The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Lewis hits out over slump
Harry Lewis has given a full and frank assessment of Dundee United’s failings as they lurch from one bad result to another.
The Tangerines lost 1-0 to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Highlands on Tuesday night to continue a dismal run that has now seen them record only one win in their last nine matches.
It has been a dramatic downfall for a team many felt were a good bet to be crowned Championship champions this season.
Instead, they currently look as if they are hanging on to a play-off spot by a thread.
Lewis, who had a decent game in goal against ICT, didn’t hold back when asked what he thought was wrong with United.
The on-loan Southampton keeper said: “I am getting tired of giving interviews and trying to defend that on the pitch.”
“You can’t defend what we have been putting out week in, week out,” added Lewis.
“It’s not good enough and something has to change.
“We have to pull through together as a group of lads now and realise how much is at stake here.
“If you look at the goals we concede you find that we are architects of our own downfall most of the time.
“The amount of balls we give away in our own half is a concern and people are trying to beat players and it’s not coming off.
“I think, in this match especially, nothing came off for us at all. We gave too many balls away. Too many passes went astray.
“It must be horrible to watch and it’s not nice to play in, to be honest.”
It has been horrible to watch and the couple of hundred United fans who travelled north on Tuesday were let down once again.
Indeed, Lewis compared the amount of supporters who attended the early-season fixture between the teams and the more modest number in the stand this time to highlight United’s troubles.
The Englishman added: “You go back to the start of the season and I remember coming up to Inverness and our end being full.
“This time, there were hardly any fans there.
“I know it’s a Tuesday night in March but…
“They don’t believe in us and they shouldn’t believe in us. We have given them nothing to believe in.”
Indeed, some of United’s defending sent a shiver up the spine and Lewis wasn’t immune.
He said: “Bilel Mohsni has come in and he has a bit of composure about him but we look nervous.
“I don’t know if it’s a confidence thing and confidence is built on results in football.
“When you are not getting results, like us, you know there is no confidence.
“So that’s maybe why we looked so panicky.
“We are so shaky at the back. Playing behind the defence sometimes, it’s difficult.
“There is no structure to the team and we look so soft out there when we go and play.
“I think some teams just love to play against us.”