Pawlett urges United to keep their heads up

DUNDEE United are in danger of becoming

that team. The plucky underdogs who gather plenty of praise for their organisation, determination and even all-round performances… while failing to collect enough points to keep well clear of trouble.

Shipping eight goals without response in two games, with Saturday’s 4-0 hammering at Ibrox following a loss by the same scoreline away to Kilmarnock just before the international break, is definitely a cause of concern.

Which possibly explains why Micky Mellon kept his men in the away dressing room for so long after full-time at the weekend; matters needed to be addressed.

‘Obviously, if you get beaten 4-0 then there are going to be words said,’ admitted midfielder Peter Pawlett.

‘If that wasn’t the case, then there would be something wrong. So the manager did speak to us.

‘He is not one of those people who will come in screaming and shouting. It wasn’t like that. Instead, it was all about the need for improvement.

‘That is what he tries to do, bring us on as a squad. It was very disappointing for us but we have to learn from this and move on.

‘I would say that, apart from the last two results, we have started the season well. Those have been two very difficult results to take.

‘We have to move on and our next couple of games (at home to St Mirren and away to Hamilton) are maybe opportunities to get points on the board. We have to be positive about that.

‘The reality is that after seven games, we have seven points, so we have to push on now. There is no point feeling sorry for ourselves. I have been in the game long enough to know there is no room for that.’

It’s not that United played terribly. They just couldn’t live with the pace and intensity of Rangers.

Mellon is generally a positive presence on the touchline, encouraging far more than berating his team. But he sounded frustrated on Saturday, constantly demanding that players ‘take care of the spaces’ or move more quickly to close down a threat.

Pawlett conceded: ‘I would say the goals we lost were sloppy and I think we can do better there.

‘We did try to take Rangers on and play quite high up the pitch and build — but obviously it turned out to be a very disappointing day for us. What we need is a desire to improve and resilience to look ahead positively.’

The one bonus for the visitors was Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland getting his first half hour of first-team football since August 1, Pawlett saying: ‘We all know the quality Shanks brings to our team.

‘We are all delighted to have him back in the side. Hopefully, he can improve his fitness and be back firing on all cylinders soon.’