Dundee United manager Peter Houston was satisfied with his team”s performance, despite losing to Wigan Athletic in their final pre-season friendly.
The Tangerines finished off the match with a cracker of a strike from substitute Danny Cadamarteri but by that time they were three down thanks to a Mauro Boselli double and another excellent shot from Victor Moses.
They may not be the most glamorous of names but the Latics are still from the English Premiership so Houston wasn’t too downhearted.
“It is not every week we will play against a team like that but for long spells we held our own,” said the Tannadice boss, who will now join players Scott Robertson and Garry Kenneth both late call-ups as Scotland prepare to travel to Sweden.
“When it went to 3-0 I thought it was a bit unfair because we played some great stuff at times.
“I hate losing but I am pleased with the performance. In fact, I am thrilled with the players and they are ready for the off.”
United came close to making a sparkling start when David Goodwillie was found by Robertson’s pass but Wigan keeper Ali al Habsi did well to hold the striker’s shot.
The visitors looked dangerous going forward but it was the home side who had two chances to take the lead, both falling to Damian Casalinuovo.
Firstly, he was set up by Paul Dixon on 18 minutes and looked a cert to score but he could only fire straight at the goalie, while ignoring the option of squaring to Goodwillie.
Then, just a minute later, he was picked out in front of goal but, looking to be in an offside position but without any flag, he sclaffed the ball wide of the post.
The Tangerines were stroking the ball about confidently but it was the Latics who edged in front on 35 minutes.
Argentinian international Boselli started and finished an intricate one-two with teammate Hugo Rodallega before drilling the ball past Tannadice number one Dusan Pernis and into the net.
Wigan were two goals up just three minutes into the second period and it was Boselli who did the damage again. When a cross came in from the left by Maynor
Figueroa, the unmarked striker bulleted a header home from six yards.
The Tangerines mixed things up, bringing on captain Jon Daly, Cadamateri, Craig Conway, Barry Douglas and Jeno Myrie-Williams in quick succession.
Conway made his presence felt quickly, going on a mazy run down the left wing and sending over a dangerous cross that was clutched by al Habsi.
Another newcomer, Douglas, then had the Wigan keeper worried when he fired in a free-kick from 25 yards that was only made safe at the second attempt.
Daly came even closer to getting United on the scoresheet on 79 minutes, rising to connect with a Conway corner and only for his goalbound header to be cleared off the line.
Despite all the huffing and puffing from the hosts, it was Wigan who smashed in a cracking third goal.
Boselli nodded the ball down to Moses, who blasted a superb strike past Pernis from 20 yards to make it 3-0.
But United kept the best until last, too, with Cadamarteri lashing the ball into the net from 30 yards to give the fans something to shout about.
They came within an inch of a second goal when Myrie-Williams cracked a 20-yarder off the bar.
There was still time for a cameo appearance from Wigan’s former United man Jason Scotland, who received a warm ovation from the home fans.
Meanwhile, Houston has revealed his willingness to move players out the door in order to sign the central defender he wants.
Lithuanian Irmantas Zelmikas is currently back in his homeland on international duty, pondering over a prospective move to Tannadice.
However, a report linking Andy Webster with a return from Rangers, in a move that would see Goodwillie move to Ibrox, was dismissed by Houston.
“We need to move people on before we get anyone in,” he said.
“There are going to be people who are first choice, people who might not be happy being second choice and if we have to move them on we have to move them on.
“But then I said I wanted the same squad and, bar losing Andy Webster, I have that. The chairman (Stephen Thompson) has been pretty decent in so far as we have the majority of the squad still here.
“I would like to add a centre-half but we have a lot of players so we just can’t keep bringing players in without releasing some.
“If you look at all the SPL outwith the Old Firm, we have as good a squad as any.
“As things stand we will go with what we have unless David Goodwillie signs for Rangers on Monday!”
Attendance 3826.