Ban woe and transfer joy in mixed day for Peter Houston

IT WAS a day of mixed fortunes for Dundee United manager Peter Houston yesterday – as he was offered a two-match ban for comments made after the defeat to Aberdeen this month, but also managed to secure Ross County striker Michael Gardyne on a pre-contract agreement.

The Scottish Football Association announced in the morning that it had issued Houston with a notice of complaint over remarks which allegedly breached SFA rule 68, which relates to statements about match officials.

United were beaten 2-1 by Aberdeen at Tannadice on 2 January. The hosts had taken the lead when John Daly fired home after six minutes but the Dons hit back through Mohamed Chalali and won it when Kari Arnason blasted a long-range effort in off the bar four minutes from time.

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Afterwards, Houston claimed his side were denied a “glaring penalty” and ought to have had a throw-in the lead-up to the visitors’ equalising goal.

“The assistant did not get involved at the penalty but certainly got involved in the equaliser,” the United manager said. “I have to question his capability to perform at this level. Maybe it’s too much for him.”

Houston has until 1pm tomorrow to respond to the notice of complaint from the SFA’s compliance officer.

But there was some cheer for him yesterday when it was confirmed that Gardyne had penned a pre-contract deal.

The 25-year-old will move to Tannadice in the summer when his contract with the Irn-Bru First Division side Ross County ends.

Gardyne joined the Highland club on a permanent basis in the summer of 2008 following a loan spell at Victoria Park while signed to Celtic.

A statement on United’s website read: “Dundee United today confirmed that Michael Gardyne has signed a pre-contract agreement with the club. The 25-year-old is currently contracted to First Division Ross County.”

United travel to Celtic Park this weekend looking to end the league leaders’ unbeaten run, which now stretches to 13 games. The Tannadice side go into the game full of confidence after hitting Airdrie United for six in the Scottish Cup last week, and defender Garry Kenneth is confident of taking something from the trip to Glasgow.

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“I honestly think we will go there, play well and get a result,” said Kenneth. “We will have to be a wee bit more patient at Parkhead and then try to break them down. We will let them come at us and then try to hit them on the break.

“We have not won there for a long time but we have had a few draws and are capable of giving them a good game. Our problem in the past has been starting slowly at Parkhead so it would great this time if we are right in their faces from kick-off.”

“Everybody in our dressing room is confident and the Airdrie game, with the amount of goals we scored, has given us all a boost going into this weekend.”

Kenneth added: “You need to keep the ball as much as you can at Celtic Park so a display like the one against Airdrie will have helped us. We know what to expect from Celtic.

“We will be ready for it, though and I’m sure we can get something from the match.”