Csaba tells Dundee United players to keep their ‘heid’

Dundee United boss Csaba Laszlo has stressed the need for composure when things go wrong in games.

The Tangerines have played some sparkling football since he took over earlier this month.

But the manager knows there will be times when things go wrong and believes when they do it is mental strength that will get the team back on track.

That’s what didn’t happen when United lost a goal early in the second half at Brechin last Saturday and he was disappointed over how long it took his players to get back into something like their stride.

And all week he’s been stressing to them, if a goal is lost when Dunfermline visit Tannadice on Saturday, they must react in the right fashion.

“We have had a talk, both as a group and to each player individually, about what was wrong and what we can do better,” he said.

“You can’t win every game but you have to try to win every game, but you can lose a goal, this can happen.

“When it does you have to come back in the game and do the good things you were doing.

“At Brechin we did not do that, we did what Brechin wanted. We played the ball long to the front and made too many crosses on a very tight pitch.

“The long balls meant we weren’t playing the way we usually can play. Why did we do that? It is a big question for me.”

Another message that’s been hammered home in training this week is the need to pick up properly at set-pieces.

The gaffer was not happy with the marking at corners last weekend and that’s something he wants improve when the Pars come to town.

“Everybody has to pick up their man at corners but we didn’t do that. We cannot let that happen again.”

While he has been focusing on the faults that need correcting, Csaba is generally pleased with the progress his players have been making.

And he is looking forward to another home game on Saturday and get back to the kind of pitch he feels suits his team.

“Tannadice is nice. There is more room for us and the condition is good, so of course it is good to have a game there,” he added.

United are still awaiting confirmation from the SFA that their Scottish Cup fourth-round visit to Alloa will take place on January 20. The tie is likely to be all-ticket.