Aird admits pressure is on

It will only be the second game of the Championship season but Fraser Aird admits there is already huge pressure on Dundee United ahead of this weekend’s trip to Dumfries to play Queen of the South, writes Neil Robertson.

The Tangerines got what they hope will be a campaign capped with promotion to the Premiership off to the worst possible start on Saturday, losing 3-2 to Dunfermline at Tannadice.

The Pars won thanks to goals from Joe Thomson and the Longridge brothers, Jackson and Louis, while United’s counters came from Nicky Clark and a cracking free-kick from Aird.

The 23-year-old came off the bench at halftime and he hopes he has done enough to convince boss Csaba Laszlo to restore him to the starting line-up against the Doonhamers.

The Canadian international said: “It is never easy down there.

“It is on astro and it is their first game at home so they will obviously be wanting to win.

“There is also more pressure on us now with losing our first game and we need to go there and get a result.

“We will look at what we did wrong on the video over the course of the week.

“I started every pre-season game so I was disappointed not to play.”

“I came here to play football and like every player, I’m not happy sitting on the bench,” added Aird.

“Hopefully I did enough in the second half to get a start next weekend.”

Meanwhile, Dunfermline’s Jackson Longridge admitted his brother stole some of his thunder when he popped up with his side’s third goal.

He said: “I was hoping the game would stay 2-1 so I could take the victory with my goal and all the glory. But he has managed to get a goal and it was good finish as well so I will give him it.

“Everything went to plan and we ended up getting the result in the end.

“We will go away, look at it again and take the positives and negatives out of the performance.

“Coming to Dundee United, it is a big club and I am sure they will be up there competing so it is good to get that 3-2 win.”