Jack Ross has been sacked as Dundee United manager after just 10 weeks and seven competitive matches.
The final straw for Tannadice chiefs arrived in the form of an unprecedented 9-0 humbling by Celtic.
But pressure had been building on Ross over a number of games.
“It’s been a mad run of form lately and our confidence has been shot”.
Those were the words of Dundee United captain Ryan Edwards in the club’s own match-day programme BEFORE the Terrors shipped nine goals against Celtic.
One can only imagine how brittle that self-belief is now.
The 9-0 capitulation against the Hoops took the number of goals conceded by United in their last four matches to 23.
It is a borderline farcical tally for a professional football club and one that reflects poorly on a plethora of departments; not solely the manager.
🔥 𝗔𝗟𝗟 the goals from Tannadice as Celtic record their biggest win in 12 years by putting 𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗘 past Dundee United ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/4xafLm9aJT
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) August 28, 2022
Were the players behind the boss?
Was recruitment good enough?
Does this dressing room now have the guts and gumption to battle back from adversity?
Big questions — and questions that no proud professional wants to field.
Nevertheless, there is no point sugar-coating the situation. This has been a dismal start to the season; and by some metrics, literally historic.
Record breakers
Just seven days on from United’s memorable 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar at Tannadice — how rosy things seemed back then — the Tangerines succumbed to a 7-0 surrender in the Netherlands.
It matched the heaviest EVER defeat for a Scottish club in a single European fixture.
The collapse equalled Celtic’s 7-0 reverse against Barcelona (2016) and Hibs’ 7-0 home hammering at the hands of Malmo (2013).
While chastening and humiliating, one could at least have surmised that it was a painful one-off against a fine Eredivisie side.
Instead, the now departed Ross’ side went from equalling one record to smashing another.
The 9-0 shellacking by Celtic is the biggest home defeat in the Scottish top-flight since the introduction of a 12-team division in 1998.
It usurped the 8-1 triumph for the Hoops at East End End Park in February 2006, when Maciej Zurawski helped himself to four goals and Stilyan Petrov, John Hartson, Shaun Maloney and Neil Lennon struck in the demolition of Dunfermline.
Domestic focus
United have picked up one point in five Premiership fixtures.
That is their worst start to a league campaign since 2003/04, when a nightmare set of opening fixtures included Celtic, Rangers, Hearts and Hibs.
Even then, United’s goal difference was just -11.
This season, it stands at -16.
The Tangerines have shipped 18 goals in the top flight.
Last season, it took until December 5 — their 17th fixture — to concede for the 18th time in the Premiership, coming, ironically, in a 3-0 defeat to Celtic at Tannadice.
Jack Ross’ toughest ever run
Asked on Sunday afternoon whether his stint at United had become the toughest period in his managerial career, Ross said: “I’ve had difficult periods, as every manager does. Ups and downs.
“But I don’t think there has been a period like this where I have seen a team give such an inaccurate reflection of what we did (in training) beforehand.”
In terms of results, had Ross remained, he would have been battling to arrest a personal run which makes grim reading, dating back to the tail-end of an otherwise impressive period as Hibs manager.
In his last 17 competitive matches as a boss — 10 with the Hibees, seven at United — Ross has won three games, albeit they included impressive victories over Rangers to reach last season’s Premier Sports Cup final and AZ at Tannadice.
He has overseen 12 defeats and drawn twice.
The goal difference in those 17 games is -29.
Livingston task
As a final statistical observation, life gets no easier against Livingston.
There could barely be a worse team for United to face this week.
The Lions claimed a 1-0 triumph at Tannadice as recently as August 7, further enhancing their fine record against the Tangerines.
In the last nine meetings between the sides, Livi have emerged victorious on six occasions. United have triumphed once, with two draws in that time.
United have not prevailed at Almondvale since February 2005, when goals from Stevie Crawford and James Grady sealed a 2-0 win.
A defining week is underway.
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