McKinnon confident team will gel

NO NEED FOR PANIC: Continued from page 52

McKinnon said: “We are all disappointed we were beaten but the reality is we have the whole season for that team to click and gel.

“So we are not panicking. We know how good they are and they also know that. But we need to get that strong, fit team on the park, clicking together. We haven’t had that opportunity yet.

“We have had a big turnover of players and the expectation levels are high – I get that and we accept that.

“We are not there yet and that was shown on Saturday but we will get there.

“The team will not be clicking just like that in two minutes. We have a lot of injuries and we have had people coming in at different times.”

McKinnon added: “We will start clicking when we get everybody back fit.

“For instance, if ever we needed a Jordie Briels, it was Saturday going about winning tackles but he was injured.

“We also needed a Scotty Fraser to unlock the door – injured.

“James Keatings buzzing about – injured.

“There are loads of reasons but it is not an excuse.

“It is early in the season but we will be bang in there, there is no doubt about that.

“It was a wake-up call on Saturday. We will just have to accept it and make sure it doesn’t happen again – that is the key.”

Dundee United boss Ray McKinnon insists it is only a matter of time before his new-look side fully gels and there is definitely no need for anyone to panic, writes Neil Robertson.

The Tannadice manager watched his team lose their unbeaten league record and place at the top of the Championship table on Saturday as they lost 3-0 to St Mirren.

McKinnon was keen not to make excuses, but, having carried out a major rebuilding job this summer and with several players at varying levels of fitness, he admitted the best is yet to come from his side.

However, the manager has every faith in his players that they will click, and soon.