GIVE US SOME CREDIT
Mellon insists United’s reputation sees his team held to higher standards
THE stature and reputation of Dundee United were enough to lure Micky Mellon back across the border for the first time in his professional career. Those same qualities are also the root of one of the main frustrations of the Glaswegian’s first season in Scottish football.
‘If we were called something different, people would be talking about us very differently,’ says Mellon. ‘We wouldn’t be judged as a club with the history of Dundee United, just as a team who’d come out of the Championship and did very well.
‘But I embrace that. I came back to Scotland because I wanted to work for a big club. I’d rather have the asks and expectations.’
More simply, Mellon does not believe United have been given the credit they deserve for their performances in their first season back in the Premiership.
Last weekend’s 3-0 win over a much-lauded Livingston team saw United temporarily move into the top half of the table and, with the squad largely unchanged from last term’s promotion-winning group, he would like to see his players’ efforts given a bit more recognition.
‘Sometimes I don’t think it’s been fair this season,’ he says. ‘As well as the criticism and the feedback you get from people, you need a pat on the back now and again.
‘Everyone does. Sometimes you need someone to say: “You’re doing well, you’re doing okay”. I don’t think the boys have had enough of that. We’re not big softies but they probably deserve a bit more credit than they’ve got.
‘We’ll plough on, we understand the situation. We have to find the consistency to move us towards the Dundee United that everybody probably expects.’
Beat Rangers today and United won’t lack for praise. Steven Gerrard’s team are now within striking distance of not only the title but also completing the league campaign without defeat.
United ran them close in a 2-1 defeat at Tannadice in December and it’s a repeat of that kind of performance and not the ragged display on their previous visit to Ibrox in September that Mellon seeks this afternoon.
For midfielder Calum Butcher, the game will be a big milestone, his 100th appearance for the club.
Originally signed by Jackie McNamara in 2013, Butcher went on to provide some midfield muscle to an exciting young side that had Stuart Armstrong, Andy Robertson, Ryan Gauld and Gary Mackay-Steven in its ranks.
Despite problems with injury, those two years brought some happy memories for the anchorman which is why, after a miserable spell at Mansfield, he was so keen to re-sign even as the club entered its fourth season in the second tier.
‘I’ve had a few low points in my career,’ admits the 29-year-old. ‘When I left Tottenham, that was a tough stage because I didn’t have a club for a few months and I eventually had to go to Denmark to restart my career.
‘More recently I hated my time at Mansfield. I didn’t get along with the manager and I ended up going to Billericay purely to get back home with the kids because I was doing too much travelling.
‘When I came back here, I just fell in love with my football again. The club was good to me and it just clicked and I am really grateful to be here and make my 100th appearance. I’m told I’m the first Englishman to do that and hopefully I can make a lot more.
‘I just feel really settled here with my family and I’m proud of what we have achieved so far this season.’
Butcher (right) agrees that the United players have been under-praised this term but he would apply the same sentiment to Mellon, who took the job under strained circumstances that have barely improved.
Appointed after Robbie Neilson walked out to join Hearts midway through pre-season training, Mellon had to assess his squad quickly, while also dealing with cutbacks enforced in response to the pandemic.
‘I don’t think we had a manager for two or three weeks after Robbie left, so pre-season was tough,’ recalls Butcher. ‘Micky came in and he’s done really well. He’s set us up as hard to beat, installed a lot of different characteristics in us. It’s taken a little bit of time but hopefully we’ll start to see that more with the way we play.’
Mellon, 48, followed a meandering playing career in England by moving into management with Fleetwood, Shrewsbury and then Tranmere, where he insists his work prepared him perfectly for his current role.
After four years of Championship football, United required a period of adjustment and while the manager worked on the team’s foundations, it took a while to find the right blend from midfield to front. The signs are that his plan is now working, with prize asset Lawrence Shankland coming to life and netting an impressive double last weekend to take his season tally to seven.
‘I’ve been through a number of promotions as a manager, so I’m experienced at working with transitional clubs,’ continues Mellon. ‘I understood this was going to happen, I got it.
