Reynolds says sorry to United fans at Ayr

Skipper apologised to the vast away support after the ‘disappointing’ defeat

Dundee United skipper Mark Reynolds has apologised to the supporters who made the long trek to Ayr on Saturday.

More than 1,000 fans journeyed down from the City of Discovery hoping to see the Tangerines maintain their 100% winning start to the Championship campaign.

Instead United were undone at Somerset Park by the Honest Men who won thanks to goals from Daniel Harvie and Alan Forrest.

Centre-half Reynolds admitted the performance was simply not good enough and he has promised the supporters that the players will be working hard to ensure the lacklustre display is not repeated.

The 32-year-old former Aberdeen defender said: “It was hugely disappointing. We can only apologise to them (the fans) and work hard to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

“They have come in great numbers all season and we have put in good performances for them to get behind us and have something to be proud of.

“That was just so far off it so we have to hope they will come again and see what we are building this season.

“We have said all season that we will take it one game at a time.

“It works both ways. When we win, we don’t get too high and when we lose we will try to regroup and look at what we can do better to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Reynolds was particularly unhappy about the nature of the two goals United conceded and he is determined similar sloppiness will be eradicated.

He added: “We are (still top of the table) and that’s the bonus we can take from it.

“But we are disappointed and it’s nothing like we have been all season.

“We weren’t at the races in the first half at all and it’s nowhere near where we need to be for this club.

“It needs to be better and we will go away, look at it and refocus at training on Monday and Tuesday then go again.

“We have not lost goals like that this season and it’s not something we want to start happening.

“They were two sloppy goals and we had chances at the other end that we didn’t manage to take either.

“So it is a combination of things that ends up with a result like that.”

Meanwhile, United boss Robbie Neilson admitted he is looking for new signing Troy Brown to get more game time under his belt.

The defender slotted in alongside Reynolds at Ayr after being snapped up last week on a six-month deal until January.

Neilson said: “He’s not played for eight weeks.

“We need to try and get him gametime and build him up a wee bit.

“We thought 60 minutes would be good for him. After a week’s training hopefully we can get him game-time next week as well.”

Meanwhile United frontman Louis Appere is understood to have agreed a new, improved two-year deal with the club.

Appere, 20, has been a revelation for the Tangerines this season after impressing boss Robbie Neilson over the summer.

The highlight of the Perth-born player’s campaign so far has been his wonder strike against Dundee in the Tannadice side’s 6-2 home derby win over Dundee.

Appere’s understanding with prolific striker Lawrence Shankland is a big reason why United sit at the top of the Championship, despite that defeat at Ayr at the weekend.

His new contract will add to what is left of his current deal and take him to the end of season 2021-22.