Dundee United are, to put not to fine a point on it, rubbish. That's not meant as a wind up – they've won two league games in over twenty attempts under Craig Brewster since he was appointed. They needed extra time to beat Airdrie who are struggling in the First Division and St Johnstone horsed them 3-0 in mid-week. There is no reason why we shouldn't be looking for three points on Saturday. But anyway, the real reason for emphasising United's recent troubles is that it highlights our own position. Not only are this team, who are clearly rotten, above us, they are so far above us that even if we beat them on Saturday we will still not catch them! That surely puts into perspective how dismal our start to the season has been. If there is a key to surviving in the SPL that must be the ability to up draws when things are going badly. Not only does it keep your own points column going up but it stops others gaining wins.
We must improve to the stage where even if we are poor and can't win, we don't get beat. And we must improve now – Malpas has had enough games for a fair opinion to be formed and by large we have not been unlucky, we have just not been very good. He claims that we are not the worst team in the league, well now is the time to start proving that.
We will be without a handful of players as ever. Brian McLean is the only significant addition to that list although Coakley and Clarkson may be fit again. Presumably we will try to persist with three at the back in front of Colin Meldrum. Dropping Smith may have made a point but surely we must be looking to integrate the clearly superior goalie back into the side sooner rather than later. United have a tendency to play five in midfield even at home these days so us crowding the midfield will ensure parity there. Richie must be high on confidence after his hat-trick and Scott McDonald usually plays well against United, suggesting he remembers with annoyance being rejected by them. 