Dundee United manager Peter Houston accepts that he must shoulder some of the responsibility for the indifferent form shown by Johnny Russell. The striker impressed last season after bursting on to the scene, scoring against both Rangers and Celtic.
His form suggested to many at Tannadice that he would be the natural successor to David Goodwillie who left to join Blackburn in the summer. However, before Saturday's game against Caley Thistle, Russell had only scored three times this season.
This could have been why Houston only found a place for him on the bench for United's trip to the Highlands. However, Russell responded in the right way to the demotion when he got his chance to get involved in the second half. United were two goals down to Inverness after Jonny Hayes scored in just 69 seconds and Billy McKay's doubled the advantage in the 47th minute.
Russell came on and was on the scoresheet in the 51st minute to give the visitors hope, before a Roman Golobart own goal after 64 minutes and another Russell effort 12 minutes from time completed the comeback performance by United. Caley Thistle finished the game with 10 men, David Davis being sent off for two cautions with seven minutes left to play.
Houston was delighted with the turnaround and paid tribute to the performance of substitute Russell. He said: "He certainly made an impact and I was delighted for him. Young players can often find their second season more difficult than their first season, but he showed a positive reaction to being put on the bench by coming on and making a huge difference. He was magnificent for us last season and I've maybe not helped by playing him in a number of different positions during this season.
However, I do see him as going on to become a striker eventually." After the emotion of moving off the bottom of the SPL table the previous weekend following a win at St Mirren, Caley Thistle paid the price for letting slip a two-goal advantage.
The result makes it 19 games in total this season without a clean sheet. For Inverness boss Terry Butcher, who lost Chris Hogg to what looks like a knee injury that will cut short his season, the game ranked up there with some of his worst experiences in football.
He said: "We were looking very good at 2-0, but United scored quickly after we got our second and it gave them a big lift. We then go and lose a second, while United's third goal came when we were in possession well in their half. It's hard to believe we've lost 3-2. I've certainly not had many worse days than this."
Source: FOOTYMAD
