United dragged into relegation battle – Siegrist

Keeper says Tangerines fighting for Premiership survival

Benjamin Siegrist says Dundee United have to “face facts” and concede they are in a relegation battle. United have won only once in their last 12 outings and, following Wednesday night’s 2-1 defeat at Motherwell, appear to be getting sucked into a dogfight at the bottom of the table.

Defeats by St Mirren and Hibs last week saw the Tangerines drop out of the top six for the first time since October.

Although Micky Mellon’s troops lie in seventh as they prepare to head north to face Ross County on Saturday, they are only five points ahead of the second-bottom Staggies.

It’s a crucial clash in the Highlands that could decide which way United’s season goes, with the split just six rounds away.

After the loss to Well, Siegrist was critical of their form and frank in his assessment of their situation.

“It’s not could be – it’s here now,” the Swiss stopper said when asked if they could be dragged into a relegation battle.

“I don’t want to sound dramatic but it’s reality. We’re better than what we’re playing right now but we have to face facts and make sure we come through as men.

“We had the chance to draw on Wednesday and we missed it.

“Those things are why we’re in the situation we are.”

“We can’t keep going down and chasing the game, saying: ‘Well, the second half was good’.” added Siegrist

“It’s a test of character now. It’s not about everything going overboard and panicking but we have to face it. I challenge my team-mates to deliver because the only way we’re going to get through this is with togetherness.

“We speak about, over the years, having a good togetherness as a team but it’s doing it out there on the pitch and we haven’t quite done that with the results of late.

“We haven’t won in eight and that’s not good – that’s not what we are or what we want to be.

“That’s not how we see ourselves but if we don’t get the basic stuff right we give ourselves a mountain to climb every week and sometimes you can’t overcome them.”

Siegrist believes their current strife is a test of character for United’s squad and one they must come through if they are to survive their first season back in the top flight in four years.

Following on from tomorrow’s trip to Dingwall, the Tangerines face tough opponents in Livingston, Rangers, Kilmarnock, Celtic and Aberdeen before the league splits in half.

That leads Siegrist to suggest something has to change fast if the Tangerines are to get back on song, with the big keeper calling on his teammates to “step up to the plate”.

In a scathing assessment of their current situation, the 28-year-old added: “You have to have a good look at yourself for what you’ve done and make sure you’re there for your teammate when he’s having a hard time.

“You’ve got to make sure you encourage him but that you do your own job as well. There’s going to need to be some hard conversations because that’s the only way you move forward and out of the situation we’re in.

“We need honest evaluation of our own performances and team performances.

“I don’t mind if people have a little go at each other because you need to put your cards on the table and put up or shut up really.

“I’ve no doubt this team can do that. It’s not like we haven’t got the leaders in this team.

“We just have to put it out there and perform on a match day.

“Sometimes leading by example is better than screaming and shouting but, in a team, you need your vocal lads.

“It’s a test of character and the ones that step up to the plate will show.”

Clearly upset and angered by their recent slump, Siegrist says United need to put their stamp on the County clash if they are to turn things around.

“I take losing seriously. I hate losing so, clearly, we’re all frustrated,” he said.

“Whether sometimes we haven’t performed well enough or a decision has gone against us, it’s just those key moments in games where we can’t take authority.

“We can’t defend setpieces or score at the other end – stuff like that is obviously frustrating – but we have to go again and face reality.

“We know the situation we’re in.

“We’ve got to put our mark on the game and, at the key moments, be ruthless at both ends of the pitch.”

“It’s a test of character now. It’s not about everything going overboard and panicking but we have to face it. I challenge my teammates to deliver because the only way we’re going to get through this is with togetherness” – Benjamin Siegrist

Benjamin Siegrist pulls off another fine save during the defeat at Fir Park.

Lawrence Shankland with Calum Butcher after United pulled a goal back.