Managers Post Dundee United
Saturday, 2nd Dec 201702/12/17: link to audio of both managers` post match comments
AJ:- "It was a really good team performance and definitely something to build on.
- - Listen to Allan Johnstons post match comments
Allan Johnston felt that the defeat at Tannadice was hard to take:-
"I thought the boys played really well today. For the majority of the game I thought we were the better team. Dundee United, I had them watched a few times. They are a really good passing team and I thought we stopped them playing for the majority of the game.
"We created a lot of chances in good areas but obviously poor mistakes are killing us at the moment. You can see that with the goals that we are losing."
Asked if it would take just one result to turn the Pars fortunes around the manager replied:-
"Especially if we play the way we played today with energy, commitment and desire to go and win but we need to cut out the mistakes. Both goals could have been stopped. The first goal probably Higgy has got to clear it but it does look as though it was a free kick on him as well.
"We didn`t get the free kick and it is those fine lines. They won the free kick on the edge of the box and he (Scott Fraser) put it over the wall and into the bottom corner. Then the second goal as well, we were `sleeping` for two seconds at the throw in. Nat got caught and it was far too easy. After all the hard work it is really disappointing."
The Pars had plenty shots in the game but not many tested the young United keeper Harry Lewis?
"We were in good areas and I thought Dundee United never passed the ball today. They have probably been one of the better teams in the last couple of games the way they have passed the ball but I thought we stopped them doing that. I thought the guys in the middle of the park - Lewis Martin and Michael Paton - stopped Fyvie and Flood getting on the ball and dictating the play which they have done the last couple of times we have played them and caused us a lot of problems.
"It was a really good team performance and definitely something to build on. I have been here before and it is a hard place to come and to put in that type of performance shows that we are going the right way. Obviously we need to cut out mistakes."
The road and the miles to Dundee proved problematic for four of his players travelling up the M9 / A9 to the game. Fraser Aird, Dean Shiels and injured duo Nicky Clark and Andy Ryan were delayed by an accident and the manager revealed how that had impacted on his plans:-
"They got caught up in an accident on the Perth road and arrived a bit late. Lewis Martin came in and did extremely well. It was a really good team performance today. I don`t think we can criticise the players because they gave everything. The only thing is that we need to make sure that we eradicate from our game is the mistakes that are proving costly."
The manager explained the absence of Nicky Clark:-
"Nicky felt his calf at the start of the week but Declan (McManus) did really well again today, he worked really hard so it is not anything serious. He will be back shortly and there is nothing to worry about."
Lewis Martin has been well known as a utility player who can play anywhere in the back four but the manager singled the 21 year old for a role in midfield:-
"I thought he came on at Queens Park and did very well on the middle of the park. He has that height and presence. He got forward in the box and was unlucky not to score. It was good to see him come in, do so well and take his chance."
- - Listen to United manager Csaba László comments
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