THE worst case scenario has come to pass for Dundee United. A dismal season from start to finish could reach its nadir this evening with relegation from the first flight for the first time in 20 years. To make matters worse, a lot worse, it will be rivals Dundee who have the honour of potentially sending them there. Anything less than an away win at Dens Park and United’s fate will be sealed.
“I think most of the boys stay in or around Dundee so when you are out and about you do meet the fans,” said forward Blair Spittal. “You realise what it means to them. So the most important thing is that we go out and get the victory. It is a massive game and the stakes are high and we will have to be strong and be able to deal with whatever Dundee throw at us.
“They have done well this season and consolidated themselves in the Premiership. We know their strengths and the threat they pose to us. It is about how we counter that threat. There is a lot at stake but you play the game to be involved in pressure matches and we are looking forward to it.”
There is a twist in the tale for Spittal. When it became apparent that he would be leaving Queen’s Park in 2014, Dundee were one of the clubs that wanted to sign him. Instead, the then 18 year-old chose to join former team-mates Andy Robertson and Aidan Connolly at Tannadice.
Should United go down it would mean Spittal either spending time outside of the top division or looking for another club. With Dundee comfortable in mid-table this season, it would only be natural if there were some regrets on Spittal’s part but, publically, at least he remains happy with the choice he made.
“As soon as I met the [former] manager [Jackie McNamara] I had it in my mind that I was going to come here,” he added. “It was the best place for me, as a young player, to develop.
“I feel as if I have developed over the two years, although this season hasn’t been the best. Nevertheless, I don’t have any regrets and I do believe it definitely was the best move for me.
“In terms of the games I have played and time I have had on the park it’s been good for me. There was interest from them [Dundee] but as soon as I met the manager I made my mind up that I was always going to come to United.”
Manager Mixu Paatelainen described the current atmosphere at Tannadice as “toxic”, with the team in a perilous position, the chairman looking to sell up and severe budget cuts on the way. So disenfranchised are the club’s supporters that many chose to protest outside the stadium following last weekend’s costly defeat to Hamilton Academical. Spittal understood their frustrations but warned the team can’t afford to be distracted.
“We are not really concentrating on that. We can’t allow that to affect us. For us, it’s about what we do when we go out on the pitch. It has not been good enough but we do have a chance to put things right in the derby and we are determined to do that.
“The fans have a right to be unhappy and we as players have to deal with that and try to bounce back. We can’t take their support for granted and they have been excellent all season. We can maybe try to repay them a wee bit on Monday. It’s not been the greatest season but we have a chance to win a derby and that would be a big three points to take.”
United bounced back straight away the last time they were relegated in 1995 but there could be no such guarantees this time. Paatelainen, should he remain as manager, will be overseeing a severely depleted squad while there will be severe competition from the likes of Hibernian, Falkirk, Raith Rovers and the rest.
“We couldn’t take anything for granted and we’ve seen that this season,” admitted Spittal. “There are good sides in that division. There is not a big gulf between the sides in the Championship and Premiership But we can’t let thoughts like that get into our mind and affect us. It’s not something we really want to talk about.”
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