BACKED IN THE MORNING
Under-fire Fox insists he’s man to save Utd
Liam Fox insists he is still the man to lead Dundee United to safety despite gaining more heat from this latest defeat to Saints.
A Stevie May double was enough to help St Johnstone sink United – although it was a late blunder from Mark Birighitti that gifted them the points.
It is now five defeats on the bounce for the Tannadice club, who are one point adrift at the bottom and led to chants for the removal of Fox and sporting director Tony Asghar.
Fox said: “Any manager’s position at any club comes under scrutiny when you’re on the kind of run we’re on.
“So I accept that. I still feel I am the man to get the club where we need to get to, I have no doubt in my mind about that.
“We are f r u st rated, we’re disappoint e d and we’re angry.
“We a re st i l l bottom of the table. I’m not hiding from that. We need to take it on the chin, keep working and I believe the harder you work, the more breaks you’ll get.”
United had levelled through a Dylan Levitt strike before Birighitti took a poor touch from a pass back and allowed May to slide in.
The keeper went off injured and Fox revealed it could force them into an emergency loan. He said: “Mark knows he made a mistake. It was a strange decision because it’s not something we ask them to do but sometimes in the heat of the moment players can
ma k e bad decisions.
“We have a real issue with Mark as well so it’s a doublewhammy.
“He’s potentially d i slocated h is shoulder. We might have to look at another keeper because a couple of the younger keepers at the club are injured too.”
The 40th centenar y of United’s 1983 title-winning team was celebrated before the game. The likes of Hamish McAlpine, Maurice Malpas, John Holt, Paul Sturrock, Davie Dodds and Billy Kirkwood were introduced to the crowd, while captain Paul Hegarty came out with the trophy.
That was to celebrate a Uni ted team who had finished top of the table.
The class of 2023 were more interested in getting out of the basement area.
Fox went with a more attacking 4-3-3 set-up, with Kai Fotheringham coming in.
Saints’ form had also been patchy and Callum Davidson made four changes from the side who lost to Celtic.
United started brightly. Steven Fletcher shot over and Remi Matthews had to block
Aziz Behich’s cross. Saints’ shape soon put the shackles on United. They took the lead with a well-worked move in the 32nd minute.
Dan Phillips and Nicky Clark eventually got the ball out to Melker Hallberg who crossed for May to volley past Birighitti.
United rallied with a couple of shots that were blocked.
Daniel Phillips hooked an effort on the line af ter a dangerous cros s f rom Fotheringham and United upped the pressure without really troubling until they equalised in the 82nd minute.
Loick Ayina played a pass into Levitt who turned Cammy MacPherson and he smashed it low into the bottom left-hand corner of Matthews’ net from around 30 yards.
But United’s own failings continue to trip them up.
Birighitti took a goal kick, got it back from Charl ie Mulgrew and under pressure took a touch which allowed May to slide in and net.
It was another big mistake from the Australian who then went down injured and was replaced by Jack Newman.