Paul Dixon says Dundee United need boot up backside as focus returns to league

Paul Dixon believes everyone at Dundee United needs a boot up the backside before they try to somehow beat the drop.

The Tangerines missed the chance to reach the William Hill Scottish Cup final when they lost on penalties to Hibs in the semi-final at Hampden on Saturday.

All that’s left for them now is the final stretch of what has been a long and agonising league campaign.

The resume their relegation battle when Hamilton visit Tannadice on Sunday and Dixon said: “Everybody – the manager, the coaching staff, the players – we all just have to give each other a boot up the a*** and say: ‘The cup’s gone so get on with it.’

“It’s mathematically possible to get out of this situation and until it’s impossible we will keep going.

“I think, in recent months, we have shown a bit of character and we have to bring that out and use it to our advantage.

“Whether it goes down to the last game or not, we just have to give our all in every game.

“We’ve got five important games for the rest of our careers – some of us – so we need to go full tilt into these five games and get the points to get us out of the situation we are in.”