‘You sit down as a manager and ask what type of environment you’re going to be in. What external questions will be asked of you.
‘We’re a club with a big fanbase and demands. I don’t mind that. I can focus on knowing what’s necessary to get us to those places because I’ve done it many times before.’
Despite the sterility of the current season, Mellon’s homecoming has proven a refreshing experience. He is, however, looking forward to the day he can experience a proper Scottish football occasion.
‘I’ve loved it,’ he adds. ‘I’ve missed the crowds, like everybody, but I’ve loved the competition and really enjoyed the challenge.
‘One thing I know about Dundee United is when the fans are back, it will make for a real good atmosphere at Tannadice.
‘I’m looking forward to seeing what that’s like.’
ENJOYING a run of five straight victories in the Premiership, Celtic appear to have rediscovered their rhythm and have got a groove going once more. In the grand scheme of things, mind you, it’s too little, too late given the 15-point distance which separates them and league leaders Rangers.
But by claiming three points on a regular basis recently, Neil Lennon sees signs of not just physical but also mental strength in his players which has proved so valuable over their nine-in-a-row years.
On the pitch, Celtic have scored 13 goals while conceding just twice in their winning run against Kilmarnock, Motherwell, St Mirren, St Johnstone and Aberdeen.
The plan is to continue that trend against Ross County in Dingwall tonight and at least match the result of Steven Gerrard’s men, who face Dundee United at Ibrox this afternoon
However, off the pitch, Lennon believes his players have displayed courage to deal with the many setbacks in a season which he claims has not been an ‘unmitigated disaster’.
‘I think the players here do show character,’ said the Parkhead boss. ‘They do show a lot of mental strength.
‘To be successful here year in, year out you need to be of a certain temperament and be able to take the rough with the smooth. We are seeing that now with the good groove and it takes a bit of character to do that.
‘They haven’t given up on anything and I am not surprised by the run we are on at the minute. It is only five games and they are capable of a lot more, so we are looking for a lot more.
‘You do learn about certain individuals and how they cope with adversity. It is always a good sign when they come out on the other side of it.
‘We still have a lot of work to do and a lot of improvements to make but it is not the unmitigated disaster that everyone makes it out to be. We want to finish the season as strongly as possible and we will see where that takes us.’
One player who knows what it’s like to deal with tricky situations is Greg Taylor. The arrival of Diego Laxalt on-loan from AC Milan initially saw the Scot outmuscled for the left-back position.
But Taylor has started ahead of the Uruguayan in the last eight matches and has claimed the second-highest number of assists with seven this season.
‘He is playing very well and he has a great attitude,’ said Lennon of
Taylor (inset, right). ‘He’s been really consistent and is a very good footballer. Greg has a good mentality and a great appetite for the game.
‘There is room for improvement in him but he will be delighted with that stat because he works hard at his game.
‘It is always good to have competition. If players look a bit fatigued it is good to be able to take them out. Greg came out and Diego did well. Now Greg has come back in and played consistently well.
‘Players will tell you they always want to play but sometimes having a rest and watching some of the games, and knowing how much the those games mean to them, it is good to come back in hungry and ready for more.
‘We are always here to support the players when they are going through tough times and Greg is no different. He has played well and he knows there is a big year ahead with the Euros and he wants to maintain that position within the squad if he can. I’m sure he will be pleased with
his performances.’
The pressure on Lennon has been relentless given the poor form which has overshadowed their season and led many supporters to call for him to go.
Celtic’s players, too, have not escaped criticism from fans, which has been on a new level compared to previous seasons when the narrative was gleaming thanks to unprecedented success.
‘I think it’s difficult for the players and the staff,’ said goalkeeper Scott Bain. ‘There has been nothing but good times for a long time.
‘When things aren’t going your way that’s when you really need the fans to stick by you, back you up and help you get out of those bad patches.
‘It’s been difficult for some of the players in terms of how much criticism and negative messages they’ve got through this hard spell. It comes with the territory of playing for Celtic, I guess.
‘We all know football moves fast. If you’re not moving forward the past gets forgotten really quickly and it’s all about the next game. The games come so fast that one good result can be gone in a week.’
