Jim Goodwin delighted to see Dundee United respond to half-time challenge

Jim Goodwin revealed Dundee United’s players responded to his half-time challenge to earn a comeback 1-1 draw at St Johnstone.

United trailed to Josh Fowler’s 21st-minute goal despite being the dominant team.

Goodwin was delighted by their second-half display, even though Lyall Cameron’s 79th-minute leveller was all they had to show for it.

Saints remain in fifth place in the William Hill Premiership, ahead of United only on goal difference.

“When you’re a goal behind at half-time, you’re questioning the character,” said Goodwin.

“You want to see if the players have what it takes to get themselves back into the game.

“I felt the goal was coming and, if we did get that equaliser, that we would potentially go on and win the game.

“We had one or two very good chances at 1-1, but, unfortunately, couldn’t capitalise on those.

“Another thing we discussed at half-time was that we don’t ever want to get desperate and force things.

“I felt in the first half, in the last 15 minutes of the half, we looked for passes and gaps that weren’t there.

“We caused a lot of our own problems.

“In the second half, I wanted us to speed the game up, move it quickly from one side to the other and try to get better quality deliveries into the area.

“Some of our build-up was a little bit too laboured at times; a little bit too slow.

“We asked the players: Could we speed things up a little bit and play forward earlier?

“And don’t allow St Johnstone to get their shape back behind the ball.

“In the second half, I thought we completely dominated the game.”

Simo Valakari admitted star striker Fowler soldiered on through illness to net his sixth league goal.

Fowler was replaced by Ruari Paton at half-time.

“Josh was ill overnight,” said Valakari.

“He decided he could start, but after about 35 minutes, it looked like he might need to be taken off.

“I couldn’t waste a window to make changes, so he was able to push for us to get to half-time.

“Now he needs to recover. It says a lot about Josh that he can still score a goal like that and make the runs he did when feeling ill.

“I had it earlier in the week, so I know what it’s like!

“Getting a chance to score a goal is good medicine for a striker!

“That’s why we love him, and he is scoring goals – he has this desire that never goes away.”

Valakari was pleased to emerge with a point to continue their fine start to the campaign.

“It was a fair result,” Valakari added. “Both teams made it difficult for each other and were going for the winner at the end. I enjoyed the game.”