Courts says United are hungry for more after fiery victory
Tam Courts says his Dundee United players are hungry for more success.
The Tangerines drew level on points with third-placed Hearts in the Premiership table thanks to Saturday’s narrow 1-0 win over Aberdeen in a fiery encounter at Tannadice.
The home side won thanks to a late Ian Harkes goal but the game was overshadowed by three dismissals.
Home skipper Calum Butcher was sent off just before half-time for a low blow on Dons striker Christian Ramirez with referee Bobby Madden showing a second yellow then red to Aberdeen’s Funso Ojo shortly after in a separate incident involving a home fan.
Dons boss Stephen Glass was also given his marching orders at the interval for protesting about Ojo’s dismissal and watched the rest of the game from the stands.
However, Courts focused on his own players and the fact that they had returned to winning ways after losing their previous two Premiership games to St Johnstone and Hearts before the international break.
The 40-year-old said: “We knew coming into the game, even if we were beaten, the worst we would be is fourth position. It is testament to how far the club has come on the pitch in a short space of time with this group of players. But I think they are keen for more. They understand it’s an important part of the season leading up to Christmas and New Year.
“We have a lot of big fixtures coming up and this is a nice springboard going into Ross County next week.”
Courts admitted he always thought it would be a tight contest and was delighted that, when it mattered most, Harkes was on hand to produce a quality finish in the 80th minute with the outside of his right foot.
Courts added: “The longer the game went on, I think one goal was always going to win it. Thankfully it came for us through Ian Harkes and there was a bit of quality for the goa.
“I think you saw the boys’ spirit, togetherness and their desire to find solutions. When we got the goal, this place just erupted because of the energy that was on the pitch. We wanted to get back to winning ways and that is a big step forward for us.”