McKINNON’S MEN NOT OUT OF THEIR DEPTH
AHEAD of Dundee United’s first-ever Scottish Cup triumph in 1994, Ivan Golac famously instructed his players to smell the flowers in Camperdown Park during a pre-match walk. This week, Ray McKinnon became the latest Tannadice boss to break with convention when he named his team for the first leg of the Play-off semi-final with Falkirk while he and his squad were standing in the North Sea. Taking his players to the beach in St Andrews after training every day is an approach the 46-year-old admits has left his car ‘manky’. But McKinnon hopes the boost to his players’ muscles and minds will ensure United are not out of their depth at Westfield tonight after drawing Tuesday’s first leg 2-2. ‘I’ve always bought into the old wives’ tale that standing in the North Sea is good for your bones and the salt water helps you,’ smiled McKinnon. ‘You never know, it might be true. I went down the beach a few times when I was a player. It’s great because it refreshes the legs and the boys feel great when they come back out. The players say it makes them feel fresh. ‘We’ve done it before every game and we did it again yesterday before the second leg. ‘It’s the same as an ice bath but I think it’s probably better for the players mentally because it’s a bit of a laugh as well. ‘We pulled them all in up to their chests before the Falkirk game and that’s where I named the team. ‘Everyone goes in, nobody gets to stand on the beach, because we are all in this together. ‘But nobody has been reluctant. We were even in the sea when it was lashing with rain. ‘It’s good for team spirit as well as their physical and mental well-being. ‘The one thing it’s not been good for is my car, because it’s manky now! ‘I’ve had Simon Murray in the front with Tony Andreu and Stuart Garden in the back — and they’ve left a mess. But it’s worked the last few games, so hopefully it keeps going.’ McKinnon will be without right-back Stewart Murdoch, who limped out of the first leg injured, while left-back Jamie Robson also looks likely to miss out tonight. Their positions are likely to be filled by club captain Sean Dillon and the experienced Paul Dixon.