MELLON CHALLENGES HIS TANNADICE STARS TO RISE TO THE OCCASION
THERE is demonstrable evidence of Dundee United’s capacity to either explode or implode on the Hampden turf tomorrow. That they have taken strides forward in their first season under Micky Mellon is not up for debate. Nor is the fact they remain a work in progress. At Pittodrie in the quarter-final, they blew Aberdeen away with the most complete performance by a United side in many a long year. One week later, at home to Ross County, came a timely reminder of the work still to be done. A tame home surrender — even if the game carried more significance for the Highlanders. Will the real United stand up against Hibernian? Mellon can only hope so. ‘We’re still a team with a new manager that’s been here eight months with them,’ he said. ‘We’re learning all the time. One thing we’ve got to get better at is adjusting and adapting to what the game is asking us. We can’t play football on our own terms. ‘Every credit to Ross County, they made it very difficult for us but we didn’t attack the “asks” of the game well enough. ‘It’s something we’ve spoken about and need to get better at because we’ve got a lot of talented players. ‘But we need to find a way to win when the game is different to what we perceive is the way we want to play it.’ The destruction of the Dons will be the point of reference. That display was a demonstration of what Mellon’s side can do when it all clicks. Were they to come close to replicating it tomorrow, it will take an extremely good Hibs performance to beat them. ‘That is the quality they have to show,’ said Mellon.
‘The other quality they have to show is to be adaptive which is what any good player is able to do. ‘Any good player can turn up at a game of football and the ball will be about to roll and he will say: “Okay, what’s today’s ask? I am going to answer them, I am going to impact the game”. ‘That is the kind of attitude I want my players to have in every game.’ Hibs’ status as favourites not just for the match but for the cup itself probably suits United and Mellon down to the ground. He revelled as an underdog at Fleetwood, Shrewsbury and
Tranmere. The promotions and cup runs he orchestrated hugely enhanced his reputation. ‘Underdogs are always decided by other people and I can’t affect that,’ added Mellon. ‘We’ll try to be the best version of ourselves and perform. If we do that, we’ll give ourselves a great chance of getting through to an unbelievable final. We’ll go and attack that the best way we can.’ Six league places and 17 points of a difference are the reason why the bookies can’t see beyond Jack Ross’ side. United have yet to record a win over Hibs in three attempts this season but Mellon feels that is misleading. ‘Hibs are a good side but we’ve had really tight games against them that have been decided in moments,’ he stressed. ‘We want to make sure we get those moments right and, hopefully, they go for us.’ Benjamin Siegrist’s absence through injury is a major blow, although Mellon insists the Swiss goalkeeper has not been the sole contributor to the seventh best defence in the top flight. ‘Yes, Benji has done well and he deserves all the credit he gets,’ said Mellon. ‘But the whole team have defended superbly well at times, and the back four deserve a lot of credit considering the amount of experience that is in there — or not in there in terms of playing in the Premier League.’ The flip side of the coin is the 30 league goals scored — the lowest total in the division. Injuries have done Lawrence Shankland few favours but just eight goals scored to date have hampered his chances of making Steve Clarke’s Euro squad. There is, though, an awful lot that can change over the course of an afternoon at Hampden. ‘You will absolutely know that
Steve Clarke will be watching the game — it is what he does,’ said Mellon. ‘He is a hard-working manager and he is national team manager, so they know the opportunity will be there to get in front of him and show what you have got and that is the same for everyone. I have not heard him say the door has been shut yet. ‘There are still a number of places left, so why not — if that floats your boat and that is what motivates you and focuses you to get in front of him and play well, then yes, go for it. Go and do that.’