The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
‘Game on’ insists Tangerines boss
Hosts lead twice but Bairns able to hit back
Dundee United manager Ray McKinnon insists it it still “game on” despite the Tangerines being held by Falkirk in the first leg of the Premiership play-off semi-final last night.
United took the lead at Tannadice through SimonMurrayon16minutesbeforeaJamesCraigen volley brought the Bairns level on 27 minutes.
The hosts took the lead again on 53 minutes, with Blair Spittal on target, but they were pegged back for a second time six minutes later when Joe McKee netted with a free-kick to make it 2-2.
Now they head to the Falkirk Stadium on Friday night as underdogs but the United boss remained in defiant mood.
McKinnon said: “I thought my team gave everything.
“They gave their all to try to win the game, worked extremely hard and never left anything on the park. So I am very pleased with them.
“I was happy with the attitude and the mentality but I am a wee bit disappointed that we conceded the two goals.
“Both were mistakes from us and we should have done better.
“The boys are in there a bit disappointed but I have just stressed to them that it all comes down to 90 minutes now. “The whole season comes down to that. “I can sense they are motivated and the game is well and truly on for Friday. Yes, it’s game on and we are going there to win it.
“The boys have that real desire about them and I am really looking forward to Friday.”
‘BRILLIANT’ FRIDAY:
“The recovery from the players has been great and I’m sure we will be ready again,” added McKinnon.
“Friday night is going to be brilliant and hopefully the boys will go out and pass that ball well.”
McKinnon, who lost rightback Stewart Murdoch to a groin injury early on, was determined to be upbeat.
He added: “I have to take the positives and those are that we took the lead and then, when we lost it, we took the lead again.
“That shows a good attitude. I am sure if we go into the return game with that mentality then we are right in it.”
Meanwhile, Falkirk manager Peter Houston was happy with his night’s work.
The former United gaffer said: “We showed great character in coming from behind twice.
“What I wanted was to get in front to see if they had the character we have got.
“Our plan now is to try and score the first goal and see if they can handle what we have had to handle twice tonight.
‘It comes down to character. I’ve said a few times we have been inconsistent this season, but over the last seven or eight games we’ve showed the character we showed last season.
“It’s hard to play again in 72 hours but maybe finishing second is a benefit to us.
“If we go in front, mentally will they (United) tire? We hope. We don’t know.
“The job we have to do now is beat United and get to the final.”
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