t manage to do it, but we kept going until that moment came and we got the equaliser.”