DUFC 0 HAFC 0

After a controversial match on a balmy summers evening at Tannadice the play-off final remains very much in the balance.

The game may have lacked for quality but it certainly didn't disappoint for drama and controversy.

I'll start by saying that, over the course of the game, Hamilton had the best chances. A one-on-one in the first half and two chances at the back post in the second half should have been converted. We had a few chances ourselves, their keeper making a couple of acrobatic stops (and I thought their keeper was very good, his starting position for intercepting through balls was excellent), but I think ultimately the best chances fell for the visitors.

Now let's get to the main talking points, and you have to start with Simon Murray. His first yellow card was absolutely correct and it was a dreadful dive. No complaints and I don't understand why he went down. The second yellow for diving however was absolutely atrocious and the officials should rightly be in the spotlight for what is a huge decision. The defender took a touch in the box, Murray nicked in from behind him to take the ball off his toe, the defender followed through in his attempt to clear the ball and whacked Murray on the knee. It was clear as day and Steven McLean initially went to give the penalty but his assistant signalled that it was a dive. That meant a second yellow and off he went.

In a way I feel for Steven McLean because he must have felt the assistants view was better. But overall I thought he had a terrible game. He never got to grips with the grappling in the box at set plays. He never picked up on the cute little dives from Hamilton that took place all over the park. Mikkelson was allowed to be grappled with at every opportunity. And then after the red card he gave us every decision because he knew it was the wrong one.

For a game of this magnitude you need the officials to be at their best and sadly they weren't. Thankfully Murray will be back for the second leg since you can appeal yellow cards for simulation but it could have proved pivotal.

If the penalty had been given, and we had scored it, we would have been in a great position. With eleven men we could even have pushed on for a second as Hamilton looked dead on their feet, with Imrie (kant) and Donati being passengers for the last 5-10 minutes. It wasn't to be.

The second major talking point was Kuate. He had a howler of a game, constantly being caught in possession. And then he had a bust up with Durnan that was the final straw, lashing out at the centre half. As soon as Telfer was called back to get ready I said to my old man that he would go straight down the tunnel rather than over to the sideline to shake hands and I was proven right. But of course it didn't finish there, with first Dillon then, stupidly, Durnan going over to him to tell him to go to the half way line. He lashed out at both, and then as the crowd jeered him he gestured at the home fans.

Credit to McKinnon, he dealt with it properly after the game. Asked "has Kuate played his last game for the club?" he replied "absolutely." He then went on to say that the player had disrespected everyone at the club and that doesn't happen at Dundee United. It was exactly the right reaction and good riddance (on a side note, I slightly cringed at Biscuits on the radio saying he should be "put on a plane and sent back to wherever he came from" - a bit Brexit that ).

Players who played well - Dixon (outwith the last 10 minutes), Flood, Mikkelsen. The two centre halves generally did their jobs. Dillon generally did well but then their two best chances second half were at his back post. Murray was a little subdued, Andreu was rarely in the game, Spittal had moments.

We might be fortunate for the second leg with them losing players. McKinnon in the midfield for them is suspended and I thought he played well. Imrie and Donati might miss out if they are as injured as they looked last night.

A final mention to the fans - the atmosphere last night was fantastic. I can't wait for Sunday.

Mon the Terrors