United have title edge, says Fraser
DUNDEE UNITED winger Scott Fraser believes the Tannadice side now possess a psychological advantage over Championship title rivals Hibernian after Tony Andreu’s penalty gave them a vital 1-0 win over Neil Lennon’s men on Friday night.
The victory stretched United’s unbeaten streak to 11 games and also saw them draw level on points with Hibs at the top of the table, though they remain second due to having an inferior goal difference.
The Leith men had started the season well, winning their first five league games and looked favourites to win automatic promotion back to the top flight in their third season in the Championship.
Martin Boyle had missed a penalty to give the visitors the lead and Fraser believes that having diminished any advantage Hibs had going into December and taking advantage of such a mistake will give them an edge over the festive period.
‘It’s massive psychologically (getting level on points), we spoke about it before the game,’ he said. ‘Nothing is won in December — we’re well aware of that — but to beat them when they’ve been made favourites by most people is big.
‘In our changing room it’s different, we believe we’re the favourites to go and win games.
‘That’s how it was on Friday. We let other people outside the changing room speak — they can say what they want.’
Fraser says that Hibs being made favourites by so many is driving him and his team-mates on.
‘Though I’m sure their manager feels they can win the league, I think it’s more folk from outside, who aren’t involved in either club, who look at it from the outside and think Hibs are going to run away with the league.
‘That’s up to them, but we’re aware that if we play to our potential we can go on and win it. That drives us on. We don’t need to prove anything to anyone.’
More than 3,000 away fans had travelled to Tayside in the hope of seeing their team extend their lead at the top of the table and they contributed to an electric atmosphere with over 10,000 there in total. ‘It’s an unbelievable feeling. The atmosphere in the changing room afterwards was brilliant,’ Fraser added. ‘It’s something I’ve not experienced many times since I broke into the first team. ‘At the end of the game, seeing the support we had, how loud it was, it meant a lot. But it makes you want more. ‘Those are the kind of games you want to play in week-in, week-out. ‘With no disrespect to other teams, the fans won’t turn up in those numbers for every game. ‘But if we keep playing good football and keep winning then, hopefully, that will make for a few more atmospheres like that one.’ Having passed up the chance to go six points clear, Hibs midfielder Andrew Shinnie, on loan from Birmingham City, admitted he and his team-mates were kicking themselves over the missed opportunity.
‘We didn’t play as well as we can, we know that. It’s disappointing. I don’t know if we deserved to lose again but we did,’ he said. ‘If we’d scored our penalty, we maybe would have gone on to win the game.
‘It was a good chance to put quite a big gap between us and Dundee United and if we’d gone 1-0 up we’re quite strong defensively and probably would have seen the game out.
‘We had the chance to go six points clear, so we’re kicking ourselves.’