First Team
All The Info | Rangers (A)
22nd November 2024
"We battled really well and hopefully this demonstrated to the lads what can be achieved through effort and commitment." These were the words of a very happy Alex Smith following United's valuable 1-0 win at Easter Road yesterday. "We performed to reasonable standard but will play better than we did at Easter Road and will take nothing from a game. I had stated already that we had to return to basic defending, clearing our lines and cutting down on individual errors and having had disappointing displays against Hearts and Celtic in our previous two matches, we had to learn to concentrate for the full ninety minutes."
Following a run of only one win in twelve SPL matches, the importance of taking home the three points from Edinburgh was not lost on the United Manager. "It was a vital win for us. The match may not have been a great spectacle from a football point of view however the importance of the win and the confidence that it will have given the players can stand us in good stead for the matches facing us in January."
In what was a hard fought battling performance, Alex was also pleased with the comeback of some of his players who had been injured. "Derek Lilley, Stephen Wright, Jamie Fullarton, Hasney Aljofree and Jim McIntyre had all been out for various amounts of time. It was a real bonus for these lads to take part in the match and although some of them are very tired at the moment, they can build on the game and look forward to Saturday's Cup tie as another opportunity to increase their levels of match fitness. Jamie McCunnie also benefited from a rest against Celtic and he put in an excellent performance."
United have now taken full points from both matches against Hibernian in the SPL this season with one further league encounter scheduled before the top six split, that being at Tannadice on Saturday 23rd March.
Following a run of only one win in twelve SPL matches, the importance of taking home the three points from Edinburgh was not lost on the United Manager. "It was a vital win for us. The match may not have been a great spectacle from a football point of view however the importance of the win and the confidence that it will have given the players can stand us in good stead for the matches facing us in January."
In what was a hard fought battling performance, Alex was also pleased with the comeback of some of his players who had been injured. "Derek Lilley, Stephen Wright, Jamie Fullarton, Hasney Aljofree and Jim McIntyre had all been out for various amounts of time. It was a real bonus for these lads to take part in the match and although some of them are very tired at the moment, they can build on the game and look forward to Saturday's Cup tie as another opportunity to increase their levels of match fitness. Jamie McCunnie also benefited from a rest against Celtic and he put in an excellent performance."
United have now taken full points from both matches against Hibernian in the SPL this season with one further league encounter scheduled before the top six split, that being at Tannadice on Saturday 23rd March.
