The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Time for experienced heads
Courier Sport writers Eric Nicolson and Neil Robertson look back on another disappointing match for Dundee United and forward to the Scottish Cup matches this weekend...
Q Dundee United’s struggles show no sign of coming to an end. Was Saturday’s performance the most worrying of their three games in a row without a win?
EN: For me, it was. That was as defensively poor as I’ve seen them in a long time. Full-back has been an issue previously, but they looked none too clever in the middle of the defence at the weekend either. And Ray McKinnon hit the nail on the head when he said the team were looking for a leader in the second half. It’s a young side and the need for the experienced pros to start hitting top form again is clear.
NR: The major relief from a United perspective is that last Saturday could have been a whole lot worse. Credit must go to the team for the way they fought back to secure a draw but they simply cannot afford too many similar displays otherwise Hibs will canter to the title, while Morton will really start believing they can catch the Tangerines in second. Q Getting Tony Andreu back in form would be a start, wouldn’t it? EN: Indeed. I like to see a manager being bold with his substitutions and that was definitely the case with McKinnon against Queens. Andreu is probably United’s most talented – and talismanic – player so you know he’s having a bad afternoon when you’re two goals down and he’s not part of the comeback attempt. You don’t need statistics to tell you how important his form is to United but here’s one anyway – every game Andreu has scored in, they have won. He hasn’t hit the net in United’s last five games, though.
NR: That’s easier said than done. I haven’t seen enough of United recently to accurately judge whether Andreu is suffering a form slump or is simply part of a misfiring team. However, McKinnon needs all his senior players to stand up and be counted, not just Andreu. Q Do you expect McKinnon to give the Simon Murray and Thomas Mikkelsen partnership a chance to bed in.
EN: I do. Murray has to be exempt from any criticism. There has been a bit of football snobbery from some when it comes to assessing Murray’s influence but the ex-junior is now a proven performer at this level. End of story. It wasn’t a great debut from Mikkelsen but he needs time and so does the little and large combination up front.
NR: McKinnon would have been hoping that Mikkelsen would have hit the ground running but realistically he was always going to take time to find his feet in Scotland. The Tannadice boss
certainly doesn’t have an embarrassment of riches up front so the M&M combination should be here to stay. Q What chance do you give United against Ross County in the Scottish Cup?
EN: The pressure is off, which might help them. So too will inevitable ring-rust from a Premiership team which has had three weeks without a competitive fixture. When the draw was made you could have made a case for United being favourites. They aren’t now, but I think this might be a draw. NR: Turning Eric’s ring-rust argument on its head, Ross County will have recharged their batteries during the break and will also be looking for revenge after last season’s cup defeat at the hands of United. McKinnon’s men have a chance but I feel the Premiership side will prevail. Q That brings us smoothly on to another Premiership v Championship cup tie – Dundee v St Mirren. Surely this will be a home win?
EN: There is no such thing as ‘surely’ with Dundee in the cups! Saints will be delighted to get away from their weekly grind and will take a bit of confidence from their point at East End Park. Mind you, it was an undeserved one, from what I’ve been told. I think Paul Hartley has learned a lesson from being caught cold in the Betfred Cup and the Dark Blues had a game against Arbroath a week ago. Actually, you’re right, Dundee will surely win.
NR: Whenever I look at the players in the St Mirren squad, I am baffled as to why they have struggled so badly this season. That roster also includes a host of former Dark Blues including Jamie Langfield, Gary Irvine, John Sutton, Gary McKenzie and David Clarkson all fired up to turn over their old side. However,
Dundee’s recent record at Dens is a good one and again I expect them to overcome this potential banana skin.
Q The mention of Stenhousemuir sends a shiver down the spine of every St Johnstone fan. Any chance of a repeat of the Scottish Cup shock of 1995?
EN: Paul Sturrock probably had a sleepless night when he heard the draw. The 4-0 defeat at Ochilview was one of his darkest days as a football manager. Sturrock had a big rebuilding job on his hands back then but it’s a different story for Tommy Wright. Saints should be comfortable winners at McDiarmid.
NR: I think there is more chance of Donald Trump winning a Nobel Peace prize than Saints suffering another cup upset against Stenny. Q Under normal circumstances you would say Raith v Hearts is a good
chance of a cup upset?
EN: I know the Raith nine-game winless run is making the headlines but there have been more draws than defeats in that spell. And it wasn’t actually that long ago that they shared the points with United and Hibs back to back. Ian Cathro is making changes to his Hearts squad and their form was patchy to say the least pre-break. I’ve got a feeling this could be the cup shock.
NR: There is no shortage of Hearts connections within the Raith ranks such as Rudi Skacel, Kevin McHattie and skipper Jason Thomson along with boss Gary Locke. They will all be doubly determined to prove a point or two against the Edinburgh side. However, the bookies will give you odds of around 6/1 on a home win which says it all about the current Rovers form and I can see Hearts winning comfortably.
Paul Sturrock probably had a sleepless night when he heard the cup draw