Laszlo laments fixture pile-up

Dundee United manager Csaba Laszlo has admitted their jam-packed schedule will be “tough for everyone”, writes Ian Roache.

The Tangerines’ fixture headache has turned into a full-blown crisis following the double postponement due to snow of home Championship matches against St Mirren and Queen of the South.

United were due to play the runaway league leaders at Tannadice tonight but the match was called off yesterday morning on police advice due to the extreme weather.

That news followed the cancellation of last Tuesday night’s scheduled home clash with Queen of the South, which also fell victim to the “Beast from the East.”

It all leaves fourth-placed United, who have played three games fewer than the teams above them in the table, with a horrific fixture pile-up.

They need to find two extra dates in what is already a congested calendar, with the SPFL expected to make an announcement over the next day or so.

This month United are due to play Brechin at Glebe Park on the 10th, Queen of the South away on the 13th, Inverness at home on the 17th, host Dunfermline on the 24th, go up to Inverness on the 27th, then travel to Greenock to play Morton on the 31st.

In April, their schedule reads: Dumbarton at home on the 3rd, the Sons away on the 7th, Falkirk at Tannadice on the 14th, Queens at Palmerston on the 21st and Livingston at home on the 28th.

It has left Laszlo, who was already trying to turn around a form slump, with another big worry going forward.

The United boss said: “It is frustrating to get matches called off but the weather has taken over and it is not something we can control.

“Obviously this is going to leave us with a very heavy schedule and it looks like we will be playing every three or four days for a while.

“That is not ideal when you don’t have such a big squad but there is nothing you can do.

“It will be tough for everyone because it will be demanding physically to get all the matches played.

“But with the snow coming this week there is nothing you can do to prevent it.

“It is not just football that has been cancelled.

“We had hoped to play the Queen of the South match and go into the St Mirren one with confidence and momentum. But there is nothing anyone can do.

“All we can influence is working hard in training and being prepared for the next game.”

Laszlo revealed that his players were in the middle of training when they heard they wouldn’t be playing tonight.

He added: “We were halfway through our session indoors when we were told the St Mirren match was off so we will just have to focus on the next match now.

“If there is one positive thing it’s that Jordie Briels is back training and so is William Edjenguele.

“Scott Fraser is also getting ready to go back into individual training so having the matches off helps them.

“Jordie and William will get more time training which will make them stronger and put them in contention to play.

“Scott may, hopefully, return to help the team as well when we are in the middle of a busy period.”