Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Alloa perfect to get Utd back on track
DUNDEE United’s cup match at Alloa this weekend might just be the perfect game for the Tangerines to re-inject some life into their season.
It might be away from home but taking on lower-league opposition should be presented to the players as an ideal chance to get back on track.
What they can’t do, however, is assume because they’re a bigger team that it’ll be easy — they’re playing nowhere near well enough to be complacent against anybody.
And what manager Csaba Laszlo can’t afford to let happen is another struggle after the hammering at Falkirk and goalless draw at the weekend.
One point from the Bairns and Dunfermline away is miles off what should be acceptable for a title charge.
That’s why Saturday should be put to the players as a fantastic opportunity to get a positive result and show the fans they are willing to fight for the jersey.
Bolster the confidence and then use that to try and put together a run that can cut St Mirren’s lead at the top of the Championship.
I have to admit, the title race has pretty much gone exactly in the opposite way I said it would!
I thought United would be the ones to take the lead and then show their strength by staying there and even extending the gap at the top.
In fact, it’s been the Buddies that have shown they have the mettle at the moment.
They are picking up the wins and look to have that togetherness that you need to win a league.
There’s still a while to go but the Tangerines have been severely hampered by the loss of their best two players in Fraser Fyvie and especially Scott Fraser.
That creative spark has obviously been missing the last couple of weeks.
Fraser is the type of player who, when things aren’t going right for the team, can conjure up something special to pull the side out of a hole.
I still expect St Mirren to have a wobble — United just have to take advantage if they can.
If injuries hit them like they have the Tangerines then who knows? Lose Lewis Morgan and Gavin Reilly and they might struggle.
To get anywhere near St Mirren again this season, though, Laszlo has to get his team firing again.
Starting at Alloa.