READY FOR BATTLE
But United star urges caution in derby
WITH Lawrence Shankland firing in the goals at his usual incredible rate, a huge degree of optimism can perhaps be forgiven among the Dundee United faithful.
And with a home derby coming up against Dundee on Friday, well, the feelgood factor at Tannadice is only naturally going to be notched up a level.
Shankland’s team-mate Peter Pawlett might have been a lone voice in calling for calm, then, as Robbie Neilson’s men prepare to defend their 100 per cent Championship record against their fierce city rivals.
While Dundee were being held to a goalless draw by Inverness Caley Thistle at Dens Park, United were making it three wins out of three as they disposed of Dunfermline courtesy of a double from the rampant Shankland.
An impressive away victory could, in fact, have been even more comprehensive, Shankland passing up the opportunity to notch a hat-trick by missing a late penalty kick — and Pawlett somehow managing to shoot wide from a yard out.
Nevertheless, United remain the early pacesetters and, with the Dark Blues also expected to be battling for the title, Friday night’s televised derby showdown is one of the most eagerly anticipated in recent years.
Pawlett knows better than to get carried away, however. ‘I know how much winning a Dundee derby would mean to the fans and there is hype around it already,’ said the former Aberdeen player. ‘But for us, it is vital to remain professional and approach the match in the right way.
‘It is a big day for the supporters but we are keeping a lid on it. Fans can get right up for games but we have a job to do. We need to have the same diligence every day of every week regardless of the opposition.
‘We know the fact it is a derby next means there will be added pressure — but we have to deal with that in the right way.
‘It has been a good start to the season but, as we said in the dressing room immediately after the Dunfermline game, we are only three games in. It is about getting through the next game, taking three points then moving on.’
Shankland took his remarkable tally for the campaign to seven goals in three league games — nine in all competitions — in a clinical first-half showing as United blew away the Pars.
The ex-Ayr United striker needed just ten minutes to break the deadlock, firing through the legs of Ryan Scully from a tight angle after holding off Stuart Morrison, who had a miserable time at the heart of the Dunfermline defence.
Shankland bagged a brace on the half-hour mark when he powered a header beyond Scully from close in following a sensational surge and delivery from the irrepressible Paul McMullan.
The Taysiders passed up two glorious chances to add gloss to the scoreline after the break, most notably Scully making a smart save from Shankland’s penalty kick after Kyle Turner had handled the ball in the box.
Pawlett, who otherwise impressed from the bench, then somehow sclaffed a shot wide of an open goal from a Shankland delivery. However, he is adamant a Scully touch on the cross put him off — mitigating his miss-of-the-season contender.
He laughed: ‘The keeper got a touch on it and it hit off my heel. I have seen it already. It’s on film so there is proof! We can have a laugh about it now because we won. Had it been 0-0, then it would have been a very different story.’
Scully’s spot-kick save from Shankland ensured he was one of the few Pars players to emerge from the defeat with any semblance of credit.
The meek defeat to United was night and day from the courageous display by Stevie Crawford’s team in a narrow, extra-time defeat by Celtic at Parkhead in the Betfred Cup a week previously.
Scully pulled no punches in the aftermath. The Dunfermline No1 said: ‘We know that we dropped well below our standards. It is one of the games you look at and say that you have no complaints about having been beaten.’