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Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager Terry Butcher was disappointed that his side conceded needlessly to lose 3-1 against Dundee United at Tannadice.

Jon Daly, Lauri Dalla Valle and Danny Swanson found the net for United as Nick Ross forced an equaliser in the hard-fought win for the hosts.

"They were stupid, easy comfortable goals for United," said Butcher.

"From a defensive point of view, we were very sloppy. We had chances and 3-1 probably doesn't reflect that."

Daly came off the bench to score with his first touch of the ball for United's third after on-loan Fulham forward Dalla Valle had fired the hosts ahead on 13 minutes.

Ross forced in an equaliser from Tade's cross, but Swanson's lofted finish two minutes from the break re-established the home side's advantage and Butcher pointed to his ongoing injury concerns as a factor in the defeat.

"I'm bitterly disappointed that we gave away three goals in the manner we did and that we didn't convert our chances," said Butcher.

"It's one of those games that if we had been stronger and more together, perhaps we would have got something from the game - but we didn't.

"Our injury situation finally caught up with us and we had to change the team around - it's one of those games where we got going in fits and starts, but in other spells we were poor.

"Last week we had 17 players, I could easily put a young kid on the bench, but they've got to earn the right to be on the bench in the first place. But we're used to it, so it's not an issue.

"We have to be stronger at the back - it's another three goals and we haven't had a clean sheet in eight games, which is annoying. So, we've got a lot of work to do on that.

"We just need to keep persevering and work with what we've got.

"There's fans shaking their heads at me, but you've got to be realistic, we've got seven players out and sooner or later it's going to catch up with you, and it did today."