Jim Goodwin not happy with Dundee United’s first-half performance

Jim Goodwin admitted Dundee United’s first-half performance against Livingston was not good enough – but his side still ultimately deserved to take all three points.

The visitors established a first-half lead through a Scott Pittman goal but were pegged back after the break with Krisztian Keresztes netting his first goal for United.

The home side had several further chances to score but could not take them and Goodwin was adamant that his side had dropped two points.

The manager said: “Quite simply the first half wasn’t good enough and the second was a lot better. Conditions played their part.

“The wind coming down the hill showed in both halves. Livingston had it first half and we had it in the second.

“I sound like a broken record with the goal we conceded. It was a really poor mistake from our point of view.

“We should have dealt with the ball in the channel, then we got caught out trying to be too clever and it was a simple goal for Livingston.

“We don’t seem to get those chances and have to work hard for them. Far too often we’ve conceded needlessly.

“Second half was a lot better. We were more on the front foot, competing in the middle of the park, working the ball wide in lots of dangerous areas.

“Probably my only criticism was we didn’t show enough quality in the final third.

“Our decision-making in terms of the cross we were needing, too often we hit the first man.

“I felt when we got the equaliser we were in the ascendancy and if anyone was going to win it was going to be ourselves. It does feel like two points dropped.”

United lost to Kilmarnock last week after another sluggish first-half performance and Goodwin admitted his side have to do better.

He added: “We’ve shown in games what we’re capable of being when we are on the front foot and play quicker.

“In the opening 45 I felt we were really poor in possession. Trying to build from the back, nothing was consistent and there was no real quality from it.”

Goodwin’s counterpart Davie Martindale was much happier with the point secured on the road by his team.

He said: “It was a game of two halves. Probably the wind played a bigger part than it felt from the side.

“I think every game away from home is a positive point. I’ve been here before.

“People say our away form is woeful for a club of our size but if you throw in the conditions I think you could say it’s a positive point. Dundee United controlled more of the second half.”