Jamie McGrath is adamant Dundee United players were left “devastated” by the departure of Jack Ross — despite suggestions to the contrary.
The Tangerines turned in a resilient, physical and clinical showing in the first match since Ross’ exit, with goals from Steven Fletcher and Ian Harkes sealing a 2-1 victory over Livingston.
The triumph tees up a Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Kilmarnock and, from the lamentable low of Sunday’s 9-0 defeat against Celtic, the Terrors are now 90 minutes away from Hampden.
“We needed that result and performance for confidence after shipping so many goals,” McGrath told Courier Sport. “It was a result to put things straight.
“We aren’t going to get too ahead of ourselves but hopefully this is something to build on.
“There is a big responsibility on all of us. It hasn’t been a good start to the season and, unfortunately, the gaffer (Ross) has lost his job as a result of that. We feel like we’ve let him down.”
Ross was a long-time admirer of McGrath, having attempted to sign the Ireland international on two previous occasions.
He finally got his man last month, with McGrath arriving on a season-long loan from Wigan Athletic.
However, Ross will not get the chance to oversee his progress this term.
Confronted with the suggestion that Ross had lost the dressing room, McGrath responded: “That isn’t the case. When we found out the news, everyone was devastated.
The right place at the right time
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— Dundee United FC (@dundeeunitedfc) September 1, 2022
“No-one wanted him to go — and we knew we had to put in a big performance in response, and repay the travelling fans who were brilliant all night.”
‘Like our lives depended on it’
United turned in a superb opening 45 minutes in West Lothian, dominating their hosts in and out of possession.
While Livi boss David Martindale described his side as “diabolical”, the Tangerines were superb.
The Lions improved after the break and halved arrears through Kurtis Guthrie, before Sean Kelly struck the post in the dying embers.
“When we conceded, it would have been easy for us to fold,” added McGrath. “But we defended like our lives depended on it.
“We can only take confidence from that.”
The win — United’s first at Almondvale since 2005 — must also be considered a major feather in the cap for interim head coach Liam Fox.
United owner Mark Ogren stated this week that the search for a new boss will take time, meaning Fox could feasibly stake a strong claim for the top job with Motherwell up next on Saturday.
“He (Fox) had a chat with us after we found out the news (Ross’ sacking) and he wanted us to put in a big performance,” added McGrath. “I think we did that.
“He set us up in a way to make us hard to beat. We were disappointed to concede because I thought we defended brilliantly all night. But we got the result at a really hard place to play.”
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