He helped take you up .. now he could put you back down
United boss Ray reckons it’s written in the stars for talisman Tony to dump his old Accies mates
DUNDEE United boss Ray McKinnon reckons it’s written in the stars for Tony Andreu to come back and haunt Hamilton in the play-off final.
Three years ago Andreu hit a dramatic injury-time strike to take Accies’ final with Hibs into extra-time before the underdogs secured a 4-3 win in the penalty shoot-out.
Now the 28-year-old is trying to drive United back into the Premiership at the expense of his old club.
And McKinnon believes the flamboyant attacker, who has been a revelation since joining on loan from Norwich, is on course to break Hamilton’s hearts this time round.
Ahead of tomorrow’s first leg at Tannadice, McKinnon said: “For Tony Andreu, is it just written? I don’t know – up against his old club and he’s due a goal!
“He is due a goal, seriously. So maybe he’s going to pop up in the next two games with a really important one.
“It’s more the boys who have been speaking about it with Tony. All these things add to it, don’t they?
“And he is a match winner. He has 20 goals this season and has helped us win a lot.
“Here’s hoping he’s got at least one more in him.”
Premiership teams have tended to hold the upper hand in recent play-off shoot-outs.
But McKinnon, whose side have seen off Morton and Falkirk, insists the Tangerines couldn’t be in better shape.
He said: “I’m not a big believer in stats but in the second half of every game our fitness has been incredible.
“We don’t have any fitness issues and the desire is there.”
United have lost only once at Tannadice all season – against Championship winners Hibs.
And McKinnon is convinced another positive result on home soil can propel his side towards promotion.
He said: “It is great to have a strong home record. And if we can keep that intact we will give ourselves a chance.
“If we’re still in the tie then all the pressure shifts to the home team in the second leg because there is an expectation that they will stay up.
“So we have to make sure we’re still bang in this tie going into Sunday’s game.
“Hamilton are a good side and they showed on Saturday against Dundee that they can score goals.
“They are a Premiership team and we need to give them the respect they deserve.
“But it’s more about how we play and how we set up.”
One player United will have to watch carefully is former Rangers winger David Templeton who went on trial at Tannadice in January before sealing a short-term switch to Hamilton two months later.
The 28-year-old was lacking match fitness when McKinnon ran the rule over him but the Tannadice gaffer knows fine well what the wide man has in his locker.
He said: “Temps was here for a bit, training. He’s a friend of Cammy Bell’s and came in just to get some training.
“He was overweight, there’s no doubt about that, and the travelling was hard. It was easier for him to go somewhere local to get his weight down.
“He has done that and he’s a good player when he’s fit. So we will have to keep an eye on him.”
United have their own threats in attack where Simon Murray will be looking to add to his tally of 18 goals this term.
McKinnon said: “Simon really has set the tone. He has been great. He is lively, another one who has the bit between his teeth. He’s fit, he looks strong.
“The four of them up top have a real goal threat – Thomas Mikkelsen, Tony, Simon and Blair Spittal.
“Fingers crossed we can keep them nice and sharp.
“We had two chances to get promoted this year. This is our second bite at the cherry – we must give it everything we can.”