Csaba: It’s time to show our strength

DUNDEE United manager Csaba Laszlo has challenged his players to show their strength, both physical and mental, in their Christmas run-in.

The Tangerines have a tough set of games which starts on Saturday as they travel to face Morton.

They’re on the road again the following Saturday, bound for Dumfries to take on Queen of the South.

They then welcome Livingston to Tannadice and head to Paisley to face title rivals St Mirren all before the year is out.

Csaba knows this demanding fixture list will test his side physically, added to the mix they’ll also be dealing with the pressure of being top of the table.

“Now we are top of the league people will be hunting you,” Csaba said.

“Football is not just the legs it is about upstairs, too. You have to be clever to keep the three points.

“Now we have two games away and I think now we can come through and show how strong Dundee United is, how strong is my team, how strong we are together.

“I have to make them strong psychologically not just physically. If you are psychologically strong you can win these kind of games.

“If we win these two games in a row I think you can have a nice Christmas.”

After the Terrors’ 2-1 win over Dunfermline on Saturday, courtesy of a wonderful Scott Fraser double, Csaba reserved special praise for the supporters who came out i n numbers to back the team.

“I am always happy if we can make the fans happy,” Csaba added.

“They helped us also, especially in the last 10 minutes, they stood up and tried to encourage the team.

“I think it is a fantastic thing for us because against Brechin they were very sad and down.

“Also for the team it was very important to win because, after dropping t hese t wo points at Brechin, the pressure was very high.

“I come today in the dressingroom and I talk to the player and you fear ‘I don’t know how to handle this situation, if today I lose or just make a draw’ but it’s my job to handle this situation psychologically correct.

“Generally I think that we deserved the three points because we scored two goals and they scored just one.”

Meanwhile, Dundee United U/20s take on Hamilton Accies in the Development League tonight at Forfar’s Station Park.

Dundee United showed great character to hold on to a 2-1 lead and beat Dunfermline at Tannadice on Saturday.