There must be something massively dispiriting for the chasing pack when, after their games are called off due to the weather, United go out and win handsomely at Partick.
Particularly when we have so many players out injured, and yet we still blow the opposition away.
First things first though, and that's the latest injury. Nicky Clark is now out for the season after an ankle break at the weekend and it's a big loss for the team. He's been terrific lately and he's such an intelligent, selfless player. I think we'll miss his presence a lot to be honest. It was however pleasing to see the club confirm that he'll be extending his deal until 2021. It's good to look after your players in these situations.
If we are trying to find a positive, then it's likely that this injury will finish off any suggestion that we might move on Shankland in this window. It would take a crazy offer for us to sell now because we'd be left with only Appere and Sow, who is of course back with us after an unsuccessful loan spell at Kilmarnock.
Injuries do give opportunities however and on Saturday we saw the return of Peter Pawlett from his latest injury, and he'll surely get opportunities in the starting XI for the run in - if he can stay fit. I expect we might see Declan Glass pushed further forward in the coming weeks, particularly with the imminent return of Harkes and Stanton, and it'll be interesting to see what he can do in more advanced positions. He clearly isn't shy about having a pop at goal and I wouldn't be surprised if he gets a few before the end of the campaign.
As for the game itself, I think it was another example of United being far more clinical than the other teams in this league, and that's the real difference between the teams. They missed chances, we took them. Of course it helps to have Lawrence Shankland in your team and it's another hat-trick for the best striker in Scotland. It was also good to see Adrian Sporle on the scoresheet. That's a 17 point lead we have now (23 ahead of Dundee) and it's now a question of when, not if, we win the title.
I also enjoyed the reaction of the defenders when we conceded the goal. It meant nothing to the result but they were clearly gutted to concede a goal and I think that says a lot about what's important to us as a team.
We keep moving forward though and we take a break from our march to the title with a Scottish Cup tie against Hibs on Sunday (live on BBC One). It should be a good test of where we are and I believe there's a good Hibs crowd coming up for the game.
Mon the Terrors
PTFC 1 DUFC 4
posted on 14/1/20
have united ever been beaten by rangers*?
posted on 14/1/20
comment by JFK - The Rebel Treble (U8919)
posted 3 minutes ago
have united ever been beaten by rangers*?
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My favourite question to ask Rangers fans is to name all the teams in the Premiership who have never been relegated. It gets them into quite the pickle.
posted on 14/1/20
comment by IvanGolacIsMagic (U5291)
posted 59 minutes ago
comment by JFK - The Rebel Treble (U8919)
posted 3 minutes ago
have united ever been beaten by rangers*?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
My favourite question to ask Rangers fans is to name all the teams in the Premiership who have never been relegated. It gets them into quite the pickle.
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Genuinely glad United weren't in the league during Pedro/murty
posted on 14/1/20
comment by IvanGolacIsMagic (U5291)
posted 1 hour, 25 minutes ago
comment by JFK - The Rebel Treble (U8919)
posted 3 minutes ago
have united ever been beaten by rangers*?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
My favourite question to ask Rangers fans is to name all the teams in the Premiership who have never been relegated. It gets them into quite the pickle.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hmm, I thought that we weren't relegated, but readmitted or something
posted on 14/1/20
comment by I'm not as think as you drunk I am.......Schizophrenia was my idea!.....No it wasn't!.....You are never alone with a Schizo :D (U2115)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by IvanGolacIsMagic (U5291)
posted 1 hour, 25 minutes ago
comment by JFK - The Rebel Treble (U8919)
posted 3 minutes ago
have united ever been beaten by rangers*?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
My favourite question to ask Rangers fans is to name all the teams in the Premiership who have never been relegated. It gets them into quite the pickle.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hmm, I thought that we weren't relegated, but readmitted or something
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think that's what he is getting at
posted on 14/1/20
posted on 14/1/20
Back to United, our reserves have beaten QOTS reserves 7-0. We had a strong team out and saw goals from Pawlett, Sow, Cammy Smith x 2, Trialist and Davidson x 2.
posted on 14/1/20
comment by IvanGolacIsMagic (U5291)
posted 23 minutes ago
Back to United, our reserves have beaten QOTS reserves 7-0. We had a strong team out and saw goals from Pawlett, Sow, Cammy Smith x 2, Trialist and Davidson x 2.
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Trialist gets about eh?
posted on 15/1/20
I think the top league has missed United and I'm looking forward to their return. Lets see if they can sustain this. If they do, they should have enough to stay up when they return.
posted on 15/1/20
Least utd will be another game with a wee bit of a ‘bite’ t o it