Player power held the key to United revival, says Stanton
way, so it was nice to get the goal,’ added Stanton.
‘We proved something to ourselves about our mentality and fitness.
‘There have been a few times this season where we’ve gone a goal down and haven’t been able to come back.
‘That has maybe been our downfall through the season. If we haven’t gone one up, we’ve usually lost the game or drawn it.
‘I think we’ve only come back once or twice all season. So beating Dunfermline was a massive result for us.’
The show of strength was essential ahead of what promises to be a brutal test against David Hopkin’s Livingston.
The West Lothian side have been marvels this season through their manager’s adherence to a style of football based on hard running and a crushing will to win.
Not only does the inordinately small gap between matches pose logistical problems to United, but there is a clear physical disadvantage to Laszlo’s players.
After fighting hard across two legs, United now face a team built to battle, one which has spent the past week preparing specifically for this two-legged encounter.
‘Livingston are very difficult to play against and have beaten us twice this season,’ said Stanton.
‘They know how they want to play and they finished second in the league, so it has worked for them.
‘When you play against them, you need to battle for every ball and run yourself into the ground.
‘You need to match that, then you need to try to let your football take over in the end.’
United have the infrastructure of a Premiership club. They may even possess the players, if not the manager, to remain afloat in the top tier.
However, they face a huge task to not only get past Livingston, but find a way to go again and face the Premiership side that will lie in wait in the play-off.
‘There’s a slight disadvantage,’ admitted Stanton. ‘But we have to think positively and I feel like we’ve got enough left in the tank.’
Defeat was harsh on Allan Johnston’s well-organised team.
After a goalless first leg at East End Park, the Fifers approached Friday’s game full of attacking intent only to run out of steam as United came on strong.
‘We’ve just fallen short after giving everything in the two games — and been the better team in my eyes — so it’s disappointing,’ said skipper Callum Morris.
AT around 9:40pm on Friday, a queue had begun to snake its way along Tannadice Street from the Dundee United ticket office.
Club officials actively welcomed the late shift required to try to fill the ground for tomorrow night’s Premiership Play-off semi-final against Livingston — not least because an hour earlier it looked as if they would have to face down an angry mob on the other side of the street. After a first half of relentless pressure from Dunfermline, United were on the ropes and lucky to be only a goal down. The team talk manager Csaba Laszlo gave his players before kick-off had not worked — so at half-time, the players took over. United hit back to win 2-1 and remain in the frame for promotion.
But the relationship between the club and its customers remains fragile. Tension continues to pollute the atmosphere in a dressing room that has been under the charge of Laszlo since Ray McKinnon’s sacking earlier this season.
‘There was a trigger,’ admitted Sam Stanton, scorer of the wonderful solo goal that gave United victory.
‘We were all really angry at each other. It was the players as much as the manager.
‘Everyone wants to go up and it means everything to the boys.
‘We didn’t start the game well, lost a sloppy goal and we all knew we could play a lot better.
‘Words were said and you saw how it ended up — it worked.’
Having fallen behind to a Declan McManus goal, United equalised through striker Scott McDonald.
Then Stanton took over. A waspish figure in midfield, some argue that the former Hibs man can be overpowered by the uncompromising style of Championship football.
But his superior ability shone through as he weaved his way goalwards before prodding the ball through goalkeeper Lee Robinson’s legs.
‘The game was really tight at that point and it could have gone either