HAGI APOLOGISES FOR SHOWBOATING AT THE DEATH AND IS RELIEVED TO BAG WIN

standard. I got a little bit carried away. Getting the three points at home, I think that is the most important thing.

‘The game wasn’t one of the best but we have experience from last season that sometimes when you are not playing well, the three points is the main objective.

‘Even in tough moments, you have to come away with the three points. Now we will relax for a little bit, take some days off and then switch on as fast as possible for what is ahead because the (next) three games are really important for us.’

Van Bronckhorst agreed that his side failed to hit the mark against Thomas Courts’ men and was critical of their overall display.

‘It was a difficult game,’ said the Dutchman. ‘We saw a Dundee United team that did everything to give us a challenge, which they did.

It was a really good performance by them.

‘I think our performance wasn’t the way I wanted to play. We struggled to create chances.

‘In the second half, we created a bit more danger and had a couple more chances to score.

‘Of course we know James is very good at penalties. I was happy to score but Dundee United kept pushing us to get it to 1-1.

‘In the end, I was happy with the points — if not the performance.

‘We said at half-time it would be difficult to create chances against a team who had good organisation and players behind the ball.

‘But you know when the game is progressing that you get more space, especially when Scott Wright gave us more depth and speed on the right.

‘For us, it was a vital three points. The performance wasn’t the most effective since I came here as coach.’

The game, however, did see Van Bronckhorst record a sixth clean sheet in eight games since taking over from Steven Gerrard — and Hagi insists the need to maintain that record is clear.

‘I think clean sheets are really important for us,’ he said. ‘I know we are a team that attacks a lot.

‘Most of the games, we dominate with the ball and we have a good percentage of possession. But I think the defensive part is really important as well to achieve big things. Since the boss came, our clean sheets are on point.’

Van Bronckhorst now hopes to make the most of a full week on the training ground to regroup for the Boxing Day visit of St Mirren.

‘We’ve had three or four weeks of two games a week and I think you could see it in the boys,’ said the manager. ‘The energy levels were not 100 per cent.

‘We had to dig in deep to get the points but we did that.’