BOTH managers feel they have the edge ahead of tonight’s crucial play-off clash between Dundee United and Falkirk.
With a 2-2 draw in the first leg at Tannadice, the Ladbrokes Premiership semi-final tie is set up for a thrilling conclusion.
The teams are looking to set up a final encounter against either Inverness or Hamilton.
Falkirk’s James Craigen believes his side have planted seeds of doubt in the minds of Dundee United’s players.
The Bairns were forced to come from behind twice at Tannadice but goals from Craigen and Joe McKee have kept Peter Houston’s men very much in the hunt for the two-game promotion decider against either Inverness or Hamilton.
And Craigen believes his side’s never-say-die attitude might be enough to make United rethink their own chances ahead of the return clash at the Falkirk Stadium.
He said: “We’re more than still in it. It would have been good to win on Tuesday night but 2-2 is not a bad result for us and we’ll go back and give it a real go in the second leg.
“The fact we’ve fought back twice might put a little bit of doubt in their minds. They know now that we’re not going to lie down and accept what they have got to give out.
“We’re going to come back fighting.
“It’s a 90-minute game so I don’t think we need to go out there gung-ho and try to win it in the first half. As long as we get the win, that’s all that matters.
“We’re all positive after the first leg and confident going back to our place that we can get a result.”
Dundee United manager Ray McKinnon believes that playing away might suit his side more. “We are confident, we have played really well recently,” he said.
“Some of our key players are really stepping up to the mark: Simon Murray is in good form, Blair Spittal is on form, Tony Andreu and Thomas Mikkelsen are match-winners.
“We are in good form, undefeated in 10 games, so we are looking forward to it. The main thing is that we went down to Falkirk in a strong position and I feel we are in a strong position. The game is very, very even and anything can happen down there.
“We have lots of match-winners in our team. The other night we took the lead twice and it was our own downfall that we gifted them goals. So we take a lot of positives out of that game.
“Falkirk are at home so the onus might be on them to come out and come at us, and if that’s the case it should leave spaces for us to play.”
United have twice lost at Falkirk this season, conceding six goals in the process, but McKinnon feels they are now better equipped.
He has had his players in the North Sea off St Andrews beach at the end of training each day in a bid to freshen them up during what he hopes will be a six-match process of restoring their top-flight status.
And Mikkelsen admits it is working, despite his initial reluctance to get in the water.
“The gaffer said we are going in the sea every day,” the on-loan Odense striker said.
“I’m not a sea guy, I’m a swimming pool guy, but the gaffer says it’s good for the body. It’s cold. You feel good after and the body is totally fresh after.”
The Dane has shelved decisions over his future, which could be at Tannadice, until the play-offs are finished.
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