Dundee United go back to basics

Friday 9 November 2012

DUNDEE UNITED turned the corner the day they agreed to sacrifice their days off, says defender Keith Watson.

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United found themselves second bottom of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League last month after a run of six league games without a win and vowed to do something about it.

The players held clear-the-air talks and analysed defeats to see how they could improve and the team has now embarked on a four- game unbeaten league run that has taken them to seventh in the table.

"After the Inverness game we had a serious chat and watched the videos again," said Watson. "We've been working hard getting back to basics with our shape and defending, and it's paying off now. We look a lot more solid and we're picking up points and moving up the league. "We were losing too easily. It was as if we weren't hungry enough. When we played Hearts, we lost one goal and then another right after it. Against Inverness, we lost two right after each other, as well. It was just not good enough. "The talks were quite open. Everyone was speaking up and we stopped getting days off as we were coming in to do more work."The starting line-up is strong and when you look at the bench and there are guys who can come on and change games. That's great to see."n Michael Higdon believes once Henrik Ojamaa breaks his duck his scoring tally will take off.The Estonian is yet to register this season and struck the woodwork twice in Wednesday night's home defeat by Dundee United. Ojamaa was a revelation in the second half of last season – notching nine times for the Fir Park side – and Higdon believes his strike partner will soon be back among the goals."I've been there myself when you're not scoring and it's not nice," said the Englishman. "He hit a post after the break the other night and hit the bar with a great effort in the first half. He's playing well and he's in the team, so I'm sure the goals will come."Higdon, though, admitted he will not be spending too much time coaching Ojamaa, as he has his own situation to worry about. The Englishman is enduring something of a mini-drought himself having not scored in his past six games. "I don't really feel any responsibility to help him out – I've got enough on my plate worrying about myself," he added. "But if you work hard then eventually you will succeed. We created quite a few chances the other night and it's down to me, Henrik, Jamie Murphy and Chris to get the goals."The defeat by United was a setback for Motherwell, who thought they had turned the corner after victory away to St Johnstone in their previous game. His team's strong performance, however, means Higdon is not too downhearted going into tomorrow's game with Dundee. "I thought overall we deserved a point against United," he added. "We've not been playing too badly. The first goal is often crucial in this league and we saw that again the other night."

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Dundee United go back to basics

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