United Missed Noel Hunt v’s Falkirk

Craig Levein believes the loss of Noel Hunt’s ariel ability cost Dundee United when they played Falkirk on New Years day.

Goals from Patrick Cregg, Stephen O’Donnell and a hat-trick from Alan Gow gave Falkirk a convincing 5-1 win at “Fortress” Tannadice, proving that the loss of Anthony Stokes hasn’t affected their ability to score goals.

Stokes’s loan deal at Falkirk ended the day before the Dundee United match and the Spl’s current top goal scorer returned to Arsenal, where the London club recently rejected a £700,000 offer from Celtic to take the player on a more permanent basis.

Dundee United on the other hand are struggling to score and their top scorer Noel Hunt has missed their last 3 matches through injury and is likely to be out for another couple of weeks.

Hunt injured his ankle when he landed awkwardly, after jumping to head in United’s winner against Motherwell at Fir Park and Craig Levein has had to rely on Collin Samuel and 17-year old David Goodwillie to try to fill his shooting boots.

“Although Barry (Robson) scored a great goal with a header, we didn’t really have anybody for when we threw balls into the box – Particularly when Falkirk were sitting deep and had the ariel advantage,” said Levein.

“Maybe Noel Hunt would have made a difference, he’s been very prolific in the air. The bullets were in the gun, but they weren’t fired”

The January transfer window is now open and Craig Levein has admitted he’s searching for an experienced goal scorer who can get onto the end of the excellent crosses which Barry Robson, Craig Conway and Grant Smith have been sending into the box.

He continued, “There are certain positions on the pitch that need strengthened and probably need a bit more experience. I’ve got people I’m looking at – I don’t know if I can get them, but I’ll try my best.”