RCFC 1 DUFC 1

And so our title challenge ended thanks to a 94th minute equaliser in Dingwall. It had a sense of inevitability about it, these things always do with United, and we always find new ways to disappoint.

United played reasonably well in Dingwall on Friday night, particularly in the first half, and I don't think I'm wearing tangerine tinted glasses when I say we deserved the three points. But as ever our inability to be clinical in front of goal gave the opposition hope and, when the inevitable late onslaught happened, we buckled.

It might not be mathematically over, but congratulations to Ross County who clinched the Championship title on Friday night.

I felt the changes didn't help us and the manager has to have a look at himself for that. He tends to try to defend a single goal lead too much for my liking, and he needs to learn that we can't rely on a poor defence. Their goal was a result of some dreadful, nervy defending.

So where does it leave us? Well, second place is looking more and more assured as the Ayr collapse gathers pace, and we face the Honest Men on Friday night, our second successive BBC Scotland appearance. Hopefully we can finally break our tv hoodoo this time. Ayr have dropped to fourth now (albeit with two games in hand over ICT, who are 2 points ahead of them). Ayr's season has collapsed dramatically and they'll be a little nervous of losing out entirely on a play-off spot, with Dunfermline gaining ground, although the gap might be too much at this stage of the season.

Second place is essential though as it saves us playing an additional two-legged tie. Hopefully ICT and Ayr/Dunfermline kick lumps out of each other and soften themselves up for our games. Then, if we progress, it's a Premiership club and the likelihood of it being a Dundee derby appears to be diminishing week by week.

Disappointing as it is, they need to look forward to the challenges ahead. They must be overcome.

Mon the Terrors