United have learned from Paisley loss

DUTCH striker Patrick N’Koyi has assured fans Dundee United have learned the lessons of their last Championship defeat.

And the 28-year-old is promising Arabs there will be no repeat of the 3-0 Paisley reversal as the Tangerines step up a level.

Painful as that result was, N’Koyi has praised the quality of the Buddies’ football but suspects it had a lot to do with United being the team everyone wants to beat in the second tier.

“They were so good and I didn’t expect this. In Holland this would be a team playing first league, if they always play like this,” said the former Fortuna Sittard attacker.

“Of course, they are playing Dundee United and that is an extra motivation. With all respect, other teams when they play us they give a little bit more.

“But I think we can handle that pressure and I am confident what happened at St Mirren will never happen again. We have a mature team, an experienced team and it will not be repeated. I am sure of it.”

N’Koyi’s role in helping making that so is, he knows, to get goals. Following an injury-hit start to his Tannadice career, he’s used two starts in the Irn-Bru Cup to show he knows where the back of the net is.

After two goals in the first round against Cowdenbeath, Saturday saw him net from the spot then set up the second goal for Paul McMullan in the 3-1 win over Alloa.

With his sharpness improving with every outing, he’s confident the goals will continue to come and, for his own reasons, is determined they will.

“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I could get the goals Dundee United need. Otherwise, I would be scared and I would say no thank you and be sitting at home in Holland.

“This is a new challenge, the UK is different football, physical and faster and it’s a good experience. If you do well here, you can take big steps.

“I don’t think my fitness is where it has to be yet and I still can improve but it is getting there. I can do much more and it is just a question of time.

“The gaffer took me to this team to score goals and that is what I want to