Csaba Laszlo has told his Dundee United players to love the supporters, but only listen to him.
The Tangerines gaffer is still puzzling over the way his team’s game plan fell apart in the second half at Brechin last weekend and saw them drop two points in a match they were dominating.
And he’s conceded the way some of his players reacted to criticism from their own support, who made up the vast majority of the 2,000-plus crowd, might just have been a factor.
But he’s made it clear he will never criticise supporters who pay good money and back their team in numbers and with passion.
“We need the supporters and I think the supporters, they feel after the game against Falkirk that something changed.
“I want to thank the Arabs who come and support us and even the players and coach from Brechin said to me afterwards it was a long time since they saw so many fans in their stadium.
“This is great for us but on the other side I think some young players from us were also surprised, to be honest.
“But I told them, this is nice. If you have 10 or fifteen thousand people in the stadium, it is because of you. It’s because you play better football so keep going.
“If against Dunfermline you make the same as against Falkirk more will come.
“Scott McDonald, Willo Flood and some other older players are used to playing in front of 50,000.
“For some, the young players, even 5,000 is too much for them. They have to get used to it.”
The one thing Csaba will not accept is his charges reacting to fans urging them to stray from their game plan, something he saw in the last game.
“The fans are supporting us at the weekend,” he added.
“They have the right to bring their ideas about what they want you to do.
“I have said to the players you have to bring what we do during the week.
“If I am your coach and we have a plan, you don’t have to follow the people outside who are not with us during the week.
“If you win for them they will applaud and that’s what we all want.”
Last night saw a very young United team go down 4-1 to Partick Thistle in a Development League fixture at Airdrie’s Excelsior Stadium.
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