Tangerines’ focus will not be deflected by cup exit

Durnan looking ahead after Dens cup setback

Mark Durnan admits that as desperately disappointing as Wednesday’s derby defeat to Dundee in the Betfred Cup was, it will not be allowed to distract the players from their primary focus this season – promotion to the Premiership.

The Tangerines had made the short journey up the road to Dens in confident frame of mind but ultimately lost 2-1.

The game was United’s third away fixture in a row and Durnan admitted the players are now looking for some home comfort when they face his former side Queen of the South at Tannadice this afternoon in the Championship.

The 24-year-old defender said: “It is always tough when you get beaten but especially in a derby when it means so much to so many people.

“We fancied ourselves before the match and we know we had players who could cause Dundee problems.

“But on the day we didn’t take our chances and we let them score their goals.

“We are bitterly disappointed that we are out of the cup but we look forward to Saturday. “The league is our main focus now. “It feels like we haven’t been at Tannadice for a while so it will be good to be back out on the pitch playing in front of our own fans to get the league campaign going again.

“That’s our main aim – to get back to the Premiership.

“So Saturday is really important for us. We need to go out, put in a good performance and get three points.”

When asked if today’s game was a test of character for his side after the derby disappointment, Durnan said: “No, I don’t think so.

“The lads will just go out and do what they have been doing and that’s being fully focused on winning the match.

“The defeat is behind us. It is obviously going to hurt but if you dwell on it then it will affect your performance in the next game. “So we won’t be doing that.” A new-look United opened their league campaign with a fine win against Inverness in the Highlands last week.

Durnan admitted he has been impressed with manager Ray McKinnon’s summer signings and he believes that the club now have the players to win promotion – hopefully as champions and not through the play-off minefield.

He said: “Definitely. It is the strongest squad we have had since we have been down.

“We have great quality on the bench and, even when you see the lads losing out sitting in the stands, the quality is definitely there.

“The lads found the play-offs really tough last season.

“We just blew up a wee bit when it came to the last game so winning the Championship is our aim.”

Durnan also insists the best is yet to come from some of the new additions such as strikers Scott McDonald and James Keatings as they hone their sharpness on the pitch.

He added: “Guys like Scott and Keats have not had much game time.

“They are our two main strikers so once the boys start playing a bit more, the goals will come from them.”

Mark Durnan: league is the primary aim for United this season.