DILLON RELISHES SECOND CHANCE
TESTIMONIAL played, contract winding down and barely a first-team appearance since the turn of the year. From the outside it looked as if Sean Dillon’s Dundee United career was winding quietly towards its natural conclusion.
But ever the consummate professional, the Irishman insists he refused to accept the inevitable and would stick to his strict pre-match ritual, even when it was obvious manager Ray McKinnon had no intention of using him.
That diligence paid off as he found himself in the thick of United’s Play-off semi-final against Falkirk. An injury to Stewart Murdoch saw the 33-year-old pitched into last Tuesday’s first leg at Tannadice after just eight minutes — and then he found himself on from the start at Falkirk on Friday night.
Having made just three appearances in 2017, there were times when his rustiness showed in the face of some enterprising play from Falkirk’s leftsided duo of Luke Leahy and Craig Sibbald.
He kept plugging away and ended up prevailing as a Paul Dixon header sealed a 4-3 aggregate victory.
‘I always expect to be involved,’ says Dillon. ‘I’m not being arrogant when I say that, it’s just how I prepare.
‘I had the same grub and went to bed on Tuesday for my afternoon nap like I was starting. Thankfully I did that, as after eight minutes I got my chance. It’s just habit.
‘You prepare for games. There have been times I’ve not been involved for long periods this season and it does get frustrating.
‘But the preparation doesn’t change, you eat the same food and if it’s an evening kick-off you go to bed in the afternoon.
‘That way you know you’ve prepared in the right way. You’re ready to go if called upon. I’m not saying I was very good but if I hadn’t prepared right I don’t think I’d have managed to do what I have in the last two games.’
Craig Levein’s first signing back in 2007, Dillon’s decade at United has taken in the highs of qualifying for Europe and a Scottish Cup win in 2010, and also the despondency of relegation last season.
Now, with the club’s finances strained after a season in the Championship, he insists the pressure is more intense than ever.
‘The pressure last year was incredible but it was different,’ he says. ‘We didn’t produce and that was devastating, especially living in Dundee because you can’t get away from the fact you’ve let people down.
‘It was horrific but the pressure this year is something else. We’ve had lots of question asked of us and thankfully we’ve been able to answer those in the last four games. Please God we can do it in the next two.’
Although there was rapture in the United end following the comeback that saw Simon Murray equalise the tie before Dixon’s late header, Dillon admitted he had been unable to join in the revelry.
‘How can you enjoy that?’ he sighed. ‘I know some of the lads celebrated but I just can’t do it. I’m lucky enough to have won things in the past and that’s totally different — you can properly celebrate then.
‘Now, it’s just relief more than excitement. And there’s still a long way to go.’
Having defeated Morton and Falkirk, United will now face Hamilton for the right to play Premiership football next term.
‘I’ll be doing the same,’ he says. ‘As superstitions go, I’m sure everyone will be wearing the same jocks and socks.
‘I went from being in the stand against Morton for two games to playing after eight minutes against Falkirk in the first game.
‘If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.’