Tangerines boss given full credit for revival

Dundee United goal hero Paul Watson has handed full credit for the Robbie Revival to his manager, writes Ian Roache.

The Tangerines have been totally transformed since Robbie Neilson took over from Csaba Laszlo.

A brilliantly resilient display earned United a 1-0 win over promotion rivals Ross County in Dingwall and the gaffer’s record now reads four wins and a draw.

Almost as impressive, they have lost only two goals in those five matches under Neilson. The County victory made it three clean sheets in a row, against Dunfermline, Queen of the South and now the Staggies.

The players are doing themselves proud but Watson is happy to pile the plaudits on Neilson.

Watson, who fired home what turned out to be the winning goal on 15 minutes said: “It was a massive win for us.”

“There was a lot of pressure from County but we knew it would be like that,” added Watson.

“As a defensive unit, I thought we coped with it very well, from the goalkeeper right through the team.

“I think that’s full credit to the manager.

“The boys have bought into what his beliefs are and it’s great to see.

“We work very hard but it’s good and enjoyable.

“It could be down to be different styles, possibly. It’s not really for me to say.

“We just do what the manager tells us to do.

“We are all buying into it and hopefully we can continue the run.”

As recently as September 29, Laszlo’s United side were ripped to pieces by the Staggies in what was an embarrassing 5-1 home defeat that led to the Hungarian’s exit.

Watson revealed that hammering was in the players’ thoughts as they arrived in the Highlands.

“We did have a point to prove,” he said.

“That was a disastrous day for us and hopefully we put some of that right for the supporters this time.

“It was brilliant to go over to the fans at the end.

“They came up in numbers and it was fantastic for us players to see that.

“It gave us a massive lift throughout the game to hear them singing like that.

“Hopefully, we can keep it going.”

Watson had to come off injured on Saturday but the big concern is over captain Fraser Fyvie, who left the field holding his left hamstring.

The club planned a scan for him yesterday.

Manager Neilson said: “I don’t think it will be too bad.

“I think he has tweaked his hamstring and it’s one of those things.

“We have been pushing him really hard and Fraser has been one of the key drivers for us, not just in games, but in training as well.

“If it’s a grade one injury then he could be back for the Alloa game because we have 10 days between games.”