Laszlo refuses to hammer captain

UNITED 2 LIVINGSTON 3: Flood sees red as Tangerines shocked by Livi

Dundee United boss Csaba Laszlo defended captain Willo Flood after the Irishman lost his discipline following his sending-off at Tannadice last night.

Flood pushed Livingston player Shaun Byrne to earn first a second yellow card then a red late on as the Tangerines blew a 2-1 lead in the home leg of their Premiership play-off semi-final.

A catalogue of defensive disasters allowed Livi to nick a 3-2 advantage going into the return match at the Tony Macaroni Arena on Friday.

One man who won’t be able to do anything to influence United’s fading promotion chances is Flood as he will be banned but Laszlo refused to hammer his skipper despite the player shouting at a TV camera amid a verbal volley as he left the pitch.

Laszlo, who had it confirmed pre-match by chairman Mike Martin that he will be in charge next season even if United crash out of the play-offs, said: “It is very painful because Willo is a very good captain and also in the game he showed attitude.”

Willock continued: “I will definitely go back to United a better player, 100%. I have learned a lot from players like Macca and Murray. They are both good players and talk a lot to me.

“Murray and I are similar but it’s good to play with him because I can learn from him.

“Les Parry has been up from United and watched the last game. He gives me feedback and advice. He also gives me a lot of criticism when he thinks I can improve on a few things and that’s good. As a young player I need that.

“I would love to come back but it is up to United.”

The 21-year-old has started Saints’ last three matches after a spell of substitute appearances and watching games from the stand.

“I feel I have been making slow steps and improving,” said Willock.

“I was in a difficult position before coming here because I wasn’t playing much football in Holland. It took me a few games to adjust, going straight from that into the Scottish game.

“Early on you saw glimpses of the player I am but I have settled in now and want to show everyone I am a good player. It was a lot slower in Holland, more tactical than here and definitely less physical.

“If you run out of position to press, and I like to do that, it can be seen as a bad thing over there.

“The style of Scottish football definitely suits me a lot better. I prefer to watch one man and match his runs.

“There will be lot of focus on Scottish football next season with Steven Gerrard arriving. It is great for the game here.

“As a United player I have modelled my game more on Paul Scholes but he is a legend.”

Willock added: “We want to finish the season on a high and I think we can get that seventh place now. The confidence in the team is high. I don’t see why we can’t finish with another two wins.

“As professional footballers, everyone wants to win whatever the game is. That is the mentality you have.

“It feels bad when you lose no matter what stage of the season it is so everyone will be up for it.”

enicolson@thecourier.co.uk

Picture: SNS Group. United midfielder Sam Stanton is brought crashing down by Livingston’s Declan Gallagher.

SNS. Danny Willock insists his loan spell at Mcdiarmid will stand him in good stead on his return to Man Utd.