Csaba Laszlo believes his Dundee United players have got their confidence back after falling into a “hole” at the turn of the year.
The Tangerines gaffer feels defeat at Championship leaders St Mirren in the last game of 2017, one his team might have won, hit his squad hard.
Although they beat Brechin in their next outing, they then shipped six to Falkirk and could only scrape a goalless draw at Dunfermline in the last league outing.
United also struggled to get going during the first half of Saturday’s Scottish Cup win at Alloa but, after the break, Csaba saw a big improvement.
Now he wants his players back to their best when Morton visit Tannadice on Saturday.
“We, really, after St Mirren, had a fall in a hole and we went very deep,” he said.
“Now we have come back. At Dunfermline you saw the light, we didn’t score but we got a point. Against Alloa we scored two goals. I think this is important for the confidence and for the fans.
“In the first half maybe they suffered a lot but, in the second half, we showed we were also on the field. We said, ‘guys we are here as well’. This was good.”
Csaba, meanwhile, has confirmed loan signing Thomas Mikkelsen will be OK for the weekend clash with Morton.
Mikkelsen’s first game back at the club almost ended before the break because of a first-half knee knock that left him limping.
He managed to run it off, though, and his being replaced by young French striker Idris Kadded with 11 minutes left was more to do with tiredness than the injury.
“Thomas had a problem in the first half in a one-against-one situation with the opponent’s goalkeeper and he got a knock on the knee,” added Csaba.
“After he was OK. I told him we could take him out but he was OK and wanted to play on.
“He will not have a problem for Saturday.”
Tickets for the league trip to Inverness on Saturday week are now available from the club shop at Tannadice.
They will also be available at the Caledonian Stadium on match day, though fans intending to travel are being urged to get their briefs before heading north.
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