Dundee United have received a boost to ease the pain of their Ibrox hammering.
The Tangerines were still licking their wounds following Wednesday night’s 5-0 drubbing by Rangers when news came through of a tremendous honour for five of their players.
Gavin Gunning, Paul Dixon, Jon Daly, Johnny Russell and Gary Mackay-Steven were all voted into the PFA (Scotland) Team of the Year by their fellow SPL professionals, meaning almost half of those named hail from Tannadice.
Manager Peter Houston said: ”I’m very proud it’s a major achievement. To have five of your players named in the PFA Team of the Year is so pleasing.
”Every manager likes to see their players progressing and getting deserved recognition and I’m no different.”
Meanwhile Willo Flood has promised the club’s fans that the players are determined to make amends for their Ibrox hammering when they face the other half of the Old Firm on Sunday.
The Tangerines were thrashed 5-0 by a rampant Rangers side on Wednesday night in Govan and manager Peter Houston didn’t miss as he laid into his lacklustre players afterwards, calling their performance ”embarrassing” and accusing them of an end-of-season attitude ”some already had the passports out”.
He also demanded a huge reaction against Celtic at Tannadice on Sunday, something which Flood is looking to provide.
The Irish midfielder said: ”We lost two horrendous goals early on against Rangers and just never got going. It was probably the worst performance of the season. We have had some bad displays and won games but when you come up against the Old Firm, you simply have to play well and maybe get a bit of luck as well.
”I really can’t explain it. All of the lads are really embarrassed that we went out with a whimper against Rangers. But I think we have had a good season and when we look back at the run we have been on, we can be proud of ourselves.
”We need to put the Rangers result behind us now and get our heads right for the Celtic game. It is our last game at home this season and we would like to give the fans something to smile about.”