Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
I’D HAVE BEEN STUPID TO STAY ON – COLEMAN
SPIRITS are soaring at Tannadice after the 1-0 win over Hibs on Friday brought them to the Championship summit — now, though, they face possibly the toughest spell of the season.
EVERTON full-back Seamus Coleman believes it would have been stupid rather than brave to try to play on after a clash with Zlatan Ibrahimovic left him struggling to stand straight.
The 28-year-old was off the pitch by t he ti me Leighton Baines’ late penalty cancelled out Ibrahimovic’s first-half lob after coming off the worse for wear f ollowing t he incident with United’s goalscorer.
The duo collapsed to the deck early in the second half after Coleman collided with the veteran Swede, who caught the Everton defender’s head with his boot after tangling on the deck.
Ibrahimovic denied it was deliberate, saying he could have made the Republic of Ireland international “fall asleep” if he had done it on purpose.
The collision did affect Coleman, though, leading to his substitution 67 minutes into a hard-fought 1-1 draw.
“I’m not one to come off,” the Everton defender said. “I don’t know the ins and outs of the injury yet. It’s feeling much better now, after the game.
“I couldn’t stand up straight and I couldn’t run really, so it was a case of using your head.
“There’s no point being brave and not being fit to play to your full potential, especially against a team like t hat, because you could be at fault for a goal.
“Your bravery would end up being stupid.”
The Christmas period is always a tester in any division but, for Dundee United, the next month promises to make or break their title push.
Over the next four weeks, the Tangerines face four away games out of five — the last of those is a trip to play promotion rivals Hibs at Easter Road.
Of the next four fixtures, only Raith are in the top half of the table but matches against teams battling against a relegation fight are the ones that more often than not maintain or derail a title charge.
Tonight the Tele looks at the pitfalls awaiting Ray McKinnon’s men over the holiday period in the Championship.
December 10 v Ayr United at Somerset Park
The Honest Men may not have been pulling up any trees of late, with just two points picked up from five, but they are holding their own in their first season back in the second tier.
And Somerset Park has always been a tough away day and wins over Morton, Falkirk and Queen of the South — three teams expected to challenge for a play-off place — show they can be a tough nut to crack.
The last meeting between the pair saw United run out 3-0 winners at Tannadice with goals from Simon Murray, Jamie Robson and Willo Flood.
December 17 v Raith at Stark’s Park
Like Ayr, Raith have picked up a few too many draws lately — their last three games in fact — but are unbeaten in six with wins over Falkirk and Queen of the South.
They’ve been stronger at home, too, with four of their six league wins coming at Stark’s Park.
Earlier in the season, United gave up a two-goal lead at Tannadice to draw 2-2 — Willo Flood and Cammy Smith’s penalty gave the Tangerines the lead before Jordan Thompson and Kevin McHattie levelled back in August.
December 24 v St Mirren at Tannadice
The Buddies have had a shocker this season — four points from 14 games is a miserable record.
By the time they head to the City of Discovery, new manager Jack Ross might have them firing but, on paper, it looks like a home banker and three points for the Tangerines.