Dicker wants United to do it for the fans

GOAL hero Paul Dixon admits he and his teammates were almost out on their feet when his late header at Falkirk on Friday night got Dundee United into the Premiership Play-Off Final.

But you better believe the Tangerines will be fighting fit come Thursday for the Tannadice leg of the clash with Hamilton that Dixon aims to use as the last stage of the journey back to the top flight.

“I was tired for a different reason on Friday. I’d been out of the team and it was my first game for a while and when that happens you always feel it in the first one back,” he said.

“The rest of the boys, though, have been playing every few days to get through the play-offs and they were feeling it near the end.

“Just before or after my goal — I can’t really remember which — Blair (Spittal) said to me he was totally gubbed, only with a few more expletives you can’t put in your paper!

“We all were but we kept going, that was the main thing. I think we deserve to be in the final because I think we were brilliant on Friday.

“We started slowly and went behind but, by half-time, we were playing well and had got on top. In the second half we dominated and Cammy Bell in our goal had nothing to do.

“If I’m being honest, I think that had something to do with Falkirk being a bit arrogant. I didn’t say anything when I spoke before the second leg but, after they got the draw at Tannadice in the first game, I think they thought it was a case of job done.

“They shouldn’t have written us off like that and once Simon (Murray) got the equaliser, I felt we would go on and win. I just didn’t think it would be me who got the goal!”

He did and his 87th-minute header sparked wild celebrations that will stay with the life-long United fan for a very long time.

It was emotional but he did have time to make a conscious statement on just how much the battle to get back to the Premiership means.