Siegrist focused on run to title

Keeper gutted to miss out on next round but wants United to make sure of promotion

Dundee United goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist saw one unbeaten run come to an end and now wants to start a new one.

The Tangerines’ loss to Hibs in the William Hill Scottish Cup replay at Easter Road on Tuesday night halted a sequence of 11 wins and three draws stretching all the way back to October 19.

United, who lead the league by 18 points, have 14 Championship matches remaining so would love to put together another run to fire themselves back into the Premiership.

That would certainly be a dream scenario for Siegrist, although the cautious Swiss keeper is taking nothing for granted ahead of today’s home game against Arbroath.

Little wonder, too, considering the Lichties came within a whisker – or a Lawrence Shankland late double – of beating them the last time the teams met at Tannadice.

Siegrist said: “I obviously don’t like losing but we can take loads of positives from the two cup games against Hibs.

“We are disappointed we didn’t go through because we put a lot of work into the cup-ties but we felt like we all left everything out on the pitch and did our best.

“It was a good test for us. It was probably a little bit different for us, being the underdog on Tuesday night.

“Now we have a new challenge back in the league again so there is no time to dwell on it.

“We don’t like losing and when we go out on the pitch, no matter who we play, we fancy ourselves.

“You can beat anybody on any given day.

“We still have our run in the league, where we have gone unbeaten, but the next game is the most important for us.

“Our approach will remain as it has been – going from game to game.”

Siegrist was pressed on whether he thought it was possible to go unbeaten until the end of the campaign.

When told the run just finished had stretched to 14 fixtures, he replied: “Well there you go, there’s your answer.

“It is not easy to do that because teams

come and shut up shop, park the bus or buses.

“We will, though, be going out to try to win every game and get this league won. The sooner that is achieved the better.

“I always think about how there are nine other teams who want to be where we are.

“To a certain extent it is expected for us to be up there but being in the top position with so many points is good.

“It is still nowhere near done so we can maybe speak more about it when it’s done. There is a lot of football to be played before then and a lot of games to try to win.

“The season is a marathon and we are still in the middle of it. We are winning right now but there will be obstacles in the way.

“We are happy where we are and are making good progress.

“We deserve to be up there because of the performances we have produced but we have to continue to play well.”

Siegrist knows how hard it can be to reel in a leader, having failed to keep up with Ross County last season.

All the Tangerines have to concern themselves with, according to him, is their own job.

He said: “We are focused on ourselves while other teams are focused on their results. Not to be disrespectful but I’m not really too bothered about them, to be honest.

“We have to do our thing on Saturday and that has been our approach all season – why change now?”

Meanwhile Siegrist welcomed the news that striker Lawrence Shankland is staying put after the transfer window closed at midnight.

He said: “I didn’t expect anything else. “We all know the quality of Shanks and we all know that if you perform to such a good level there is going to be interest from other clubs.

“He has been great – very professional – and has put in 100%, as he always has done.

“Whatever happens (in future) will happen but he knows how much the club has given to him and he has paid us back with loads of goals.”