Dundee United boss Peter Houston had sympathy for referee Brian Winter for his apparent mistake in failing to send off St Johnstone substitute Steven Anderson. United's 1-0 win over their derby rivals ended in controversy when Anderson appeared to be booked for the second time in the match, for a challenge on David Goodwillie.

However, Winter did not brandish a red card and the Saints defender remained on the pitch for the closing stages.

Houston felt it was a genuine error, saying: "If it is a mistake from Brian, then it will be an honest mistake.

"I did not know at the time that Anderson was due to be sent off as there was a spate of bookings and I was concentrating on which of my players had been shown a yellow card.

"There was an incident where five players were booked at once and I believe now that Steven was the first player to be shown a yellow.

"Brian might have made a mistake by not making a note of that but these things happen. I hope he is dealt with leniently because he's an honest guy and we all make mistakes."

Houston has been delighted with the way his side responded to last week's 4-0 defeat to Rangers, with wins over Ross County in the Co-operative Insurance Cup and victory over Saints.

Houston explained: "It was a tough week with losing heavily at Rangers. After the game I asked them for two victories and we ground out a result at Ross County and won again today. I can't ask for any more from them."