Raise the bar even higher, says Laszlo

UNITED: Players challenged to stamp their authority on the league

Dundee United manager Csaba Laszlo has challenged his players to raise the bar even higher than they did in their thrilling win over Falkirk.

The Tangerines played the Bairns off the park on Sunday to move clear at the top of the Championship. Having moved into the lead on their own thanks to a 3-0 win that could have been six or seven, they now have a real chance to stamp their authority on the division.

United travel to Glebe Park this Saturday to play bottom club Brechin City and Laszlo has thrown down the gauntlet to his men.

It may have been a five-star show against Falkirk but the new Tannadice gaffer wants even more from them.

Laszlo said: “When it is the first league game with a new manager in charge it is important to win it.”

“The expectation was high, what with a new gaffer at the club,” said Laszlo.

“We won 3-0 against what was a good team in Falkirk, even though they don’t have much confidence at the moment. This was not an easy game.

“Afterwards, when you see the scoreline, you maybe think it was easy but it was not.

“It will be the same against Brechin. We know we must be 100% focused on that game.

“OK, against Falkirk we pushed the bar a little bit higher than it was before. Now we have to keep the bar there and then, if it’s possible, push it even higher.

“Maybe it is not possible to go higher and higher every week because you have a limit but it would be nice to see us try to build on what we achieved at the weekend then go even higher.

“I think we can do this.”

Key to the club’s revival under first caretaker coach Laurie Ellis then Laszlo has been the form of captain Willo Flood in the middle of the park.

He even stood out among several terrific individual performances against the Bairns before being substituted at half-time.

Having the experience of Tam Scobbie, Flood and Scott McDonald running up the spine of the side will be a huge help to United in the weeks and months to come.

Therefore, it was a happy Laszlo who revealed that the wee Irishman should be fit to face City.

The manager said: “We took him off at half-time as a preventative measure because he got a kick on his leg. He trained on his own today then will be back training with the team tomorrow so I think he will be OK.

“That is very important for us because those guys (Flood, Scobbie and McDonald) are people who can lead the team.”