Goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist has urged Dundee United’s players to“show up” and make this season a success.
The Tangerines were sent packing from the William Hill Scottish Cup on Sunday thanks to Inverness Caley Thistle’s stoppage-time winner.
The goal that secured the semi-final place for the Highlanders at Tannadice was a shocker for United, not just in its timing but also in the way it came about.
The failure to deal with a long throw-in cost them dearly as Aaron Doran headed in the dramatic winner and Siegrist could only look on in disbelief.
United must now pick themselves up off the floor and try to peg back Championship leaders Ross County.
There is little room for error, with the Staggies currently five points ahead with a game in hand.
That means Unitedmust realistically, take all three points off Partick Thistle when the sides clash at Firhill on Saturday.
Siegrist is certainly looking for the Tangerines to go for it in their remaining matches.
“It would have been good to have kept the momentum going by winning the cup game,” he said.
“It’s one of those magic traditions in football, the cup, and we had the chance to take the whole city to Hampden.
“So it’s disappointing.
“Now I expect everyone to show up and be ready to go.
“We need to get stuck in again and need to win the next game.
“The league is not out of reach and we are still in there – nothing is decided yet.
“We are disappointed to go out of the cup but, as the gaffer said in the dressing room, we can be down about it or show up and win the next game.
“We might as well go for it.”
Reflecting upon that heartbreaking 2-1 loss, Siegrist said: “We did well to get back into the game and we were playing up the hill as well so did it the hard way.
“Then we didn’t defend the long throw and got punished for it.
“Obviously, I’m not happy.
“In theory all goals are preventable but it was a simple thing – a setpiece.
“If you have an opposition who can throw the ball like they can then it’s almost like a freekick or a corner.
“It was a cheap goal.
“I don’t know what happened but their striker was a step ahead.
“That’s how I remember it.
“Overall, they (ICT) played the same way they did on Tuesday while we didn’t play as well.
“That’s pretty much it.”
