Dundee Utd 0 - 0 St Mirren: Drab affair ends in stalemate

Dundee United striker Johnny Russell cannot understand why his side have struggled at home this season.The Tannadice faithful have only seen their team win three times from 13 matches so far in this campaign following the goalless draw with St Mirren on Saturday.

Russell felt United should have taken the points in what was a drab encounter against the Paisley side but felt their play in the final third let them down.

He said: “I don’t think it was the best game at all, to play in or to watch. You get games like that now and again.

“We feel like it was two points dropped and maybe St Mirren feel the same. It is quite weird that we are doing better on the road. We just can’t seem to get the goals here at the moment.”

Russell is hoping to be included in the Scotland Under-21 squad for the visit of the Netherlands later this month. He believes the Dutch will be out for revenge when the sides meet at St Mirren Park on 29 February following the Scots’ 2-1 win in November.

He added: “I hope I’m in the squad as it will be a big game. We know that they will be looking for a bit of revenge after we beat them over there.”

Meanwhile St Mirren manager Danny Lennon praised Marc McAusland for a heroic display in defence.

The defender picked up an injury making a brave block to deny Russell but soldiered on to help his side keep a clean sheet.

Lennon said: “Marc was terrific. I thought he competed well and more often than not him and Lee Mair were winning the aerial battle. I was delighted to come away with a point, given that we weren’t at our best.

“It wasn’t a great game and I asked Peter Houston after the game if his eyes were sore after watching that because mine were in agony.”