Dundee United’s Paul Dixon cast doubt on the team’s ability to beat the drop after they lost 4-1 to Celtic before clarifying his position.
Dixon, with his emotions still raw after being part of a team that was dogged by bad defending once again, went on to stress that he felt they could still survive but they had to cut out their mistakes in order to do so.
Leigh Griffiths capitalised on a blunder by Gavin Gunning to open the scoring then United lost the second goal to a freekick, with Jozo Simunovic getting a free header after home keeper Eiji Kawashima missed the cross.
Simon Murray brought United back into it but another strike from Griffiths then a superb volley from Kris Commons meant it was another heavy loss for the toiling Tannadice side.
The defeat left them 11 points adrift of second-bottom Kilmarnock, who play Inverness Caley Thistle at home today.
Asked if he thought United could still stay up, Dixon replied: “Right at this very minute I don’t know.
“It doesn’t feel like it because we have just been beaten 4-1 by Celtic so I am not even in the mood to speak to people, to be honest with you.
“Yeah, we will have it in us but right at this very minute it doesn’t feel like it because we have just been beaten 4-1.
“Me, myself, I will give it 100% until the end of the season as I’m sure – and hope my teammates will.”
Dixon added: “We came out in the first minute on the front foot but two quick-fire goals killed the game.
“He (Griffiths) has a thing of scoring against Dundee United, doesn’t he?
“You have to stop players like that and unfortunately we didn’t.
“There was a slip for the first goal then a free header for the second.
“There were good finishes for the others but we can’t be letting goals in like we are.
“It is just killing us completely.”
Asked if he thought United could beat relegation, manager Mixu Paatelainen said: “Absolutely.”
Paatelainen also seemed to question Gunning’s choice of boots.
He said: “It’s basic things, like having the footwear
“I don’t know what happened there but he slipped.”