Bain insists the absence of fans has played a huge part in Celtic’s dismal run of form through the season so far.
‘It is very difficult,’ added the 29-year-old. ‘We’re probably one of the clubs that’s found it the most difficult. We know how much fans at Celtic Park can affect games in the last 10 or 20 minutes when you need that extra bit.
‘They’re there to drag you on and they create a difficult atmosphere for people to come and play in. It can be a really daunting place for away teams. We’ve definitely found it difficult without fans there every week.’
Starting tonight, Celtic play three matches before they host Rangers on March 21 in the final game prior to the split.
Asked if the aim is to stop their arch-rivals from winning the title before the split, Lennon said: ‘We’re looking at every game on its own
Greg has a really good attitude and a great appetite for the game
‘YOU NEED TO ABLE TO TAKE THE ROUGH WITH THE SMOOTH. IT TAKES A BIT OF CHARACTER TO COME OUT THE OTHER SIDE’
merit and we are not setting any targets.
‘We’re looking at the next game against Ross County on Sunday evening. They are fighting for their lives and we can’t afford to drop points.
‘We need to try and keep our run going and not worry about what’s going on elsewhere. If we take it to beyond the split, then so be it.’
Lennon will face John Hughes in the opposite dugout tonight, with the County boss having previously backed Lennon amid the criticism he has faced. The Northern Irishman respects his counterpart but knows Celtic can’t slip up against the team at the bottom of the Premiership.
‘John is a good manager,’ added Lennon. ‘His record speaks for itself. I’m pleased to see him back in the game. He’s very forward thinking and tries to develop players. He sees the good in the game and has good ideas. ‘John has a scrap on his hands but it’s not something he hasn’t been in before.
‘I’m delighted he’s back in the game and obviously delighted with the support that he has given me as well.’
STEVEN GERRARD is well aware that a section of the Rangers support would rather he had prioritised domestic success above all else during his near three-year tenure. But as he savours the prospect of a run he hopes will take the club deep into the knock-out stages of the Europa League, the manager offers no apology for refusing to put parochial matters ahead of broadening his team’s skill-set and reputation on the continent over the past three seasons.
Happily for Gerrard, the formulae for winning at home and abroad have not proved mutually exclusive.
As Rangers close in on the Premiership title, he knows his paymasters on the Ibrox board are grateful for the additional financial pay-off from the UEFA coffers.
In year one, reaching the tournament’s group stage ranked as a breakthrough after the previous year’s qualifying trip to Luxembourg ended with Pedro Caixinha pleading with supporters while stuck in a bush.
Last term, the run to the last 16 offered further improvement and some impressive performances away to Braga and Porto in particular.
Yet domestically, there have been question marks, not just in the league but in cup competitions where Aberdeen, Celtic, Hearts and most recently St Mirren have managed to land a knock-out blow.
That Betfred Cup defeat in Paisley apart, Gerrard has this season managed to pull off the trick of marrying stylistic growth with a relentless winning mentality that has the club on the brink of the title.
While supporters have been entranced by the unbeaten form that has taken their favourites to that situation, Gerrard took a special thrill from Thursday’s win over Royal Antwerp, a match settled by the odd goal in seven.
He said: ‘The league is the bread and butter at this football club but Europe is so so important.
‘It’s never ever been a case of me picking and choosing what we want to do well in.
‘I would love to have a domestic cup on the CV, of course I would, but financially this club doesn’t function how we want it to without European funds.
‘So that goes to show how important it is.’
After a playing career in which Gerrard enjoyed his very best nights on the European stage with Liverpool, it’s no surprise that he should really come to life on these showpiece occasions.
Perhaps chastened by Celtic’s winning response to an Old Firm defeat in December 2019 which Gerrard celebrated demonstratively in front of the television cameras, he has been careful to offer mostly measured comments pertaining to ‘focusing on the next game’.
Europe, however, allows him greater scope for expression not only in how his team plays but in how he speaks about the challenge.
