The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Not acceptable, Scobbie
Tangerines defender’s scathing analysis as Bairns hit visitors for six
FALKIRK 6 DUNDEE UNITED 1
Dundee United defender Tam Scobbie has apologised to the club’s supporters and launched a scathing analysis of Saturday’s 6-1 drubbing to Falkirk.
Despite taking an early lead through Billy King, the Championship promotion hopefuls capitulated under a barrage of attacks from the merciless Bairns as United fell six points adrift of leaders St Mirren.
The majority of the near-capacity away support had left well before Lewis Kidd rammed in the sixth and the experienced Scobbie admits that every single player in Csaba Laszlo’s side needs to look at themselves in the mirror.
A furious Scobbie said: “The chances we gave them aren’t acceptable at a club like Dundee United. Everyone in the dressing room knows that.
“We had a long discussion after the game and we will have a more thorough discussion during the week.
“The manager said we looked like we crumbled, which we did.
“Every man who took part never performed to their ability.
“Hopefully, it’s a blip and one of those freak results.
“At times like this we have to stick together and work hard, but we let ourselves down massively by not being strong, or even at 2-1 or 3-1 saying, ‘listen we are not conceding any more’.
“All of us will need to look at ourselves and say that’s not acceptable.
“Everyone is disgusted with the way we played in front of a massive travelling crowd.
“We saw the crowd leaving early and we totally accept that because of the way we performed. We totally accept that. We can only apologise to the fans.”
The embarrassing afternoon at Falkirk, who moved to within three points of eighth place Dumbarton, was Untied’s second defeat in just over a week following a top-of-the-table loss to the Buddies.
Laszlo’s side bounced back from the today Paisley set-back with a victory over Brechin City and former St Johnstone and Falkirk defender Scobbie insists the players must make sure that the manner of the pitiful defeat is not repeated.
He said: “We will need to nip it in the bud before it catches up with us and before Saturday’s game against Dunfermline, which will be massive.
“The pressure has been on from day one and I think we have handled it most of the time.
“Even in games we have lost, it has been by the odd goal and it wasn’t massive like Saturday.
“We have some experienced boys who are going to have to stick together to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
“There were too many mistakes. Falkirk looked like they wanted it more. It reflected in the result.
“When everyone looks at it they will admit it wasn’t good enough. We all went home absolutely gutted.
“Individually and collectively it is probably one of the worst we have been involved in.
“We need to get rather than later.”
There were warning signs even before King opened the scoring in the sixth minute. Seconds earlier, Craig Sibbald glided past the United midfield before drilling a low drive off the post.
King then raced on to James Keatings’ pass to round goalkeeper Robbie Thomson and score. But United’s lead soon disintegrated. Peter Grant headed in Louis Longridge’s corner in the 22nd minute before Reghan Tumilty converted Kidd’s pass from close range four minutes shy of the break.
Longridge notched the first of his double with a rasping drive from the edge of the area in the 57th minute before left-wing back Tommy Robson rifled an effort high into the net eight minutes later.
Former Hamilton forward Longridge curled in a fifth in the 73rd minute before Kidd rounded off the scoring for the home side in the final seconds when he forced in Sibbald’s cut-back.
Laszlo handed full debuts to Craig Slater and Brandon Mason and brought on Emil Lyng but was furious with his side’s lack of collective fight.
He said: “It’s an unacceptable performance.
“This is a shame. Yes, games but not like that.
“Everybody has to look in the mirror and examine what they have done. They cannot hide behind somebody else’s back.” it sorted you sooner can lose
Everyone is disgusted with the way we played. TAMSCOBBIE