Well the trip to Tynecastle has been and gone, and the GLS Arabs bus strangely didn’t turn up late, break down, get lost or suffer any other unnatural disasters! Alas, the result didn’t parallel our travelling success and a 2-0 defeat leaves us still with only one SPL victory this season, and suddenly gaps are starting to appear between the non-infirm teams and ourselves further up the table.
Alex Smith was understandably bemused by the defeat, and given the bright start to the match which saw a quieter than usual United away support in good spirits for the first 25 minutes, it’s hard not to agree with his difficulty in understanding what went wrong next, with two goals conceded meaning we were again left chasing the game.
The substitution of Charlie Miller was greeted by a chorus of boos, and although I have since heard Charlie had suffered a knock, at the time it was symptomatic of how things are going. In fact none of the three substitutions added anything to the team’s performance, and with one of them (Smart) actually going off injured, we ended the match with only 10 men.
Anyway, it’s a break from SPL action on Tuesday night when we welcome the amateurs of Queen’s Park to Tannadice for a match, which will be played to a finish, with penalties if necessary. Let’s hope that’s not the case, but I’m afraid my supply of optimism pills is rapidly running out, and although my head tells me surely we will win this game comfortably, my heart tells me not to get excited about the prospect of a five goal romp as it’s just not going to happen.
Charlie Miller’s suspended for the game so Smith will be forced into at least one change and I would expect a starting place for Jimmy P – whether that will make any difference to the performance I don’t know but surely this is as good a time as any for him to start a game. Being the perennial substitute can’t be good for his morale and I’m sure he’s up for the chance to stake a claim for a permanent place in the team.
Most folk I’ve been talking to recently are clamouring for Lauchlan to be dropped and McCracken brought in; I think Smith’s too loyal for that to happen, but we can’t keep haemorrhaging goals as we have done in recent weeks without some kind of defensive changes.
Up front? Well I would have gone for Smart to replace Lilley, but his injury on Saturday must cast a shadow over that plan so it might just be no change there.
I would like to see McIntyre restored to the team however – I haven’t forgotten his excellent goal scoring record at the start of last season and I still think he’s one of our better players.
Team prediction?
Gallacher; Duff, Cummings, Lauchlan, McGowne; Griffin, McIntyre, Easton, Paterson; Lilley & Thommo.
Result?
1-0 United in extra time!