UNITED’S LACK OF CUTTING EDGE FRUSTRATES BOSS

MICKY Mellon insists Dundee United have to find a ruthless streak to have any chance of gatecrashing the top six of the Premiership.

A point adrift of St Mirren in seventh, a 4-1 defeat to Rangers failed to reflect an opening half-hour when the Tannadice side passed up three great chances to take the lead at Ibrox.

Scotland forward lawrence Shankland and strike partner louis Appere came up against an inspired Allan McGregor in the home goal.

Insisting his side had to be more clinical to have any chance of winning three Premiership games in a row for the first time in six years, Mellon said: ‘If you’re going to come here and want to be successful — if you create that number of chances — you have to take them, simple as that.

‘We’ll take away from it the fact we were good enough to create those chances — but if you’re going to be a team challenging at the right end of the table, you’ve got to take them.

‘Walking up the tunnel at half-time, I understood why we’re 2-0 down because you’re playing against the team at the top and the teams at the top seem to score those kinds of goals. That’s probably why they’re top.

‘We need to concentrate on the things we need to do better, we need to get out the box and block those moments.

‘But, in terms of where we’re at, there were a lot of pleasing things.

‘At times you understand that

Rangers have players who are worth millions and that they are going to punish you at some stage.

‘But, in terms of my lads going out and showing progression, we’ve certainly done that.’

luck failed to shine on United. Rangers scored two goals in two minutes before half-time through Ianis Hagi and a deflected Ryan Kent strike.

Keeper Benjamin Siegrist also conceded a freak fourth when he blasted a clearance against striker Alfredo Morelos — before earning redemption through a penalty save from Antwerp spot-kick hero Borna Barisic.

‘There were two big deflections and one he (Siegrist) smashes into Morelos, which was something I’ve not seen in a long time,’ added United boss Mellon.

‘He’s certainly up there among our best performers. He was unlucky with a few deflections and he made a great save from a penalty-kick.

‘If we perform like today, we will undoubtedly be a force in the Premiership. Standards are getting set all the time and we set a new one today.

‘If we keep to those standards we’ll give ourselves a good chance of winning games of football.

‘It’s a development job and we’re all finding that the level is a bigger ask than they were used to last year.

‘The development is happening in front of peoples’ eyes. The players can be pleased with their performances and with the improvements they’ve shown.’