7.50pm

Yesterday's result: Dundee Utd 2, Motherwell 0.

Watched this one in Daniels after recent results dissuaded me from traveling to Tannadice, and I reckon I made a wise decision.  On the morning of the game I read a whole lot of nonsense from Mark McGhee in the papers saying how massive a game this was, and in many ways more important than next week's Old Firm game.  Well, the way his team performed you would never have known it, as I can't remember the United goalkeeper having a single save of any note to make all afternoon.

In a truly awful first half, a tame Bob Malcolm header and a wild Ross McCormack effort were all we created in an attacking sense, while the home side were little better.  Things were much the same after the break, and just when the game seemed to be petering out to a dull 0-0 draw, United substitute Swanson skinned Malcolm and Craigan before slotting home to make it 1-0.  We never looked like getting back into it, and De Vries sealed the win when he rounded Graeme Smith and rolled the ball into the net with only two minutes left.

That's now just two points from a possible 15 and one goal in our last five games, which is more like relegation form than what you'd expect from a side supposedly chasing a European place.  We look a shadow of the side we were before Christmas, and while results elsewhere secured our top six position (which we would all have have settled for in August), it's very disappointing to have lost form at such a vital time in the season when we had such a great chance of making the UEFA Cup.

McGhee has been very loyal to his players so far, but surely changes are now required for the Hibs game next week.  Darren Smith and Jamie Murphy must be given a chance, as there are players in that team who haven't kicked a ball in months.   Stephen Hughes was completely anonymous once again, while Ross McCormack simply hasn't been the same player since all the transfer speculation emerged.  And as for Marc Fitzpatrick, someone told me he was playing but I don't recall seeing him at all during the entire game.

Team (4-3-3): Graeme Smith, Malcolm, Craigan, Reynolds, Hammell (Lappin 27), Fitzpatrick, Hughes, Lasley (McGarry 56), McCormack, Porter, Clarkson, McGarry (Murphy 83).
Subs Not Used: Daniels, Brian McLean, Darren Smith, Archdeacon. 

Booked: Porter, Lappin, Craigan, McCormack, Clarkson.

Attendance: 6,779.

Mark McGhee's post-match comments were as follows:
"We've probably learned a bit about ourselves - we approach most games trying to win and maybe the time has come now when we have to talk about not losing.  I didn't think there was enough determination not to concede, particularly as it got to the latter stages and that's why we lost, so that's the way we'll be approaching the last run of games.

"There has to be more urgency about defending, not conceding possession in our own half and restricting space; that's as much from my philosophy because of course we talk about defending but it hasn't been the priority as we've talked more about possession and attacking play, but now's the time we have to start thinking more about the other way of playing.

"It was a great result for Dundee United but we still have them to play at Fir Park and we think we're capable of beating them there, so that would cancel out what's happened today.

"We have two games in hand and Hibs to play again a couple of times - we have to do better than today and something has to change or we won't get third, but we believe we can make a change to our way of thinking and that we're still well in the hunt."

Last week, John Boyle was on the radio claiming that as far as the Fir Park pitch was concerned, there would be no more quick fixes and both Motherwell and Gretna would have to play at a neutral venue for a period of time.  However, this week it was announced that while Gretna will play their next two "home" games at Livingston, it seems that yet another patch up job will allow our game against Hibs to go ahead at Fir Park next Saturday as planned.  However, we've had to sacrifice our undersoil heating, so let's hope there isn't a cold snap next weekend...

Today's Sunday Mail reports that Hearts are lining up either Craig Levein or Mark McGhee as their next manager.  Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.................

Celtic's Scottish Cup defeat to Aberdeen on Tuesday night means that only 3rd place will now be good enough for European qualification.

Darren Smith scored in the reserves' 1-0 win over their Hibernian counterparts at Almondvale in midweek.  Team: Daniels, Murray, Nixon (Meechan 56), McLean, Gupwell, McPake (Hutchinson 81), Lappin, Smith, Maguire, Archdeacon, Murphy.
Subs Not Used: Coutts, Innes, McLean.

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