Connolly calls on United to create chances for Their super strikers
DESPITE a healthy league position and decent points return in their first season back in the Scottish Premiership, there are no shortage of concerns for Dundee United fans.
One win in 11 games and a continued lack of goals have resulted in supporters looking over their shoulders as opposed to upwards.
Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Hibernian at Tannadice epitomised United’s recent struggles as they looked bereft of ideas in attack and the service given to Lawrence Shankland, Nicky Clark and Marc McNulty was poor at best.
The latter was once again played out on the right flank, while Shankland and Clark were all too often tasked with making their own chances.
They are the division’s lowest goal scorers with 20 goals in 26 games, having averaged just 2.6 shots on target per 90 minutes. It is not that Shankland and co are squandering opportunities, but rather they are not being provided with chances.
When asked about his side’s mis-firing attack, defender Mark Connolly said: “Listen, we’ve got three very, very good strikers. We need to get them in the box and get better service for them and get better quality into their feet or into the box. At the moment we haven’t been doing that enough.
“Hopefully we can change that and get them the service they need and once they do get that I feel they’ll score goals, like they’ve done.”
While United started the game against Hibs strongly, and tested Ofir Marciano within the opening minutes through a deflected drive from Calum Butcher, Hibs would lead after 21 minutes.
Darren McGregor looked a threat from set-pieces throughout and after going close with a header early on, he profited from a Jackson Irvine cutback to fire home high into the net from inside the area.
Irvine had latched on to the ball after Paul McGinn’s header had been saved, and while McGregor’s finish was excellent, it was a soft concession by the hosts.
“For some reason there’s been a few goals where there’s been free men and we’ve just switched off, but that one today was a difficult one,” Connolly said.
“At the start of the season I thought we were very good at them [defending set-pieces], we were solid. We’re just going through a run where we just need to be stronger defensively.”
United did enjoy a spell of pressure in the second half, but their over committal in search of an equaliser led to Hibs’ game-clinching goal 20 minutes from time. Irvine, after evading the challenge of Butcher, deftly picked out Martin Boyle’s curved run in between Connolly and Mark Reynolds and his fellow Australian finished calmly when through on goal to seal the points.
“He’s been brilliant since he came in,” said Boyle of Irvine. “He’s a fit lad, he’s energetic and gets around the pitch. He’s lanky and good in the air so he’s good at everything!
“He’s a great guy around the place and has contributed with two assists today.”
The result was a welcome return to winning ways for Jack Ross’ side, who have endured a slump since Christmas. The three points were earned without Kevin Nisbet and Ryan Porteous who were on the bench following big-money bids from England in midweek.
“The speculation is there because they deserve it, they’ve been playing well,” Boyle said.