The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Laszlo to adopt no-risk approach
Boss to play it safe against Livingston
Csaba Laszlo will freshen up his Dundee United team for tomorrow’s final Championship game of the season against Livingston – but not drastically.
With their play-off place secured the previous weekend, the only thing riding on the weekend fixture is whether United finish third or fourth and consequently have to play home or away in the second leg of the quarter-final.
The Tangerines side showed signs of fatigue in their 3-0 defeat in Dumfries but having a free midweek was enough of a break, according to Laszlo.
“There will be a few changes but I won’t be mixing things up too much,” he said.
“My team is fit and I don’t think it is necessary to do something too special.
“I can understand why the Livingston manager can make more changes – he has already done that against Inverness.
“But I don’t care about them.”
Csaba Laszlo will freshen up his Dundee United team for tomorrow’s final Championship game of the season against Livingston – but not drastically.
With their play-off place secured the previous weekend, the only thing riding on the weekend fixture is whether United finish third or fourth and consequently have to play home or away in the second leg of the quarter-final.
The Tangerines side showed signs of fatigue in their 3-0 defeat in Dumfries but having a free midweek was enough of a break, according to Laszlo.
“There will be a few changes but I won’t be mixing things up too much,” he said.
“My team is fit and I don’t think it is necessary to do something too special.
“I can understand why the Livingston manager can make more changes – he has already done that against Inverness. “But I don’t care about them.” Laszlo added: “I was disappointed with the result against Queen of the South. We were mentally and physically down from usual. Sometimes I have to defend the team and this is a case of that.
“With a win we will get third position, which would be a little bit more money for the club. (For the play-offs) I don’t care if it’s home or away first. I just want two wins.”
With three of his players on the verge of a totting-up suspension, Laszlo voiced his frustration that the disciplinary slate isn’t wiped clean at the end of the regular season.
“I’m not very happy with the rules that mean you carry the yellow cards with you,” he said.
“I think that once you get to the play-offs it is a new tournament and you have to put everything to the side.
“Everybody should be in the same position and have the same chance.
“We have to look at that situation. I have three players who are close to a one-game suspension – Jamie Robson, Willo Flood and Jordie Briels.”
Asked whether training has been lighter at St Andrews this week, Laszlo replied: “No, and I tell you why. You cannot take it easy. You must be serious.
“This is a completely new tournament. We hopefully have seven games left, if everything goes well. Now show that you can be better – that is my message to the players.”
Laszlo doesn’t have a preference between Dunfermline and Inverness for next week’s quarter-final opposition. “I can’t influence it,” he said. “Dumbarton play Dunfermline tomorrow and they have to look towards their play-offs. I’ve been very impressed with the run Inverness have gone on but they lost that injury-time goal against Dunfermline.”
Paul Mcmullan and Mark Durnan will both miss out tomorrow and face a race against time to be available for the play-off first leg.
“Mcmullan has a groin injury,” said Laszlo.
“He could be OK for next week but not Saturday. Durnan is the same – maybe next week.
“Matty Smith was out of the squad (at Palmerston) because he was a little bit tired but he’s trained this week.”
enicolson@thecourier.co.uk