There are two simple positives to take from the Hearts defeat. Both will be crucial to our SPL survival and we need to maintain them in the months to come. Firstly, the players looked like they wanted to win. In previous defeats there has been little sign of them caring but in this match everyone was fully committed. It is damning that the players visibly giving 100% is now seen as an improvement but at least it is there now. We must continue this in the next run of league games. While Hearts are a good side on paper the next three matches against supposedly poorer sides will be just as tough for us. We need everyone to keep the work rate up.
Secondly, we were organised at the back. Yes we were caught out on the break at times in the second half but that was more as a result of lack of pace than any fundamental disorganisation. Of course we will need to work on that as well – but getting sorted when facing a regular attack is the first step. We were also a lot better at clearing free kicks and corners.
Again it is a sad state of affairs that the team are being praised for getting things this simple correct. However there is no denying that in recent weeks we have not been able to defend the simple things and in our situation any improvement is heartening.
But for all we have picked up in those two areas we still have a long way to go. Teams do not get relegated with 38 losses or 38 terrible performances. They get relegated because they mix playing terribly and losing by playing reasonably and losing. Had small things gone slightly differently at times in the games against
There comes a point there is nothing to be gained in simply playing better, picking up wins (or at least draws) is the only thing that matters. We have now reached that point or we are exceptionally close to it. The next three games are all winnable and to prevent ourselves becoming detached we need to pick up points. Should we be motivated, organised and unlucky to lose 1-0 another three times there will be no point in dragging positives out of the defeats – our card will be marked as doomed.
The players, according to Foran's column anyway, knew that things were unacceptable and had their clear the air meeting. It is too early to say that worked but it at least it brought some kind of reaction in the Hearts game. Dundee United are by no means great and we must hope our newly motivated side can produce a good performance and win at Tannadice.
Should we sell another cheap defeat it will begin to look like all the meetings in the world won't salvage our situation.