The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
United heads not down, says Ralston
Dundee United defender Anthony Ralston insists no one at Tannadice is feeling sorry for themselves as they continue to struggle.
The under-pressure Tangerines looked to be poised for what would have been a vital victory at Cappielow on Saturday. The match was deep into injury-time with the visitors 1-0 up and having bossed the game.
However, disaster struck and they conceded an own goal straight from a Morton corner, with the ball hitting off Billy King and nestling in the back of their net with 93 minutes showing on the clock.
That 1-1 draw saw them drop out of the play-off positions to fifth spot in the Championship. As far as football sob stories go – and the Tangerines have had a few – that’s up there.
However, on-loan Celtic man Ralston is adamant that the heads have not been down since the full-time whistle sounded in Greenock.
Instead, he claims the hard-luck tale has left the United players desperate to beat Dumbarton tonight.
Ralston said: “It was just our luck, wasn’t it? That wasn’t a nice moment but the reaction to it, from what I have seen over these last couple of days, has been really positive. We want to just get up and get on with the next game.
“These things do happen in football but the important thing is how you respond. It isn’t plain sailing for us, to put it mildly, but we just have to battle through these tough times. It sounds simple but we just have to keep going.
“The table is so tight that it only takes one result to change it so we have to stay positive. If we win against Dumbarton it could really get us going and set us up for the play-offs.
“I’m sure we will still make it and then it’s about where we go from there.
“The boys still have a good belief about them and everybody is continuing to be upbeat about things.
“We won’t give up on anything and I think you saw that in the performance against Morton.
“Hopefully, we can go and get the three points in this game and kick on for the rest of the season.”
The club may be in the doldrums but Ralston still appears to be loving life at United as he gets game time.
He said: “It’s been excellent and all the boys have been great with me.
“I have settled in really well.
“I am getting games every week, which is what I came here for, so I am enjoying every Saturday and every Tuesday as well. I don’t mind the games coming thick and fast because that means I get more game time and experience.”
Meanwhile manager Csaba Laszlo also lamented the loss of that late, late goal against Morton but was happy with the way his team played. The United boss said: “We lost the goal in the last seconds and this can always happen. I think this was very unlucky on Billy King and I don’t want to blame him.
“Now we have a game against Dumbarton which is in our home stadium and we are preparing hard for this match.
“I told the boys that there is a real chance to deliver three points and this must be our target. To be honest with you, the game on Saturday was one of the best controlled games from Dundee United that I have seen.
“We played against Morton, who are flying at the moment, and didn’t allow them any goal chances. We lost two points but I saw positive energy from the boys.”
United expect to have Thomas Mikkelsen and Tam Scobbie back from injury, while Scott Fraser, who was a late sub in Greenock, could start against the Sons.