United backed to carry on winning

MCKINNON: Somerset Park won’t be case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’

Dundee United manager Ray McKinnon is backing his players to handle the high of beating Hibs.

The Tangerines hauled themselves level on points with the Edinburgh side at the top of the Championship thanks to a tense and thrilling 1-0 win at Tannadice on Friday night.

It was a brilliant occasion for the United players, fans and manager and the celebrations both on the park and in the dressing room afterwards showed what it meant to everyone at the club.

After a big night out often comes a hangover, though, and now they have to travel all the way down to Somerset Park to face Ayr United on Saturday.

It will be a tough trip and there won’t be live TV cameras when they face Ian McCall’s men, nor will there be an electric atmosphere coursing through packed stands. There will, though, be three points up for grabs, just as there was against the Hibees.

It is for that very reason that McKinnon feels it won’t be a case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ when they face the Honest Men.

“I think the players are completely focused,” he said. “I’m not just saying that – it’s true. “This is the sharpest I have seen them in training since I arrived as manager and it was great to see.

“All season there have been good sessions in training but it has never been as intense as it is now.

“Hopefully, we can carry that into the match against Ayr on Saturday.

“I think what beating Hibs did was reinforce the belief that was already in the players.

“If we can keep performing at that level then hopefully we can do something this season but we do have to keep the concentration up. They know and I know that we have good players at the club, people who have played at a decent level.

“We have never been overconfident but we have been going into matches with belief. The players are a happy bunch and that’s because they are winning games. They are all motivated professionals and there are no bad eggs at the club.

“There is a really good atmosphere among the group and I think that is shining through.

“I guess the celebrations after the win showed they are together and will be determined to keep working hard for each other.”

Looking back on Friday night, the United boss praised the contribution of the United fans, who roared the players on to victory.

He said: “The atmosphere was terrific and I believe we sold over 8,000 tickets and Hibs had 3,000.

“That was unbelievable for a Championship match.

“The players enjoyed the occasion and they were all up for it, right from kick-off. I think they really responded to the support they got.

“I think last Friday should be a motivation for the players because they should want more big games back at Tannadice.

“I think even if you watched on TV you would have been impressed to think a Championship game could attract a crowd like that.”

Meanwhile, injured left-back Paul Dixon is on the brink of a return to training.

McKinnon revealed: “Dicker will probably train at the end of this week or maybe early next week.

“He is one of those boys who, once he is back training, can go right back in if need be.”

The Tangerines are also understood to have a Romanian trialist at the club.

United boss Ray McKinnon says players are totally focused.