The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Wake-up call gets United on track
Robson on target as Tangerines respond to shock defeat by Sons
Dundee United’s Jamie Robson admits that last week’s dispiriting defeat at Dumbarton was the rude wake-up call everyone at the club needed.
The Tangerines showed they had certainly learned the harsh lesson that there are no easy games in the Championship as they comfortably put Ayr to the sword at Tannadice on Saturday, with the teenage defender chipping in with his first goal for the club in a 3-0 win.
The victory was also United’s first in the division and Robson admitted that he was simply delighted with his strike and the result.
He said: “It was a great game. We started well in the first half and looked sharp.
“It was much better than last week. As soon as we get right at teams and score the first goal, it looks positive for us to go on and win the game.
“It was a good performance by everyone.
“Second half we maybe dropped a bit and couldn’t get going but we ground it out in the end and that’s all that matters.”
When asked if the players had heeded the Dumbarton “wake-up call”, he said: “Yes, definitely. We needed that and no matter what, we had to go and win today.
“After last Saturday, we wanted to get back in training as quickly as possible to work hard, then build up to the Ayr game.
“We did what we set out to do and we are delighted with that.”
He added: “That was my first goal for Dundee United.
“It was a great moment for me and I just loved it, especially as it was with my right foot as well which the lads have been winding me up about.
“I had a wee bit of time to think about it. I didn’t connect well but it went into the back of the net which is all that matters.”
Robson revealed that his boss Ray McKinnon has instructed him to get forward as much as he can, with the manager constantly accentuating the positives.
The player said: “The manager encourages me to get up and down as much as I can, helping create chances and get involved in as much of the play as I can.
“He wants me to get crosses in, assists on goals, but he also wants me to make sure I do my job at the other end of the park.
“I’m a defender and that’s my main priority – if I can do both, then that’s a bonus.
“But everything the manager has said to me has been positive – he has not said one negative thing.
“If I make a bad pass, he’ll just say, ‘Come on. Keep going’.
“He makes you want to get on to the ball and pass it. He tells me I have a free role to get up the park but I need to get back in.
“He keeps me right and has given me a lot of confidence to kick on week after week.
“I feel I am progressing but I have so much more to learn. This is just the start but it is a good start and hopefully I can keep going the same way.”
The Tangerines also made a bright start to Saturday’s game with Ayr keeper Greg Fleming having to pull off two early stops, the first from a Scott Fraser shot and then from a Coll Donaldson header.
However, he was helpless to prevent the home side taking the lead in the 13th minute.
Ayr’s Jamie Adams made a clumsy challenge on Cammy Smith inside his box with referee Greig Aitken immediately pointing to the spot.
Nick van der Velden stepped up to take it but Fleming pulled off a great diving save to parry his effort. Unfortunately for the goalie, United’s Simon Murray reacted fastest to nod home from close range.
The Tangerines then increased their lead in the 37th minute when Willo Flood produced a tempting cutback from the right with young Robson shooting past Fleming to make it 2-0.
Murray thought he had scored his second and United’s third in the 71st minute but his “goal” was chalked off for offside.
However, the home support only had five minutes to wait to celebrate a legitimate counter when sub Tope Obadeyi sent in a superb low cross from the left with Flood volleying the ball home from close range.
Robson certainly caught the eye on Saturday – especially with his dyed blond hair.
He joked: “Change is good! I was just sitting in the flat one night, a bit bored so we decided to go to Tesco and buy stuff to dye our hair.
“Why not? I share with Aaron Murrell from the Under-20s and we did it ourselves.
“Lewis Toshney did it before me and I think we both suit it!”
This is just the start but itisagood start and hopefully I can keep going the same way. JAMIE ROBSON