Tangerines Laszlo’s men return to winning ways with a comfortable success

PLAYERRATINGS

AFTER a traumatic few days when bad news of injuries and a poor result at their main rivals meant confidence had to have taken a knock, a comfortable win over Brechin at Tannadice yesterday was surely just what the doctor ordered for Dundee United.

Well almost. There was the needless upset of a player — Paul McMullan — getting himself sent off when he picked up a second booking for taking a dive and that irked boss Csaba Laszlo.

McMullan will now miss Saturday’s trip to Falkirk and that will mean another selection problem but, that apart, the 4-1 success over the Championship’s bottom club was exactly what the Tangerines needed.

Despite the first goal coming in just 43 seconds, the second six minutes later and two more following before the hour mark, this performance was more professional than spectacular.

Against a side that has not won in the league all season, United were the biggest home bankers in the country and expected to win comfortably.

That, though, was the case on the previous two occasions these teams have met this term and a 1-0 win at Tannadice followed by a 1-1 draw at Glebe Park were both struggles.

So, for business on this occasion to be taken care of in such clinical fashion had to be pleasing. It was and for a few reasons other than those previous troubles against the Glebe Parkers.

After Friday night’s disappointinglytame loss in the top-of-the-table clash at St Mirren there had to be a positive reaction. It came and the way the home team controlled the proceedings, even after McMullan’s red card and Jordan Sinclair had pulled one goal back from the spot, had to be satisfying.

So, too, was the indication that, as hard has injuries have hit with the loss of influential pair Fraser Fyvie and Scott Fraser for the rest of the season, this squad can cope.

Anchoring the midfield, Willo Flood and the excellent Sam Stanton showed even without Fyvie, Laszlo’s team is stronger than most in that area. To compensate for Fraser’s absence from the No 10 role, the manager put James Keatings right up top and dropped Scott McDonald a touch deeper.

Keatings responded with a goal and his best display since joining up from Hibs and the fact McDonald got two goals speaks for itself. They showed this is a side that still poses a strong threat when they get the ball up the park.

A bonus came in the shape of the performance of young f ull-back Cammy Ballantyne. Recalled from his loan spell at Montrose as the injury crisis deepened, he came on for the second half after Mark Durnan had taken a knock.

The 20-year-old grabbed that chance to show, if called on, he will be more than capable of doing a job on the right side of the defence.

There was one final plus with the news St Mirren had been held by Morton and the gap at the top is now just three points, with United enjoying a game in hand over the leaders.

Of course, that outstanding fixture has still to be won and you can bet there will be more twists and turns to come this season. Once again, though, there is reason for optimism.