The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Bell calls for braver-looking United
Keeper’s plea after latest defeat
RAITH ROVERS 2 DUNDEE UNITED 1
Memories of past glories were unable to inspire Dundee United on Saturday as they marked the 30th anniversary of their famous Nou Camp victory with a 2-1 defeat at Stark’s Park.
The trip to Kirkcaldy fell exactly three decades since the Tangerines knocked Barcelona out of the Uefa Cup on their own turf, but those halcyon days are in stark contrast to the club’s current plight as they slumped to a third straight defeat in the Scottish Championship.
Ray McKinnon’s side have tasted victory in the league just once since Christmas, and head into this weekend’s Irn-Bru Cup final against in-form St Mirren with the poorest record in the division over the last six games, with just four points collected from 18.
United failed to learn the lessons from their midweek defeat in Paisley with another two goals conceded from setpieces.
Goalkeeper Cammy Bell admitted the players need to take responsibility for the poor run of form.
“We’re conceding goals for fun at the moment and we’re not taking our chances,” he said.
“We look vulnerable and weak. It’s a difficult time for us at the moment, but
it’s only the players that can get ourselves out of it.
“We can’t keep looking to point the blame at anybody else, or looking for excuses. All 11 players on the pitch need to stand up and be counted, and that’s including myself.
“We know we can be a good team, and the last few weeks have been disappointing.”
Rovers struck either side of half-time through Craig Barr and Ryan Hardie, with Simon Murray’s late effort proving little more than scant consolation for the away side.
United’s poor form has meant they have been unable to capitalise on recent points dropped by leaders Hibernian, and the Tannadice outfit remain 11 points adrift in the title race.
Bell added: “We need to worry about nobody bar ourselves. There’s no point looking at the league table. It’s all about getting form back and trying to win each game as it comes.
“It’s all about the next game, and we’ve got a cup final next weekend which we need to pick ourselves up for.
“You’ve got an opportunity to win a medal, and these things don’t come around very often. “We’ll be up for next week, definitely. “There will be a lot of talking done this week, and a lot of training, to get ourselves prepared.
“The expectancy will be on us to win the cup, and we need to deal with that and put on a performance that wins the cup.
“If we can do that, it could be the catalyst for the rest of the season.”
The United keeper was beaten five minutes before the break when Chris Johnston floated a free-kick into the box, where defender Barr out-muscled his marker to bullet home a header.
Raith doubled their lead within three minutes of the restart when another free-kick was poorly defended and Jean-Yves M’voto’s knockdown was turned home by Hardie.
United were being out-fought and outplayed, but striker Murray handed them a lifeline with 10 minutes remaining when he poked a 12-yard effort into the bottom corner after Raith failed to defend a set-piece. However, a United comeback failed to materialise.
Raith were only prevented from extending their lead by the woodwork when Barr headed another Johnston cross against the post.
United gaffer McKinnon admitted that his side are becoming their own worst enemies.
“It’s a tough run we’re on right now, but we need to come through it,” he said.
“I’m not taking any positives from that because we should have got the ball down and passed it more.
“We did it in some parts of the game, and it was effective, but by giving Raith the first goal, it gives them something to really fight for, and they certainly did that.
“It’s our own undoing, and we’re better than that. We need to be braver as a team and get the ball down and start passing it. We’re making life difficult for ourselves at the moment.”
Raith defender Barr was delighted to get his first goal of the campaign, and to prove a point to goalkeeper coach Wayne Henderson.
“It’s always good to contribute, and to get a win makes it even better,” he said.
“Wazza, the goalie coach, had a go at me this morning for not scoring this season.
“He was on my case, so I celebrated by running over to the dug-out to ram it down his throat!”
Barr was also relieved to make amends for the previous week’s 4-0 thumping by Dumbarton, which led to stinging criticism from boss John Hughes.
“Last week was terrible,” he said. “We were embarrassed and it ruins your weekend.
“Everyone that knows the gaffer knows it comes down to brutal honesty from him. Sometimes you’ll like it, sometimes you won’t.
“As players, you can’t be pampered or paper over the cracks. Sometimes you need to hear the truth and, whatever he says, he backs it up with experience.
“The truth sometimes hurts, and it maybe gave us the kick up the backside. I’m just glad we reacted, and hopefully we can carry it on.”
We need to be braver as a team and get the ball down and start passing it. RAY McKINNON