So while a win over Dundee United this afternoon is the most immediately pressing requirement, the return match against the Belgians on Thursday promises excitement and, to be blunt, a more pleasurable kind of pressure.
‘I think we are certainly benefiting from our style and how we are set up, our organisation,’ said Gerrard. ‘The players deserve the majority of the praise, they are the ones who are really taking on the information and embracing each challenge in Europe.
‘We want the players to back themselves and play with belief, almost forget who they are playing, and just be the best version of themselves. We want them to believe what we are telling them, that on our day we are a good match for the majority of teams, certainly at Europa League level.
‘Last year, it was only against Leverkusen where I felt there was a big gap in the quality of the sides, but I think that was natural when you think about the amount of money they have spent on their squad.’
Given how wary he has been of generating ‘noise’ around his team as they have ruthlessly dismantled Celtic’s efforts to win a 10th title in a row, it’s unsurprising to hear Gerrard seek to shut down any complacency ahead of Thursday’s second-leg visit of Antwerp.
Although Rangers endured their trials in the Bosuilstadion with the first-half injuries that forced James Tavernier and Kemar Roofe to leave the field, Antwerp started the match significantly below full strength.
Uruguayan frontman Felipe Avenatti scored a fine looping header as the match see-sawed, but manager Franky Vercauteren will have broader range of options to select from at Ibrox.
It’s unclear if star player Dieumerci Mbokani will be fit enough to play any part but there is likely to be a starting place for Didier Lamkel Ze, Antwerp’s most dangerous player since Vercauteren took charge at the turn of the year. Suspended for the first leg, Lamkel Ze has five goals in his last eight matches and will fancy his chances of capitalising on some of the uncharacteristically loose defending that blighted Rangers’ performance.
‘We certainly see this tie as being at half-time,’ added Gerrard. ‘We have an advantage of course and have put ourselves in a good position but the key for us is we need to defend a lot better over the
‘THE LEAGUE IS THE BREAD AND BUTTER OF THIS CLUB BUT EUROPE IS SO IMPORTANT’
course of the next 90 minutes. We are aware they will have players returning to the group who will make them stronger.
‘Lamkel Ze brings more mobility, more speed and more profile to their team and he obviously carries a goal threat.
‘But we have faced players on a similar level before and done extremely well. I’ve confidence in the team that we can go and finish the job off.
‘We won’t get too carried away. There’s 90 minutes of football and Antwerp showed that they are capable of hurting us if we are not at it.
‘We respect what is coming our way on Thursday and we have to be better when that happens.’
Longer term, Rangers’ hopes of hanging on to Gerrard for a significant period of time are likely to hinge on the European dimension.
Next season there will be an opportunity to take the club into the Champions League, a scenario that should get the former England captain’s juices flowing.
Rangers’ last high watermark in Europe came with the UEFA Cup final appearance of 2008 under Walter Smith, but Gerrard is careful not to predict something similar from the current team.
‘In years to come, we may be a team capable of competing but we have to be careful we don’t look too far ahead,’ he says. ‘From the inside
we understand that the supporters can get excited but we have to be realistic about where we are and what’s in front of us.
‘There’s a big challenge on Thursday. Antwerp will have players returning from injury and they will be stronger but we have put ourselves in a real strong position to go and finish the job off.
‘I would love nothing better than to improve on last year and get into the last 16 again at least, try to go a step further.
‘There is no harm in aiming as high as you can and trying to get the best out of this group and take them as far as we can. But we don’t want to make any unrealistic targets.’
Nevertheless, Gerrard senses a new quality about his team this season, something steelier.
‘I have played in some real special teams who have gone on fantastic runs,’ he added. ‘Teams that really didn’t like the taste of defeat. I get the impression these lads have been through enough trauma and situations where they have not felt good about themselves.
‘They have learned from those and those experiences have stood them in good stead for this season.
‘On Thursday, even when we were trailing 2-1 at half-time, there was a different feeling about the group.
‘I am really confident challenging this group and telling them what they don’t want to hear because I know I will get the right reaction.
‘That’s a good dressing room to have.’
We won’t get too carried away. Antwerp showed that they can hurt us