Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Atmosphere ‘electric’ in Utd dressing-room
A RUN of 10 games without defeat that’s taken his team right into the thick of the Championship promotion race has left Ray McKinnon encouraged.
But the Dundee United boss admits he’s even more heartened by the atmosphere in the first-team dressing-room and Tannadice.
If his side are still gelling on the park, he feels the bonding process off it has already been completed.
And he knows that could prove a vital asset in the tough months that lie ahead.
“I am happy with it. The dressing-room right now is a great place,” he said.
“The atmosphere is electric in there and they are doing great.
“Of course I’ve been happy with the performances on this run we’ve had.
“That side of it is coming on but when I see the dressing-room I’m even more encouraged.
“In there, there’s a great feeling of togetherness among them. There’s no divides or cliques, no cracks in it. They are all pulling for each other and that’s how you want it.
“When you see it like that off the pitch you know when they’re on it they will go the extra yard for each other.”
To illustrate that, Ray uses the example of one player’s attitude at Morton last weekend.
He’s revealed a fitness issue could have seen Willo Flood pull out but the midfielder was determined he wasn’t going to let his team-mates down.
“Willo had a sore back all last week. To be honest I thought he was a bit off it in training.
“I was a wee bit worried about him playing but I shouldn’t have been because as soon as we kicked off on Saturday he was all over the park chasing everything down.
“That’s typical of the attitude of them all.
“Whatever it takes, they are willing to do.”
Tickets for the top-of-the-table clash with Hibs tomorrow week are selling well.
Briefs for the upper sections of the George Fox and Eddie Thompson stands will have to be bought before next Friday and there will not be any cash turnstiles for the lower tiers in those areas, though tickets will be available right up until kick-off.
The feedback from Hibs is that their tickets are also selling quickly and, though the game is being televised, it’s on course to be the biggest crowd at Tannadice this term.