We have the chance of a lifetime – Csaba
Csaba Laszlo watched his driven Dundee United side set up a Premiership play-off quarter-final with promotion rivals Dunfermline – then challenged them to go further and become Tannadice heroes.
Laszlo’s side know for sure they’ll face their Fife opponents with the first leg at East End Park on Tuesday, followed by Friday’s return encounter at Tannadice after goals in the second-half from Craig Slater and Scott Mcdonald secured third place in the Championship.
Their exploits after the break ensured they have genuine hope of facing Championship runners-up Livingston again in just over a week in the semi-final as they strive for a return to the top-flight.
And their Hungarian manager urged them to write their names in the history books by sealing a much-desired return to the top-flight.
Laszlo said: “This is a once-in-alifetime opportunity. They can make a name for themselves by getting Dundee United back into the Premiership.
“I want to congratulate the players for finishing third and now we have to move on to Dunfermline.
“We have all suffered at some point during this season when it hasn’t always been easy.
“But now we have this wonderful chance to progress and we really do want to take it.
“We are happy to finish third and now we have to get our minds ready for Tuesday night.
“It means we have a better feeling going into the first leg at Dunfermline. “We have two difficult games coming up with Dunfermline and then after that we will see what happens.
“But this was a good victory with two good goals which should be good for confidence.
“We changed things a bit and the players did well – like Slater, who hasn’t played much but showed what he can do when given a chance.”
Despite crashing to an abysmal 3-0
defeat away to Queen of the South the previous weekend, United were assured of their place in the play-offs so had been relieved of the pressure somewhat.
Laszlo, though, stuck by his promise to field a strong side which included a return for Scott Fraser, their influential midfielder.
But it was the visitors, with a muchchanged side, who threatened first when Craig Halkett hit the bar as early as the third minute when the United defence had struggled to deal with their
opponents’ aerial prowess. Then, in 15 minutes, Declan Gallagher saw his acrobatic overhead kick fly just past home keeper Deniz Mehmet’s far post.
United’s first semblance of an opening came in the 15th minute. Fraser forced his way into the box only to see his shot tipped away by Neil Alexander, the Livi keeper, before Nicky Cadden headed off the line.
Mehmet then saved the hosts from going behind by pulling off an instinctive stop from Ryan Hardie’s 38th minute volley.
The hosts knew they had to raise the tempo after the break and duly went ahead within 10 minutes of the restart.
Fraser released Billy King wide on the left. His weighted cross to the far post was inch-perfect for Slater who rammed his finish home on arriving late inside the box.
Shortly after, Hardie did come close as his grounded effort from inside the box trickled past Mehmet’s right-hand post.
But with five minutes remaining, Mcdonald made sure with a closerange textbook header from King’s driven cross.
Livi boss Davie Hopkin said: “All in all I’m delighted with the season we’ve had.
“We’re disappointed we lost here but we’ll come back in refreshed and give it our best shot.”