The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Murray is United’s talisman
Courier Sports writers discuss Dundee United’s chances of play-off final glory against Hamilton and Neil McCann’s Dens Park dilemma...
Q Two more games to negotiate and Dundee United are back in the Premiership. Be honest, did you expect them to get this far? EN: I wasn’t too confident after the first half at Falkirk, that’s for sure. If you take the season as a whole, and the expectations that were reasonable before it, getting to the play-off final is par for the course. They’re now into territory that would be exceeding those reasonable expectations if they win. N R: Considering United had already lost 3-0 and 3-1 at Falkirk this season, I feared that the promotion push could come to a shuddering halt, a feeling that increased when James Craigen scored that early goal. So Ray McKinnon’s men deserve enormous credit for showing true grit to make it through to the final.
IR: Like the other lads, I thought winning down at Falkirk was a big ask so well done to them for that. In hindsight, though, there was something in the air down at Cappielow in the final league match. Although, they only drew against Morton and ended the day third instead of second, United had played very well and they looked fit and ready for whatever lay ahead. Q What have they got right in their two ties so far?
EN: They were a bit fortunate to be level after the first leg and a bit fortunate that Falkirk made a bit of a mess of the second half of the return leg. But the common thread of the four games has been the quality of the goals from United and their never-say-die spirit. It’s a pretty powerful combination. United are going for it, which is the mindset you need in the play-offs.
NR: Confidence and momentum are key in football and United have generated both of these factors in the play-off games to date. That could be crucial ahead of the games against Accies.
IR: I disagree with Eric that Falkirk made a mess of the second half on Friday. Instead, I would argue that United, lifted by brilliant backing from their fans, grabbed the initiative from the Bairns and played very well after the break. Q For most of the season you would have said Tony Andreu was United’s talisman, is it now Simon Murray? EN: Absolutely. Murray divides opinion but there’s a rawness to his play that defenders don’t like. And if ever there was a player who sums up the ‘if you don’t shoot, you can’ t score’ mantra, it’ s him. I do think Andreu has suffered from being dropped further back, though. United will need him at his best against his old club. N R: Murray’ s goals have, of course, been vitally important but Hamilton will know that they have to keep their former player Andreu quiet.
IR: I said in my match report from the Falkirk game that Murray’s display was the finest from a United player for a very long time and stand by that. You would back him to score again on Thursday. Mind you, I also think both Andreu and Thomas Mikklesen are overdue goals so that could work out very well for United. Q Put into context the step up in level of opposition from Falkirk to Hamilton Accies?
EN: It’s a bigger one than Morton to Falkirk. You wouldn’t say they have a star man but neither do they have a glaring weak link.
NR: It’s significant. Hamilton may seem to be perennial strugglers in the Premiership but they have a decent squad who have the knack of picking up vital results when they need to.
IR: Ray McKinnon argues that the gap just isn’t there in a one-off affair like this final and I tend to agree with him. For example, were it a Scottish Cup tie then I’m not sure Accies would fancy going to Tan na dice to face aside that is unbeaten in 10 matches. They would, though, probably fancy themselves in a replay back home so the Tangerines need to take a lead west with them on Sunday. Q Two scenarios – how do United win this and where could it go wrong?
EN: Hamilton will edge it if it turns into a cagey, tactical match, I suspect. It’s a risk for United to really go for it but I think it’s their best chance of success as well. Stick with the mindset that has got them this far.
NR: Put simply, the side that can handle the pressure better will almost certainly be playing in the Premiership next season. IR: I still have worries over the defence but to counter those concerns United do carry a lot of attacking threat in Murray, Andreu, Mikkelsen and Blair Spittal. They must take the game to Acci es from the first whistle and forget about those slow starts. Q The only consolation for Dundee fans at the weekend will have been the confidence boost they gave Accies. Darren O’Dea seemed to think the heavy defeat, or rather the manner of it, summed up their season. Agree?
EN: The fact that O’Dea and Paul McGowan have been banging that drum on and off all season tells its own story. They are spot on. There’ s a mentality issue that needs to be sorted out. And they also need some bigger and stronger players.
NR: Having watched Dundee’s meek performance against Inverness last midweek, the result from Hamilton was no great surprise. However, some of the players really need to take along, hard look in the mirror after once again letting down the several hundred fans who paid good money to travel to watch what turned