Utd keeper was gutted by league debut defeat

“We had identified we had to start the way we were finishing games.

“In the previous two games we weren’t at the races at the start, then switched on in the second half, won against Queen of the South and should have won against Inverness.

“I felt we did that on Tuesday and were dominating but then we lost a goal. We got counter-attacked and lost goals, so we need to tighten up.”

Deniz, has faced his own challenges since signing a one-year deal at Tannadice last July.

Within 24 hours of him joining up, Southampton’s Harry Lewis was fixed up on a season-long loan and he’s since had to play second fiddle to the teenager.

He did get a handful of games in the League and Irn-Bru cups but, with the Championship being the big priority, feels his season only started for real on Tuesday.

“It’s been tough for me but I’ve just had to work hard, keep myself as fit as possible and do well when I got games in the cup competitions. I’ve also played in a lot of the reserve games to keep fit and show I’m ready for when the manager calls on me.

“I’ve kept my match fitness up. I’ve tried to use the games for the U/20s to show what I can do but they are a different type of game from the first team in the way you manage them, so it’s not been easy.

“It was good for me to get my first league start but losing was not the best. I’m hoping to get a run of games and see what we can do between now and the end of the season.”

Tangerines stopper Deniz was exonerated of any blame by manager Csaba Laszlo after his side slipped to a 3-2 defeat by QOS on Tuesday.