Dundee United boss Csaba Laszlo has promised to be pragmatic as the Tangerines fight to get promoted.
The Tannadice boss is convinced that tippy-tappy football won’t be enough to take his team back up to the Premiership at the third time of asking.
United won’t suddenly be throwing away their passing game in favour of kick and rush but they also won’t be shy about doing what’s required to get victories even if it isn’t easy on the eye.
Laszlo said: “The pretty football doesn’t ever win matches on its own.
“It can look good but the most important thing is always to be the team that scores more goals.
“You can have 70% ball possession but if you don’t score and your opponent scores in a breakaway then you have lost.
“For this reason, you have to mix things up a little bit.
“It has to be a mix of ball possession and a finish, and I hope this season will be definitely better for us.”
Meanwhile, Laszlo revealed that the first person to stick up for Matej Rakovan following his late handling error on Saturday was his rival for the gloves.
After the United gaffer vented his frustration at the goalie’s mistake that allowed Partick Thistle an injury-time consolation goal, Benjamin Siegrist was at the front of the queue to defend his fellow keeper.
Laszlo revealed: “I was angry that at the last moment we lost this stupid goal.
“We have two really good goalkeepers and the pressure is there for both of them.
“Matej had a good game but I want concentration until the last minute.
“But I have to tell you something to show you the team spirit we have.
“Matej came in the dressing room and said he made a mistake and I told him my opinion.
“Who was the first to defend Matej? It was Benjamin Siegrist.
“He was the first to say it was OK and that shows that although he knows he is a competitor he defended his own colleague.”
Laszlo continues to assess trialist pair Martin Woods and Mathias Thrane ahead of the transfer window’s closure tomorrow night.
