Deflated Dundee United keeper Rado Cierzniak says the team can’t wait for Tuesday’s League Cup tie to come around so they can put Saturday’s shocking result firmly behind them.
United were comprehensively beaten by Hearts at Tannadice and the Tangerines will now have to pick themselves up before the tricky trip to Queen of the South.
Two goals from Callum Paterson his second stemming from a United mix-up at the back and a superb strike from Arvydas Novikovas saw United slip into the bottom half of the table.
But Cierzniak said: ”I’m very happy that we are playing on Tuesday. I hate waiting all week for the next game and I know that we will play better. This is my target and it’s the team’s target and I hope we don’t lose a goal next game.
”I think it was a very bad result for us and we are very disappointed we started well but after the first goal we were the weaker team.
”The second goal was unbelievable the ball was flying straight to me but it moved very quickly and the third goal was also a very bad goal to lose. I tried hard in that situation but it was a very bad goal for me and the defence to lose.”
United manager Peter Houston said: “I think we were comprehensively beaten to be honest and they fought harder than us. I felt the first 20 minutes was pretty even with none of the two teams playing exceptionally well and I thought we should have had a penalty kick prior to them scoring the first goal but quickly after that they scored two goals and then it was an uphill task.
”If we could have got a goal back we would still be in the match. However, we suicidally had a short pass back and from then on in the game was over and done with.”
Houston felt a Willo Flood penalty claim in the first half may have been a turning point.
”Teams get a lift from things like that and if we had scored we might have got our tails up,” he continued. ”I thought Hearts played well, they bullied us all over the pitch, they were up and at us and pressed us very hard.
”But in my opinion we were a bit soft-centred.”
Hearts boss John McGlynn felt the first goal had been crucial in the game and was pleased with the victory.
”I’m delighted to come here and win 3-0. It’s been three years since Hearts came here and won, so I’m delighted with the result,” he said.