INJUSTICE CAN FIRE US UP
Dixon urges Terrors fall guy Si to send his side into the Premiership
Paul Dixon last night urged Simon Murray to use his burning sense of injustice as fuel for this afternoon’s fight to the death.
The Dundee United striker has been cleared to play against Hamilton after the club appealed the second yellow card for simulation that saw him sent off late in their goal-less first leg at Tannadice.
But it was the penalty he was denied in the process that could prove to be the tie’s most decisive moment. And exper ienced full-back Dixon believes Murray can channel his pain all the way through to promotion.
Dixon said: “100 per cent there’s a feeling of injustice. Up until that point it was pretty much eeksypeeksy but it’s a stonewaller.
“I was in my left-back position and I knew it was a stonewall penalty.
“The TV pictures prove it. It’s quite scary how the officials were so close to it and missed it. “The referee starts walking towards the penalty spot so I don’t know what’s gone on. “But hey ho, it’s half-time and we need to go again. “And I think Simon can use that as motivation. He always gives 100 per cent in anything he does anyway but now that he’s avai lable on Sunday hopefully he pops up with a wee winner. “We need to be solid and build on Thursday night. It’s the final toss of the coin, if you like. The last throw of the dice. It’s massive.
“We went through a massive game at Falkirk away, being on a knife- edge at 2-2. This is on a knife-edge again.”
While Accies are trying to play down the significance of the winor-bust 90 minutes that will decide their fate, United’s management and players are the opposite.
And at 30, with Scotland caps and more than 400 games behind him, few are more aware of the stakes.
Dixon said: “Promotion was our aim at the start of the season – win the league or get up through the play- offs. We’re now in one of the situations we wanted to be in.
“It means a lot to the club and the staff. There are guys who have been here for years. They’re part of the foundat ions, ingrained in the place.
“The gaffer has been as a player, Grant Johnson, he ’s been here as a player, Stuar t Garden. For these guys, it’s not just a job for them. They’ve worn the shirt so know what it means to the club and to the fans.
“I’m the same. I grew up as a fan and want to get my team back to where I think they rightly belong. But once I step over the line all that is put to the side and all the focus is on what’s happening on the pitch.”
Apart from the penalty decision, what happened on the pitch on Thursday didn’t provide many clues to which side will be in the Premiership next season.
The only certainty is that petulant midfielder Wato Kuate won’t be part of it after his stroppy postsubstitution walk down the tunnel
Dixon said: “It’s something that will get dealt with in-house. We’ll speak about it as a team, as a group. The boys have shaken hands.
“At the end of the day it’s football, it’s passion. The guys want to win.
“He was still there at the end. He’s a passionate boy. I think it just spilled over a bit.
“There wasn’t much in the game. It hinged on a decision, which ult imately wasn’t given. They had a couple of chances to score. “We had a couple of chances too – their goalie made a couple of good saves and we put one over the bar. I can’t see the second game being much different.”