Utd’s financial muscle makes Queens task a tough one – Naysmith

QUEEN of the South manager Gary Naysmith reckons beating Dundee United has been made all the more difficult as their manager Robbie Neilson did not have to balance the books in January.

The Doonhamers play host to United tomorrow and are looking to kick-start their play-off push after two defeats.

Naysmith said: “Robbie has a good record with United and that is not a surprise as he is a good manager.

“He i s proven at this level, has the experience of working at a couple of big clubs and he was also quite fortunate i n t he transfer window l a st month as he was not working under the same restraints everyone else was.”

Investment from new American owner Mark Ogren meant Neilson was playing a different recruitment game, with Naysmith explaining: “Robbie was able to bring players in regardless of if players were going out.

“He has been able to build a brand new team without losing a team. That does not generally happen in the Championship, where you have to balance the books.

“As you would expect he did it well and they are building momentum, with wins over Morton and then St Mirren.”

Naysmith, however, is not raising a white flag, adding: “Against the teams at the top end of the table we have held our own, with the exception of United.

“We have taken more points off Ross County, Ayr and Inverness Caledonian Thistle than they have from us. However, United have the better record.

“We have had t wo defeats i n a row i n the league and I have not lost three in a row while I have been at Queens and we do not want that to happen now.”

Queen of the South manager Gary Naysmith.