Russell leads United revival

Dundee United fought back from two-goals down to earn themselves a superb 3-2 win at ten-man Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

It looked decidedly bleak for the visitors after Jonny Hayes and Billy McKay scored at the beginning of each half to give the hosts a clear lead.

However, substitute Johnny Russell netted either side of a Roman Golobart own-goal to eventually turn the contest completely on its head. David Davis was sent-off before the end to complete a really bad day for the home side.

Caley were ahead inside two minutes when Hayes took advantage of a Davis cross after Robbie Neilson had failed to clear. But they lost Chris Hogg to injury on fifteen minutes and came close to conceding as Jon Daly headed over Gary Mackay-Steven's delivery.

Tangerines keeper Dusan Pernis was then forced to turn aside a shot from McKay, who still extended the lead with an early second-half header from Hayes' corner.

Manager Peter Houston sent on Russell in place of Willo Flood and he quickly fired home after a good run from Stuart Armstrong.

Confusion in the home defence just past the hour then witnessed Golobart diverting the ball past his own keeper Ryan Esson to suddenly level the scores.

Trying to make immediate amends, Golobart soon headed Hayes' free-kick narrowly wide before Russell again showed his finishing ability on 78 minutes after receiving from Mackay-Steven, who was later fouled a second time by Davis to bring about his dismissal.

Inverness CT: Esson, Tokely, Hogg (Cox 15), Golobart, Gillet, Hayes, Tansey, Shinnie (Ross 67), Davis, Foran, McKay (Tade 73)

subs (unused): Tuffey, Shinnie, Morrison, Sutherland

Goals: Hayes (2), McKay (47)

Dundee United: Pernis, Dixon, Dillon, Gunning, Neilson, Flood (Russell 49), Robertson, Rankin, Armstrong, Mackay-Steven, Daly

subs (unused): Banks, Kenneth, Watson, Douglas, Dalla Valle, Dow

Goals: Russell (51, 78), Golobart OG (64)

Ref: S. Mclean

Att: 3,142

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