Mulgrew hails boss’s work on winning culture

CHARLIE Mulgrew has praised Dundee United boss Tam Courts for attempting to instill a “winning culture” at Tannadice.

The Tangerines slipped to a tame 2-0 defeat against Rangers on Sunday but remain in pole position to secure fourth place in the Premiership.

Courts’ charges lead Motherwell by one point and are three ahead of Ross County as a fraught fight for European qualification goes down to the wire.

While cognisant that United’s campaign has been imperfect, Mulgrew believes the manager – in his first campaign as an SPFL boss – deserves credit for a solid campaign to date.

United’s next challenge will be to spoil the title party of Mulgrew’s former club Celtic, who arrive in Dundee knowing a point will officially secure the 2021-22 Premiership crown.

“The manager has been great in pushing us and trying to create a winning culture at the club,” said Mulgrew.

“We have managed to pick up a few wins. There have been a lot of things we could have done better – that’s the same for every team – but we are reasonably happy.

“However, the season is far from done and we want to finish really strongly.

“European football remains the aim. We finished in the top six – first and foremost – and now we’re in this position, we want to push for fourth.

“We’ll move on (from Rangers) to the next game against Celtic and try to pick up points there.

“It’s a totally different game; totally different occasion; a totally different way that Celtic play.

“We need to be ready to step up and hopefully get a result.”

Meanwhile, Mulgrew insists talented teenager Mathew Cudjoe is bursting with potential after the Ghanaian made his maiden United start at Ibrox.

The former Bayern Munich trialist enjoyed a bright opening 10 minutes against the Gers, embarking on a couple of fearless, intrepid surges forward.

However, with United failing to put their stamp on the game, he found himself increasingly isolated and – like