United skipper: We’ll take the flak ...we deserve it
Gutted Dundee United captain Fraser Fyvie admits he saw a different side to new gaffer Robbie Neilson after Fr iday night’s shambolic 5- 0 defeat to Ayr United.
But the Tangerines skipper insists his teammates didn’t need to be told their performance was unacceptable.
“He said his bit,” said Fyvie.
“But obviously, as players, you know within yourselves when you’re nowhere near it.
“We were miles off it. “They had more energy, more power, they were more physical.
“They were better than us all over the pitch – from one to 11.
“We all have to take what comes, right on the chin.
“We’re going to get a lot of flak this week, we k n ow that, and we deserve it for how we performed.
“It does hurt when you get a defeat like that, especially at home in front of your ow n supporters.
“They have been fantastic, so it hurts for them.
“Even if we kept it at 2-0, as it was at half-time, that’s one thing, but it can’t be what it was.”
Meanwhile, hot- shot Lawrence Shankland reckons Ayr proved their title c re d e n t i a l s by demolishing Dundee United.
The Honest Me n h i t m an ba g g e d four goals on Friday – taking his total for the season to an incredible 26.
The result saw Ayr go six points clear of United at the top of the Championship.
For Shankland, it was a night that showed Ian M c C a l l ’s side are mounting a promotion push on merit.
“It was an enjoyable night and a great result,” he said.
“Not many teams go to Tannadice, even in the top league, and win by five goals – it’s kind of unheard of.
“That result shows what we’ve got as a team.
“We ha v e a good defence, keeping clean sheets more often than not, and we know we’ve got good players in the forward areas who can score goals.”
Shankland’s incredible scoring run means he is grabbing more headlines than any of his team-mates.
But the 23- year- old k n ow s the plaudits would count for nothing without the efforts of the guys at the other end of the park.
“I think the defence is overlooked and deserves more credit, “he said.
With his Ayr contract up at the end of the season, Shankland is sure to be in demand when the Ja n u a r y transfer window opens.
But he has no intention of letting transfer speculation go to his head.
“Whatever happens in Januar y is up to the club,” he said.
“If anything comes in we’ll speak about it, but until it actually happens I won’t be getting too caught up in it.”