Buaben leaves coach fuming

Buaben was sent off during a game Dundee United boss Craig Levein has blasted midfielder Prince Buaben after he was red-carded for stamping on an Aberdeen player in a reserve fixture.

The Ghanaian clashed with Chris Maguire after just 21 minutes of yesterday's 2-0 loss to the Dons at Brechin's Glebe Park and saw red for violent conduct.

That rules him out of the top-team trip to St Mirren on Saturday and, while he may have been provoked, his gaffer has made it clear the 20-year-old's reaction was unacceptable.

"He was very silly. I think the boy had a kick at him, but that was no reason for Prince to stamp on him," said Craig today.

"I am very angry with him and he has given us problems for Saturday. He would have been in my thoughts, but there is no point in speaking about that now because he's suspended.

"Even if he was not starting, because he is only 20 he helps us solve the problems we have been having with the U/21 rule. Now, I'll need to think about someone else."

Craig suspects part of Buaben's problem is frustration that, having been a star of the team last term, he has dropped down the pecking-order so far this season.

"I have been playing Scott Robertson, Morgaro Gomis and Danny Swanson ahead of him and I don't expect him to like that.

"That's my prerogative, though, and this is not the kind of reaction I am looking for. I have been happy with our discipline, but this is not acceptable.

"Just looking at yesterday, he has left his team-mates with a lot of hard work to do for most of the game. From my point of view, that does not do them any harm, but his actions changed the whole context of the game.

"We had started very well, but, when something like that happens, things you wanted to do in the game go out of the window.

"And, while results at that level are not the main thing, it is still a football match and we are in the business of winning as many as we can."