Manager on Thursday

25/10/18: AJ - “We have to start punishing teams especially at home because that has been a problem.

Even five days after the 1-0 defeat to Queen of the South Allan Johnston had not got the feeling of frustration for no reward out of his system, he told the media on Thursday lunchtime:-

“We probably had five or six really good chances but you have to be clinical, you have got to take them. It is one thing that we have to improve on, we are not scoring enough goals at the moment. We are not seeing teams off and teams always have a chance when you don’t take them.”

Preventing Stephen Dobbie scoring some might think a result but his team mate Josh Todd who did the damage with a late strike. The manager thought it was one chance that broke down an otherwise solid defence:-

“We have to make sure that we don’t lose goals but you cannot get clean sheets every week. The strikers and midfield players have to be more of a threat going forward. They have to score goals and when the chances come along we have to be sure that we take them.

“We have to start punishing teams especially at home because that has been a problem. Away from home we have actually done quite well, from the four games we have played in the league we have two wins, a draw and a defeat.

“But at home it has just not been good enough, we are not scoring enough goals. We just have to get back on track.”

With two goals in five league games at East End Park the stats back up the manager’s assertions that the home form is not acceptable. He continued:-

“For me the way that we have reacted is important. We started the season really well with a win away against Dundee United then we lost three games on the bounce but in the five games since then, believe it or not, we are one of the form teams in the division. That is unbelievable when you see some of the stick some of the players have been getting. We have to make sure that we can handle that and go and get the wins we need.”

Did AJ expect this Saturday’s opposition to approach the game in a different way from the last two visitors?

“They will be desperate to go and win. They had a frustrating draw last week and will want the three points. They have good players as well and I really like the look of their striker Safranco, he looks a top player. A real threat in and around the box. We have to try and cut off the supply to him. Give him half a chance and it looks as though he will take it!”

With both teams wanting three points from the match, it is likely to be a bit more open than some matches of late.

“Their fans will expect them to go and attack, try and win the game. They have aspirations to try and win the league so we know that it will be a difficult game.”

Asked how well he knew his opposite number at Tannadice, Allan admitted that he did not really know him that well.

“Obviously I have come across him a couple of times, probably played against him on a couple of occasions. He did really well at Hearts, it didn’t go so well at MK Dons but I’m sure that he will do well for United. They have some right good players, boys who used to be here and young Paul McMullan is flying at the moment - I have seen some clips of him. We will have to put in a top performance to get a result.”

Allan was not willing to take much indication from the opening game of the season when the score line possibly flatter Csaba László’s team:-

“They are different team. The big striker is a totally different option, they never really had anything like that at the start of the season. It will be a totally different game but it has always been a good game anytime United have come here. It has always been a close game but it would be nice to come out on top, especially at home.”

The manager accepted that fans were right to vent their frustrations after the disappointing home form, he added:-

“The home form is nowhere near good enough. We need to start scoring goals, especially at home. We need to start winning games at home but it is not as though we are not creating chances, not as though we ever dominated the game, it is just that final wee bit we need. When the chances come along we have to take them.

“Understandably you are going to get frustrated when you are that much on top and you don’t get the points. There have not been enough good results at home.”

Looking at player availability, the gaffer was pleased to see Kallum Higginbotham come through 70 minutes of Reserve League football at Falkirk on Tuesday. Lewis Martin missed that match with a back spasm and he is still struggling from it.

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