Baraclough expressed frustration at the concession of “cheap” goals and of the failure of defenders to get close to their opponents in the box. “Unmarked headers were costing us goals.” He latched on to the performance of the younger players as he said, “we’ve got to be positive”.
Thomas, Watt, and a welcome return for Moore as a late substitute lowered the average age of the team and Pearson showed a few signs that he could be a useful addition.
But the defensive strategy employed from the outset suggested that our intention was merely to hold the inevitable defeat to a respectable level. There was no ambition to have a go.
The aggregate of our four games in January now stands at 15-1 and our goal difference over the season is now -28. Alarm bells are surely ringing loud and clear at Fir Park.
The manager is right to criticise but he’s also correct when he says that we have to adopt a positive approach to the upcoming games. There’s no future in succumbing to the notion that the team is not good enough.
The transfer window remains open and while new blood can offer a boost it’s the job of those currently under contract to pull us out of the current mess. An attacking strategy at Tannadice would be an encouraging start.