Dundee United manager Craig Levein is now seeing just the sort of problems that will have contributed to his predecessors getting the sack. The initial boost given to the team and their performances that the appointment of a new manager gives has worn off and Levein knows he has his work cut out. Saturday saw United lose again with individual errors and inconsistency costing the Taysiders dear but the United boss is trying to remain upbeat.

He said: "I thought we played well in the first half and could perhaps have had a couple of goals, but that's only part of my problem. Our defending in the second half wasn't at all good and that is what cost us the game in the long run. I've tried all sorts of permutations in defence but some players are playing well one week and hopelessly the next, and that's frustrating for me. If we can cut out these elementary mistakes then I think we have a chance of being a really good side."