The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Jackie focused on derby
DUNDEE UNITED boss Jackie McNamara admits he avoids looking at what is said about him on social media.
He has been under intense scrutiny recently through no fault of his own after it was revealed he receives a percentage of transfer cash as an incentive to develop quality youngsters.
That has sparked a media storm, with fans also taking to forums to vent their feelings.
However, McNamara insists that is something he shies away from and instead he is focusing his attention on preparing his players for tonight’s derby at Dens as United look to end a run of nine games without a win.
He said: “I just focus on my job and preparing the team for matches.
“We’re in a results business and that’s what we’re here to do. Nothing changes that despite what has been going on.
“I’m focused on what’s happening on the park rather than what’s being said off it. That’s my job.
“I was brought here to try to progress the club, so everything else that goes on takes care of itself.
“I’m here to prepare the players as best we can for games like the derby this week.
“I don’t think it affects the players, they’re focused on their jobs.
“All anyone here is thinking about is the Dundee game on Wednesday night and trying to get a result for the club.
“A win would get us back talking about what we should be talking about — and that’s football. Because we haven’t won for a few games, everything else has jumped on top of it.”
He continued: “We need to get a result to settle everything down again and kick on with the eight games to go.
“We want to get into Europe and to do that we need to start getting results.”
He added: “What’s happened doesn’t change anything for me or the players.
“It’s personal from my side of things, but it doesn’t change the way we go about our business preparing for games.
“We’re here to win football matches, that’s our job.
“I thought the fans were great on Saturday (against Ross County). There was a bit of frustration at the end, but they got behind the players — especially in the first half. We got a good response from the fans, so it was disappointing we didn’t get the result we wanted.”
While United have lost their last four matches, Dundee have only tasted defeat once in their last four.
However, McNamara, who was involved in several Old Firm games when he was at Celtic, insists the form book goes out the window in derbies.
The manager said: “You want to be involved in big games like the one we’ve got at Dens.
“Derbies are great games to be involved in. They’re the ones every player wants to be a part of.
“The players are looking forward to it and so am I.
“Dundee are going well, but people had them as favourites when we played them at the start of the season too.
“It all depends on who’s playing well at the time. When these games come around, sometimes the form goes out of the window.
“Matches like this come down to who keeps the head and takes their chances.
“I don’t know why teams sometimes get a good record in them, but all I know is Dundee have good players there.
“So it’s important we go up the road and beat them.
“It’s a good opportunity for us to secure certain things and chase Inverness.”
United have, of course, won all three derbies so far this season, with the last an unforgettable 6-2 triumph at Tannadice on New Year’s Day.
And McNamara has warned his side the Dark Blues will be dangerous after that mauling.
He said: “Dundee will be hurting from the 6-2 game so will be desperate to change the run of form.
“It has been a long time since they beat us, we know that, so we have to approach it the same way we have in the previous matches.
“The 6-2 game will be a great memory for a long time.
“It’s forgotten about a bit at the moment, the focus is on what’s ahead of us.”
Mario Bilate and Callum Morris will both miss the game through injury while Ryan Dow is a major doubt with a groin problem.
McNamara added: “Ryan tried to train on Monday but you could see he wasn’t right.
“We’ll have to keep assessing him because he’s been playing through it but it might be that he needs complete rest.” nrobertson@thecourier.co.uk