Cautious Approach For United

Last updated : 26 November 2011 By Ed_Scottishfitba

You! Get back!Dundee United manager Peter Houston admits he got things wrong in sending out his side in "kamikaze" fashion against Motherwell in recent seasons. He intends to take a more cautious approach to redress their Fir Park hoodoo. United have lost each of their last four game in north Lanarkshire, but Houston puts that down to being too attacking against a pacy Motherwell side. United's form has improved in recent weeks with wins over Dunfermline and Hearts, and Houston feels his players are in good spirits ahead of meeting high-flying Motherwell.
 
He said: "We have been a bit kamikaze at Fir Park in the past so that's something we've looked at. I take responsibility for that because we have opened up and been hit by pace on the counter-attack. We have not defended as well as we could have and maybe committed too many men forward. I have had a look at ourselves and have changed the way we play a wee bit so hopefully that will pay off."
 
Although Houston has shored up United, he still wants his midfielders to get forward and is looking for more goals from the likes of Scott Robertson, Willo Flood and John Rankin. He added: "We are forever telling midfielders to get into the box so it was great to see Scott Robertson score last weekend. We want more of the same from everyone in the team. You can't just rely on the strikers all the time so I'd love it if the goals were spread about."
 
Houston likes what he sees in the Steelmen so far this season , but hopes to derail their bid for third place. He said: "Motherwell have 29 points on the board already, which is fantastic for a team outside the Old Firm at this stage of the season. Their away form has been excellent, it's as good as Celtic and Rangers', but their home form is not as good and hopefully we can capitalise on that. But it's going to be very tough. We are going to need to be solid, show concentration and work hard if we're going to get the result we're looking for. It would be nice to get more of the same, but we know it's going to be tough. After the wee rocky patch we had we have worked hard on our shape and it has been paying off. The team looks more settled now, we have been well organised and we're hard to beat. The players have put the effort in on the training pitch and I have been delighted with them." 
 
United are still without Scott Severin and Danny Swanson, but Houston believes recent arrival Robbie Neilson will fill the void.  Houston added: "He needs to be playing games and the more he plays the better he will get. I was very happy with his performance against Hearts last weekend and there's more to come from him."