Dundee United 0 Inverness CT 2

United suffered a huge blow to their survival hopes losing 2-0 at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle today. By Tommy McKay Mixu Paatelainen named the same starting 11 which narrowly lost to Partick Thistle in midweek with the sole change coming on the subs bench with Coll Donaldson coming in for Mark Durnan. In a cagey start to the game the first chance fell to United on five minutes.  After good interplay, Dow collected the ball in the Inverness box but lost his footing at the vital moment. Meanwhile, referee Craig Thomson pulled play back for a foul on Mckay on the edge of the box.  From the resulting free kick Demel drew a fine save from Inverness goalkeeper Fon Williams.  Despite forcing a couple of early corners United were unable to capitalise. Inverness created their first clear chance of the match when Miles Storey forced Kawashima into a smart save on 13 minutes.  United would find themselves behind moments later when Iain Vigurs, from a quickly taken free kick, found the released Draper down the right hand side who, despite having the time and space to have a shot himself, squared the ball to Storey who finished from six yards out. The home side had Kawashima to thank for keeping the score at 0-1 in the first half as the Japan internationalist made a great save from Tansey on 26 minutes and got down well to save at his near post from Warren after a corner from Vigurs.  Mixu Paatelainen was forced into his first change of the game when Paul Dixon failed to recover from a collision with team mate Callum Morris and was replaced by Simon Murray on 38 minutes. Half time: United 0 - Inverness CT 1 United were quick to create the first chance on 48 minutes.  Demel again had a strike saved by Fon Williams and, with Anier lurking, Tremarco was able to clear for a corner to United which was eventually cleared by Inverness. Things were to get worse for United when, on 50 minutes, Inverness forced a corner which was taken by Tansey.  United could only half clear and, after bringing the ball down on his chest, Vigurs lashed a right foot shot past a sea of bodies and into the net. The home team created a great opening on 52 minutes when Mckay, with his back to goal, chested the ball down to the on-running Anier who was unable to find the net as his shot flew over.  Paatelainen’s response was to make his second change of the game on 55 minutes when Scott Fraser replaced Ryan Dow.  United would be forced into their final change eight minutes later when Sean Dillon replaced the injured Gavin Gunning whilst on 67 minutes Kyle Knoyle almost had his first goal for the Club but the youngster was denied by a fantastic save by Fon Williams. Unfortunately for the home side, there was no repeat of the resounding come back United showed in the derby three weeks ago.  Despite this being a body blow to United’s survival hopes, Mixu and his men will pull roll up their sleeves and will continue to fight to the last. Full time: United 0 Inverness CT 2 Teams: Dundee United: Kawashima, Dixon (Murray 38), Morris, Paton ©, Mckay, Rankin, Knoyle, Dow (Fraser 55), Gunning (Dillon 60), Anier, Demel Unused subs: Szromnik, Erskine, Spittal, Donaldson Inverness CT: Fon Williams,  Tremarco, Warren ©, Meekings, Draper, Devine, Tansey, Polworth, Vigurs, Mutumbo (Vincent 63), Storey ( Williams (79) Unused subs: Esson, Williams, Foran, Williams, Horner, Hughes CROWD: 6927 REFEREE: Craig Thomson