CAN I HAVE YOUR GOAL PLEASE LEE? SPL Shala's plea to United skipper.

Byline: GORDON PARKS REPORTS

DUNDEE UTD 1

INVERNESS CT 1

ANDIS SHALA is not the kind of guy that allows facts to get in the way of a good story - but who could blame him.

After a miserable start to life at Tannadice the German striker is claiming the goal which salvaged a point for Dundee United.

The plot sounds too good to be true. Seven months of struggling with form, unable to settle on Tayside, nagging self doubt and a boss who's questioning signing him in the first place.

Then with his side trailing 1-0 against Inverness he climbs off the bench to make his SPL debut with 12minutes remaining and creates the equaliser with his first touch.

The FACT Lee Wilkie was the scorer only served to spoil a great piece of fiction. So much so in fact that Shala's managed to talk his skipper into giving him the credit for the late leveller.

He said: "I've asked Lee if he would mind if I said it was my goal and he said 'No'. So it's one touch and one goal for me. I hope Lee doesn't mind too much but anyway he's a defender.

"I knew the ball would be played into the box so that's where I went and managed to get a touch. Big Lee was in there but maybe it was my goal. I thought the keeper touched it and allowed it to slip from his hands and I was thrilled to see it go in."

Since moving to United in the summer from VFR Mannheim the 20-year-old has failed to make the kind of impression Craig Levein had anticipated but that may be about to change.

The relief at being given a chance was shining out from Shala's face as he spoke after a game that looked to be doomed to failure for the home side until his introduction.

He said: "It felt great to play as I've waited a long time for this opportunity. It made it even better to get on when the team were needing a goal and making the assist for the goal which made it 1-1.

I'm very proud of myself and I'm very proud of the team as we didn't give up.

"I thought I'd get on when it was 1-0 as we needed a goal and the boss would want to put one of the big lads up-front.

"It's been frustrating but the manager and the assistant manager have been telling me that I must keep working hard and I will get my chance.

"I've worked hard and they've been great as they've shown me a lot of things.

I hope to get more minutes on the park and maybe in a few weeks I will get to start a game. I came here to start games and play football."

This was a match in which Caley again underlined themselves as a side that have rediscovered the grit and guts needed to drag themselves away from the serious threat of relegation.

Bodies were thrown into challenges, they put themselves on the line en-masse to make sure they would leave Tayside with at least a point and they threatened constantly on the break.

United on the other hand started the better side with Wilkie, Prince Buaben and Fran Sandaza all going close before they went behind in the 16th minute.

Dougie Imrie was given an eternity to pick out Eric Odhiambo who placed a header past Lukasz Zaluska.

From then on in it was a case of United sending waves of attacks in against the visitors who contented themselves with slick breakaway's that really should have secured another goal midway through the first half. Imrie broke clear and with only Zaluska to beat he opted to roll a pass to Odhiambo when the goal was at his mercy and the United keeper saved.

Despite enjoying territorial advantage and having the bulk of possession there was a lack of genuine belief from United that they had what it takes to break down a defence who were repelling each attack as though their life depended on it.

Too often the final ball and decision making left a lot to be desired although Wilkie, Craig Conway and Jon Daly went close after the break.

Levein admitted it was an all or nothing strategy to throw on his three subs but it was soon to pay dividends.

Danny Grainger burst clear on goal only for Caley skipper Russell Duncan to make a last man challenge that earned him a straight red card.

The numerical advantage was with United and the pressure finally told in the 79th minute. Morgaro Gomis delivered a cross from the right and that man Shala rose to head down at the feet of keeper Ryan Esson who failed to gather and Wilkie stuck out a toe to grab his fifth goal of the season.

The race was on for the home side to get a winner and Shala fired in a left foot shot that fizzed inches wide and he sent a header over in the dying seconds.

Inverness were good value for their point and extended their unbeaten run to three games as Terry Butcher and Maurice Malpas continue the rejuvenation of a club that was in free-fall before their arrival.

United though lost their grip on third place and were unconvincing to continue a worrying recent trend.

Man of the Match

Dougie Imrie (Inverness)

MATCH STATS

POSSESSION %

55 45

SHOTS ON TARGET

3 4

SHOTS OFF TARGET

6 4

CORNERS

10 3

FOULS CONCEDED

9 10

OFFSIDES 

3 2

DUNDEE UTD

MAN BY MAN

MAGIC MOMENT

Lukasz Zaluska: Exposed at the goal. 6

Paul Caddis: On-loan Celt had decent debut pushing down the right flank. 6

Lee Wilkie: Kept things tight at the back and grabbed equaliser. 7

Garry Kenneth: Growing into a top-class defender but troubled by pace of Imrie. 6

Paul Dixon: Afew careless moments and didn't deliver with usual quality. 5

Mihael Kovacevic: Guilty of a succession of misplaced passes. 5

Prince Buaben: Tireless and always prepared to work. 6

Morgaro Gomis: Drove his side forward all game but didn't get the breaks. 6

Francisco Sandaza: Started brightly and unlucky not to win early penalty. 6

Jon Daly: Held the ball up well but no cutting edge. 6

Craig Conway: Can do much better. 5

Subs: Danny Swanson - gave ball away too often, 4. Warren Feeney - brought attack to life as they searched for a goal, 3. Andis Shala - made the goal on his SPL debut, 4.

INVERNESS CT

MAN BY MAN

Ryan Esson: Blundered at the equaliser to spoil a decent display. 5

Ross Tokely: Usual commitment with no frills or thrills. 6

Grant Munro: Threw himself into every challenge with relish. 7

Pavels Mihadjuks: Not the quickest but defended well. 7

Lionel Djebi-Zadi: Stuck to task and improved as the game went on. 6

David Proctor: Harried United midfield. 6

Ian Black: Tried to direct play and went close with a few shots. 6

Richie Foran: Ran himself into the ground as he works his way back to fitness. 6

Russell Duncan: No complaints about red card for bringing down Swanson. 6

Dougie Imrie: Classy player who is taking creative responsibility for his side. 8

Eric Odhiambo: Buried his goal well and looks a decent addition. 7

Subs: Garry Wood - helped keep United at bay, 2. Roy McBain - on to shore things up, 3.

Adam Rooney - caused United problems, 4.

MAGIC MOMENT

Dougie Imrie's late run and shot deserved better than to end up in the side net.

CAPTION(S):

TANNA-NICE: Lee Wilkie salutes the equaliser for United but German debutant Andis Shala made his case to be given the goal after the game