Resilient United have restored pride, says Fox
Dundee United caretaker head coach Liam Fox believes a bit of pride has been restored in the Tannadice ranks.
His players produced a battling performance to leave Motherwell with a clean sheet.
It wasn’t a stylish showing but flair is well down the list of requirements for a side trying to bounce back from the nine-goal mauling by Celtic that led to Jack Ross being sacked.
United remain rooted at the foot of the Premiership and are the only side without a league win, but big improvement will take time when confidence is clearly so low.
Fox said: “We are pleased with the point. I thought Motherwell were good – I’ll be honest about that.
“What pleased me about our performance is that we showed resilience in our box.
“One of the things we have spoken about as a staff and a group of players – in the short term – is having pride in making blocks and defending your box.
“I think Fir Park will be a tough place to come this season, but the players stuck at it.
“They defended their box and defended their goal. For that, they deserve credit.”
The midweek Premier Sports Cup win at Livingston followed by this 0-0 draw has slightly eased the pressure on the Tangerines.
Fox went on: “If you look at the week as a whole, we have come to two difficult venues and got one victory and claimed a point.
“There are things that need to get better and that have to get better.
“Has a corner been turned? I can only go from the game the other night and this one. We are reasonably pleased.
“What happens going forward I have no idea.
“All I can say is that it looked to me as if the players were doing all they could to at least take a point.
“It shows they’re fighting for the cause and I hope that is a positive for whoever is in charge moving forward.”
The 38-year-old continued to be evasive when it came to his own future.
He seems unlikely to get the manager’s job on a permanent basis, but stranger things have happened.
Fox added: “I’ve been totally focused on Wednesday and Motherwell. I’m sure, at some point, I’ll speak to whoever I need to speak to.”
Watching his Finnish goalkeeper put in a star performance just six days after losing nine to Celtic was another positive for Fox.
He said: “I’m delighted for Saku. It’s a brilliant penalty save and he also made another couple.”