Tope Obadeyi was paid a big compliment in Dundee United’s previous match but he would gladly go without the attention against Falkirk today.
Such was the threat posed by the Tangerines’ wideman to last week’s visitors Dumbarton that they double-marked him throughout the game.
Obadeyi had the last laugh because Ray McKinnon’s team secured a 2-1 win to send them second-top of the Championship but he admits the experience was frustrating at times.
With a Bairns side led by former Tannadice boss Peter Houston expected to be more open than the Sons, the former Kilmarnock man is hoping for some room in which to roam this afternoon.
Obadeyi said: “Yes, it was hard last week because I would get myself out wide, lift my head up and I could see the second man.
“I thought it was going to be one-on-one but I then had the winger doubling up on me.
“A couple of times earlier in the game, I got past my man but couldn’t get my cross in early enough.
“The gaffer had a little bit of a pop at us going into the second half and made it clear we were up against a team who were going to make it difficult for us.
“He wanted me and Scott Fraser to stay on the touchline. That helped us because it meant we could get the ball switched out to us in wide positions.
“Maybe the marking was a little compliment to me because they might have seen my pace as a threat.
“Nine times out of 10, I’m confident that I can knock the ball forward and get at the full-back.
“On my game, I know I can cause problems and the best is still to come from me – 100%.”
Fans will be hoping to see good things from him today and he is expecting to get more space than he did last weekend.
“We knew what Dumbarton were going to be like and they came to try and nullify us and keep it tight,” said Obadeyi.
“With Falkirk, it’s probably going to be a bit more of an open game as they like to go and attack and pass the ball more, just like ourselves.
“If this game is open and free-flowing, that is better for me to go on the counter-attack.
“Hopefully, I can isolate the full-back and get against him one-on-one.
“That’s my game really.”
Obadeyi’s only goal of his United career thus far came as they lost 3-1 to the Bairns at the Falkirk Stadium last month.
However, any satisfaction he derived from that was lost when two late goals went in at the other end to send them crashing to defeat.
He said: “We will obviously want to get one over them with us losing down there earlier in the season.
“It was a tough one to take because for 45 minutes we were very good.
“We know what Falkirk are about.
“They don’t stop until the 94th minute and that’s how they got their late goals.
“But I thought we controlled that game very well until Willo Flood came off injured.
“He reads it very well, protects the back four and his departure left us a bit more open.”
Since that loss in Falkirk, the Tangerines have been on a decent run and they even have an outside chance of finishing the day as league leaders should results go their way.
Obadeyi added: “Hopefully, we can just carry on now and go from strength to strength as we’ve got some momentum.
“We are finding form now and hopefully we can kick on.
“There is no pressure on us.
“A lot of people are going to be looking at Hibs so hopefully we can go under the radar and keep the pressure off.
“We want to keep on doing what we’re doing and get points on the board.”
