Durnan eyeing second place, but insists building momentum is main aim

Mark Durnan insists Dundee United will “fancy their chances” in the play-offs, regardless of where they finish in the league table.

The Tangerines are locked in a battle with second-placed Falkirk to see who will finish as runners-up to Championship winners Hibs.

United currently sit third, just a point behind the Bairns, and travel to Cappielow today to play Morton, while their rivals head to Dumbarton.

They have to win in Renfrewshire and hope that Peter Houston’s men either lose or draw across the Clyde at the Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium.

Whatever will be, will be, according to Durnan.

Mind you, the big centre-half is obviously hoping that United will be the ones to sit out the third versus fourth play-off quarter-final that would kick-off back at Cappielow on Tuesday night.

Durnan said: “We know if we finish second we have two fewer games and that does give you a better opportunity to progress.

“However, if we end up third I think it is important we go into the play-offs with some momentum.

“I am pretty sure, whether we finish second or third, we will fancy our chances.

“I think our form has been good overall.

“We could have been in a better position and it was a really disappointing result against Dumbarton.

“I guess it might be impossible to avoid hearing what is going on in the Falkirk game but you just need to make sure you are concentrating on yourself and doing your own job.

“If another team does you a favour then fair enough but you can only influence your own match.

“It would not be a shock if Dumbarton got something off Falkirk because they have had some great results – unfortunately, some have come against us.

“However, our focus will be all on trying to beat Morton and then, come five o’clock on Saturday, we will think about what lies ahead of us.”

United will have to do without the services of both defender William Edjenguele and striker Simon Murray at Cappielow, with the pair serving bans.

Durnan, himself, is just one booking United 1 Morton 1: February 25 2017. Morton 0 United 0: November 19 2016. United 2 Morton 1: September 24 2016. Morton 2 United 1: September 20 2016. United 3 Morton 1: September 23 2003. Manager Ray McKinnon believes United should have won all of their last five matches but they simply MUST win this one.

It doesn’t matter how they achieve it, they just need to get the job done and then it’s fingers crossed that Falkirk slip up.