The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Complacency won’t be an issue, insists Neilson
DUNDEE UNITED: Boss dismisses suggestion players have taken eye off ball
Dundee United manager Robbie Neilson has dismissed any suggestion that his players have taken their eye off the ball.
The Tangerines have gone five matches without a win – the last success was away to Partick Thistle on January 11 – and that has led to some nudges and winks suggesting that maybe they feel they have the Championship title in the bag.
Also, the goalless draw on Alloa’s rainsoaked artificial pitch last Friday night didn’t exactly show them in their best light.
If players were to allow complacency to creep into their game then maybe it would be when they are sitting 18 points ahead of their nearest challengers.
That, of course, is United’s situation ahead of the Highlanders’ visit to Tannadice tomorrow. However, Neilson is having none of it. While not dismissing the form dip, he is keen to stress that his players are as switched on as they always have been. “They are motivated,” he declared. “When they came in at both half-time and full-time at Alloa there were words said between them.
“I actually didn’t need to say much. It was quite heated and the boys have standards they want to meet.
“For us, it is about keeping calm during periods when we are not hitting form.
“There have been times during the season when that has happened and you can’t play at the very top of your form for the whole 36 matches of the season.
“As far as being focused is concerned, this Friday night game will probably help because it is on TV, you have the build-up, it is under the floodlights etc.
“All that can help but in training and during games we will be looking to do what we have done for most of the season.
“We have set our standards so high by going 14 in a row unbeaten and winning nine matches back to back.
“You are going to have dips in your season but the important thing for us last Friday was making sure we got a point on the board. It wasn’t a great game or performance from our perspective but it was another point.
“This Friday here on a good surface will be a lot different and I don’t like playing on astro, even though I accept you have to do it.”
Neilson also feels that ICT’S need to win in order to close the gap and their boss John Robertson’s football philosophy might combine to help his players.
He said: “It is a big game and it is one we are looking forward to.
“The last couple of games have been against teams that have sat in and made it difficult to break them down. Inverness will be different in that they are second in the league and chasing us. They will have to come and try to get a result.
“The way Robbo always plays is open, expansive and even gung-ho at times so I am expecting a more entertaining game.”
This will be one of several Friday fixtures for the Tangerines over the remainder of the season, with three April fixtures – home to Queen of the South, away to Inverness and away to Dundee – also being moved back a day for TV.
Neilson will just get on with it, albeit he prefers Saturday kick-offs for the sake of supporters.
He said: “Personally, I don’t mind it. Ideally you play on a Saturday and that’s more so for the sake of the fans.
“For instance, we have to go up to Inverness on a Friday in April (the 10th) for a 7.05 kick-off and it’s difficult for the supporters to get up there for that.
“Even if the game is a Tannadice, we have fans from all over Scotland who come to watch us and it’s not easy to take the afternoon or whole day off work so that you can travel. It is not ideal but TV dictates it.
“You are getting exposure of your team on the telly but if I had the choice then it would be three o’clock on a Saturday afternoon.”