The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Flood is relishing chance to bounce back
Team had frank talks about faults against Falkirk, and how to book cup final place
Dundee United’s players have cleared the air and now they want to clear a path to the Irn-Bru Cup final.
The Tangerines’ squad gathered together this week to watch a video rerun of their 3-0 horror show at Falkirk, with midfielder Willo Flood admitting that it wasn’t comfortable viewing.
After the horror movie, there was a full and frank discussion about where they went wrong and how to put things right when they face Queen of the South in today’s semi-final at Palmerston.
With everything out in the open, Flood hopes Ray McKinnon’s men can now galvanise themselves as a group and beat the Doonhamers in the evening kick-off.
The Irishman said: “We did have a meeting and things were said that needed to be said. The manager told people a few home truths and we all had to listen because you couldn’t really say anything because we saw how bad we were. We let ourselves and the club down with that defeat.
“We have to defend as a team. It’s a collective thing.
“What we must do now is concentrate on the rest of the season and get back to not just winning games but playing well again.”
Flood is aware that the importance of this competition is often played down but he insists United will be doing all they can to get to the final against either St Mirren or Welsh side TNS, who meet in Paisley tomorrow.
He added: “All the lads just want to play and win regardless of what competition it is. Winnings breeds confidence.
“We want to go down to Dumfries and get through to the final.
“To be fair, we probably produced our best away performance of the season down there. I felt we played really well that day.
“It is a chance to bounce back after Falkirk as well as a great opportunity to get to a cup final.”
United have struggled on the road this term, although one notable exception was their 4-1 win over the Doonhamers on November 5.
Flood has spotted an imbalance between home and away games over recent months, with only four matches at Tannadice out of 13 over November, December and January.
He said: “Our away form has been patchy, whereas the home form has been good.
“The run of games from November didn’t help, with most of them being away from home. We might have to sort out the fixtures a bit better in future.
“The good thing is that we have a lot of home games coming up between now and the end of the season, so that might help us.”
Meanwhile, Queens will give youth a chance as they look to book a place in the final.
Teenagers Owen Bell and Connor Murray have just one start and three substitute appearances between them but are set to play.
January recruits Scott Mercer, Joe Thomson and John Rankin are cup-tied, while Dale Hilson, Callum Tapping and Steven Rigg are out injured.
Doonhamers boss Gary Naysmith said: “We are light for numbers so Connor and Owen could well get the chance to help us into the final.
“It could well be a case of throwing
them into a big match and seeing how they cope.
“Connor was on loan to Gretna 2008 in the Lowland League and that has helped him.
“Owen has done well in a couple of substitute appearances. Playing them does not worry me as, if you are good enough, I will play you.”
Despite only being 90 minutes away from a showpiece occasion, Naysmith has kept things calm this week.
He explained: “It is a semi-final but we have kept things regular in terms of training and time off for the players.
“The only difference is that it is a 5.15pm kick-off so I have told the players to spend a couple of extra hours at home.
“I want them to come in and take things as they would normally.
“There is a prize at stake but we do not want to have the players sitting about here too long and starting to get wound up too early.”
United will be without long-term injured pair Lewis Toshney and Blair Spittal, while goalkeeper Cammy Bell remains a doubt.
William Edjenguele is available again after being suspended for the Falkirk match.