The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Paton vows to scrap until the end
Dundee United captain Paul Paton has vowed to do everything in his power to keep the club in the Premiership.
The man who has quickly and impressively assumed a leadership role for the Tangerines isn’t getting carried away by their brilliant 3-0 win against Ross County on Saturday.
Paton knows that United may have closed the points gap on second-bottom Kilmarnock to eight with a game in hand but time isn’t on their side with just 11 league matches remaining.
Another crucial fixture comes on Wednesday when they host Aberdeen at Tannadice.
The midfielder promised that, if he has his way, every player will scrap for every point from now until the final whistle of the final game.
Paton said: “I am just speaking for myself – someone who is just back in the team – but I would do anything to keep this club in the top division.”
Dundee United captain Paul Paton has vowed to do everything in his power to keep the club in the Permiership.
The man who has quickly and impressively assumed a leadership role for the Tangerines on the park isn’t getting carried away by their brilliant win against Ross County on Saturday.
Paton, who grabbed the opening goal against the Staggies to add to his winner against Hearts a week earlier, knows that United may have closed the points gap on second-bottom Kilmarnock to eight with a game in hand but time isn’t on their side with just 11 league matches remaining.
Another crucial fixture comes around on Wednesday when they welcome Aberdeen to Tannadice.
The midfielder promised that, if he has his way, every player in tangerine will scrap for every point from now until the final whistle of the final game. He will certainly be doing just that. Paton said: “I am just speaking for myself – someone who is just back in the team – but I would do anything to keep this club in the top division.
“We had to show commitment and fight.
“We are sitting bottom of the league and it would be criminal to do anything other than that. You have to fight right to the end and we will do that.
“Since I have come back into the team I have been really impressed because that’s what I have seen from the lads.
“We know we are a good side when we play like that and it’s still in our own hands.
“There are enough points available to enable us to stay up but we can only do it by hard work.
“We are working hard every day and there is a determination to keep the club in the Premiership.
“We know we still have a long way to go but we have given ourselves a wee chance.
“We need to keep playing well and keep picking up points.”
For the first time in a long time there may just be a feelgood factor at United as they prepare to face the Dons.
Nevertheless, the realist in Paton knows how difficult it will be to beat what will be the third successive top-six side they have faced following the successes against County and Hearts.
He added: “It’s another win but we move on to another big game on Wednesday.
“We realise what a good side Aberdeen are and what lies ahead of us.
“It is another tough challenge but we go into it in a positive frame of mind.
“Maybe it has taken a couple of wins to build momentum again but we are still bottom of the league.
“We have to keep going to claw it back.”
Meanwhile, Paton, a man who hasn’t been renowned for his goalscoring, poked fun at himself.
He said: “I think I have surpassed my goals target now.
“I have two goals in two games now and that’s probably the best run of my career.”