No complacency, promises Murray

DUNDEE UNITED: Striker warns that play-off rivals will still fancy their chances

Dundee United striker Simon Murray has promised there will be no complacency despite the Tangerines being in control of their play-off quarter-final.

United hold a 2-1 lead over Morton from the first leg at Cappielow but no one at the club believes it is job done, particularly Murray.

The teams face each other again in the second match at Tannadice tomorrow and the man whose wonder goal started their fightback on Tuesday has warned that the Greenock men will still fancy their chances. Murray said: “There are still 90 minutes to go. “We are not getting carried away. Indeed, it is only half time in the tie.

“I have no doubt Morton will still fancy their chances. They are no mugs. There is pressure on us because the fans expect us to be in the Premiership.

“The manager and chairman expect it and the players do too. So we put pressure on ourselves to perform.

“You don’t want to give them a chance to get back in the game by conceding an early goal.”

“However, we know that we are hard to beat at Tannadice,” added Murray.

“We have only lost there once this season so we are confident.

“With the fans behind us as our 12th man, just like they have been all season, we are looking to see it through on Friday.”

United were a team transformed at Cappielow, with a poor first-half performance replaced by an excellent one after the break.

Murray’s strike got them back on track before another fine effort from Blair Spittal secured the win.

It was the former Arbroath frontman’s 15th goal and arguably his most important.

By that time, he had been moved to a central role from wide left and it worked wonders.

He and his team-mates also still had manager Ray McKinnon’s fiery half-time talk ringing in their ears.

Asked how his boss reacted at the interval, Murray replied: “I wouldn’t say that he was calm, no.

“He gave us a boot up the backside but I think we needed that.

“The first half wasn’t good, both for myself and the team.

“In the second half, we needed to get our foot on the ball and get it down.

“I was playing out left and I’m not as comfortable out there as I am in a more central role.

“At the goal, it was the first time I really go the ball to my feet.

“I managed to hit it and as soon as I did I knew it was going in.

“I was delighted with the goal, obviously, but the most important thing was that it got us back in the game.

“Blair has scored a few goals now and is really starting to find a bit of form.

“It was good that we got two quality goals.”

United fans are reminded that the return match against Morton is all-ticket.

They are on general sale now with prices pegged at £12 for adults and £6 for concessions.

Visiting supporters will be housed in the Jim McLean Fair Play Stand.