PARS PILE THE PRESSURE ON SORRY LASZLO
DESPAIRING Dundee United boss Csaba Laszlo watched his side fall at the first hurdle — then admitted the pressure is already mounting on them.
Laszlo endured another painful afternoon in the Tannadice dugout in the wake of their exit from the Betfred Cup recently at the hands of largely part-time opposition.
With memories still fresh of last season’s failed play-off bid, nothing other than an openingday victory would do to convince their suffering fans chairman Mike Martin was right to give his manager a vote of confidence during the summer.
But this was like last season all over again when the hosts were guilty of squandering the lead following Nicky Clark’s first-half opener.
They contrived once more to let things slip with their secondhalf collapse which sent their fans home disgruntled to keep the pressure on Laszlo.
The Hungarian said: ‘The pressure is always on Dundee United as everyone expects us to win. This is a painful start.
‘When you go in 1-0 (ahead) at half-time, you have to be far more clever in managing the game after the break.
‘I am just disappointed and it is painful for me to see this defeat in this manner.
‘It’s hard to take. I understand the fans’ frustration but we have to keep working together.’
Former Dunfermline striker Clark had given the hosts a messy 44th-minute lead, only for Joe Thomson’s 59th-minute equaliser to peg United back.
Jackson Longridge’s 67thminute header was then followed by brother Louis Longridge’s clincher six minutes from full-time. Fraser Aird’s late free-kick was nothing more than a consolation.
Dunfermline were worthy winners. Without expectation hanging over them, Allan Johnston’s side appear capable of mounting their own push for promotion.
Yet they struggled from the beginning. French defender William Edjenguele was booked early on for downing Faissal El Bakhtaoui, the on-loan Dundee striker, who proved to a thorn in the hosts’ defence for much of the afternoon.
Then, on the half-hour mark, Christoph Rabitsch joined Edjenguele in the book for a late challenge on El Bakhtaoui.
United did, however, force themselves ahead a minute before the interval.
Rabitsch’s free-kick was headed towards goal by Edjenguele. Craig Curran then saw his shot stopped by visiting keeper Lee Robinson, although Clark made sure from the rebound with a point-blank finish.
It was a sweet moment for Clark, who celebrated in front of the Dunfermline supporters who’d been jeering him having left the Fifers in favour of United earlier this summer.
The second half started with Dunfermline’s Myles Hippolyte attempting a 50-yard effort, having spotted Matej Rakovan, the United keeper, off his line and the Slovak did just enough to tip the ball over the bar.
Soon after, United substitute Aird’s cross was met by Yannick Loemba, but he couldn’t direct his header on target from inside the six-yard box.
The visitors, though, levelled in 59 minutes. El Bakhtaoui laid the ball into the path of Thomson, who steadied himself and drilled past Rakovan.
Buoyed by this, Dunfermline surged ahead. Thomson’s cross eluded the home rearguard, allowing Jackson Longridge to loop a header back across Rakovan and into the corner.
Victory was sealed in 84 minutes. Louis Longridge picked up possession, skipped past two despairing United challenges, and simply placed his shot outwith the reach of helpless Rakovan.
‘Our reaction to going a goal behind was brilliant and I felt we blew them away in the end,’ said Johnston.
How much longer Laszlo can stay in charge remains to be seen. Their fans’ reaction at the end told its own story.