The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Dundee United boss Csaba Laszlo yesterday confirmed that Tangerines legend Paul Sturrock
Tangerines look to build on fighting performance against Dunfermline at Inverness
– pictured at Tannadice last week with Paul Hegarty and Hamish McAlpine – is acting purely as an adviser despite being appointed to Laszlo’s backroom team.
Stewart Murdoch is confident the players can block out the pressure that is being piled on to Dundee United.
The Tangerines take the long road to Inverness tonight to take on a Caley Thistle side that will be on a high having just lifted the Irn-Bru Cup.
While it has been celebration time in the Highland capital, life has been anything but a party for United or their fans as they have slipped down to fourth spot in the Championship.
They have taken only two points from three home games against ICT, Queen of the South and Dunfermline, and the stats don’t get any better if you go further back, with only one win in the league since January 2.
The club has even been branded “toxic” by former player Coll Donaldson, who will be lining up for the opposition this evening.
It looks like open season on United at the moment – rightly or wrongly – but Murdoch stressed that the players can’t let it all affect them on the park.
He said: “I think you have to try to block it out.
“There are so many pressures that come from outside, no matter what club you are at.
“Even if you are doing well there will still be people criticising.
“So it’s important that, as a group, we are a bunch of boys who want to do well and that we stick together.
“If we can start winning games then that would help get the fans back onside.
“It was a better performance against Dunfermline (a 1-1 draw at Tannadice) on Saturday which gave us a bit of a lift.
“If they see boys fighting for the team and maybe being a bit unlucky not to get over the line – as I felt was the case because we had a few chances – then hopefully we can build on that.
“We are honest professionals and we know we are not performing as well as we could be.
“I suppose the frustration might come because the boys don’t want to be performing below what they can achieve.
“It is one where we want to try to impress a bit more and get better results so that the fans will be on our side even more.
“I think wherever you go there will be people shouting from the side and maybe getting on your back.
“When you are in this industry there will always be people wanting to knock you down.
“So it’s important that the boys focus on the job in hand and put that behind them.”
Murdoch was used by manager Csaba Laszlo in central defence against the Pars at the weekend, playing alongside new signing Bilel Mohsni.
He enjoyed it, saying: “It was unusual because it was the first time I have played as a sweeper.
“It is one of those where the manager knows what my qualities are and I was happy to go and play there.
“I have always said that if I am in the team then I am happy.”
He certainly seems to like having Mohsni about the place.
“Everybody who was at the game on Saturday will have seen how confident he is as a player,” said Murdoch.
“I certainly felt confident playing beside him.
“You see him already going around players individually and encouraging them to step up to where they can be.
“He is a great addition to the squad and will help us in the run-in.”
Murdoch joked that he hopes United’s task will be helped by the Inverness players over-indulging after their final win over Dumbarton.
“Hopefully they have gone on a twoday session!” he said.
“Seriously, I think we all know that when you have a game on the Tuesday night you remain professional and that will be the case with Inverness.”