Dow plans to go from bad sitter to big hitter
IT did not require a session of video analysis for Ryan Dow to know just how bad — and costly — his miss was in Dundee United’s damaging 2- 1 defeat at home to Kilmarnock last weekend.
The Tannadice attacker has been replaying the incident in an endless, tortuous loop in his own mind; his tame side-foot shot from six yards straight at goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald with the scores level.
Dow knows all too well that he was one of the reasons his beleaguered boss Jackie McNamara has had another difficult week in which he has had to field questions on his future at Tannadice.
Desperate to take the heat off his manager, Dow remains adamant that his team will click and that a Premiership rival is in line for a hiding from United. The 24-year-old hopes i t can be today, when Inverness come calling.
‘I should have scored last week against Kilmarnock, I know that,’ said Dow (right). ‘But there were a few other boys in the dressing room beside me who know they should have scored, too.
‘I watched the video analysis this week — but I didn’t need to. Nobody had to tell me I should have done better.
‘There was disbelief at the time and I’ve since replayed it over and over i n my head. Ninety- nine times out of 100 I would have put the ball in the net for 2-1 and we would probably have gone on to win the game.
‘And if we had taken all our chances, we would have won the game 4-1 or 5-1 and everything would be rosy again.
‘It always goes back to the manager but it was more to do with the players last weekend.
‘It wasn’t the gaffer who was missing the chances. He takes the brunt of the criticism from the fans and he’s under pressure. But we have to take the responsibility for not putting the ball in the net.
‘But if we can perform in a similar way this weekend as we did last weekend, then I’m sure we will put our chances away this time.
‘A team will be getting it at some point from us — and, hopefully, it will be on Saturday. But even if the performance doesn’t come for us, then we would be happy with all three points.’
United sit just one point above bottom side Partick Thistle and could end the day slipping down to 12th. But Dow believes last week’s performance in defeat against Killie was reminiscent of United at t heir flowing best t hat saw McNamara become the first manager since Jim McLean to take the Tayside outfit to two successive major finals.
‘The way we played last week, if it was last year or the year before, we would have won by four goals,’ Dow insisted.
‘We opened Kilmarnock up like we used to do to teams. We j ust couldn’t score. But I do think if we can get one win under our belts against Inverness this weekend, then we can go on a run up the table.
‘ We totally dominated Kilmarnock last weekend more t han we have in other games when we have won points, which makes it even harder to take, the fact that we got beaten.
‘But it was just one of those days. We are confident we are on the right road and that it will turn for us.’
A Dundonian, Dow is plugged into city life and knows how downbeat United fans are about their start to the season.
But he insists team spirit remains high, with the arrival during the transfer window of former Caley Thistle striker Billy Mckay from Wigan a particular cause f or optimism.
‘The fans are disappointed,’ he said. ‘They want the best for their club, but we all do. They are frustrated but we are all frustrated, too. It’s just not been happening for us.
‘But the mood in the camp has been the same as ever. Everyone has been in good spirits, even if we have been disappointed by results.
‘We’ve also been boosted by our new signings like Billy Mckay. Billy is a really good striker and his movement is great.
‘I played out wide last weekend but the game before that, at Ross County, I played behind Billy and his movement i s so clever. I wouldn’t like to be a defender trying to pick him up.
‘You can tell why he has scored goals in this league before and I’m sure he will do it for us, too.’