Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
United boss rates struggling Bairns
DUNDEE United boss Csaba Laszlo is focusing on three points when he gets down to the serious business of the Championship on Sunday.
But he isn’t taking victory against struggling opponents Falkirk for granted.
The Bairns will come to Tannadice with former Dundee manager Paul Hartley still looking for his first league win over a month after he took over from previous gaffer Peter Houston.
He’s had three draws and a defeat so far and his new team also lost at the weekend when they went down 1-0 at Inverness Caley Thistle in the Irn-Bru Cup quarter-finals.
Despite being one of the pre-season promotion favourites, Falkirk remain in the relegation play-off place with just one win from the 12 games so far.
Csaba, though, believes that’s a false position and it’s only a matter of time before his opposite number steers them up the table.
He, though, believes a third league success on t he bounce would represent a massive confidence booster for his new charges.
“Falkirk are definitely a better team than this position shows in the table,” he said. “For us, you have to win this game. Then, after it, you are three games unbeaten and you get more confidence.”
With that in mind, it’s a safe bet he is working on finishing with his players in training this week.
Although they can move back to top spot this weekend, United are by far the lowest scorers in the top half of the division.
Their 14 goals from 12 games is 12 behind top scorers Dunfermline and 10 short of leaders St Mirren’s tally to date.
And the gaffer was unhappy with the chances squandered during Saturday’s cup exit at the hands of Crusaders.
“We have scored in the league 14 goals. Saturday we had the chance for maybe three goals.
“Concentration was not there and now we have to work for the next game because Falkirk is definitely a good team.”
The Development squad were back in action today when they made the long haul north to face Ross County in Dingwall.
With the manager working to get to know his first-team squad, it was expected to be a particularly-young side that second string boss Dave Bowman took up the A9 to face the Highlanders.