DUNDEE United manager Ray McKinnon hopes the manner of his side’s Irn-Bru Cup final triumph over St Mirren on Saturday can lift the players to reignite their league form.
The Paisley team were unlucky to fall behind at Fir Park when Tony Andreu scored with a brilliant volley after 37 minutes. Rory Loy levelled a minute later but Thomas Mikkelsen headed home in the 74th minute to claim the silverware.
It is the confidence the United players will have drawn from the victory that many at Tannadice are most concerned about, after only one win in 10 Ladbrokes Championship games. Hibernian went 14 points clear of fourth-placed United later on Saturday but United remained four points behind Falkirk and Morton, as jockeying for the play-off positions heads towards a climax.
McKinnon said: “Hopefully the guys take a real confidence from this. I think it comes from passing the ball. It was important we got back to that and didn’t resort to long balls and hopeful play. I thought the players were excellent and responded fantastically, so hopefully they will take that into the rest of the season.”
United fans appeared to be outnumbered in the 8089 crowd, with many still smarting at being eligible for the tournament following their relegation last year. However, McKinnon was eager to take the day seriously. He said: “I watched [the final] last year and I saw the enjoyment the Rangers team and fans got from it. To put silverware on your CV is very important. Every cup and every game we play, we want to win. That’s the mentality.”
St Mirren fell four points adrift at the bottom of the Championship when Ayr United won at home to Dumbarton, but manager Jack Ross said: “We have a group of players who believe in what they’re doing and believe one each other, so if we can maintain that performance level over the remaining league games, we will win games and we will win enough games.”
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