Craig Levein has decided to put points ahead of performance, prefering to win matches by grinding out results, rather than playing silky soccer.
Speaking after the Hibs match on Saturday, Levein said ‘Hibs have become a difficult team to beat, they`ve been grinding out results and maybe that is a lesson for us to learn.’
‘I was disappointed with the final outcome, because I felt our play merited something from the game.’
Although, Levein is still convinced his side weren`t helped by a couple of bad refereeing decisions which helped John Collins side.
‘I was unhappy with their equaliser right on half-time because I didn`t think it was free-kick in the first place,’ said the United manager.
‘There is nothing I can do about the referee and the decisions he makes, but, what I can do, is work with my own players on the training ground and make sure they try to keep their concentration.’
Hibernian equalised into 1st half injury time, after referee Steve Conroy gave them the opportunity to re-take a freekick after they tried to take the 1st one too quickly and blasted it off the re-treating Mark Kerr.
From the re-taken freekick, a shove by Chris Killen on Lee Mair gave the Hibs player an extra yard of space to head the ball back across goal and Rob Jones was on-hand to grab an undeserved equaliser for the home side.
Then, with the score at 2-1 to Hibs, Conroy waved away United appeals for a penalty after Craig Conway was bundled down in the corner of the Hibs penalty box, by a combination of Steven Whittaker & Ivan Sproule.
Not that Dundee United supporters were able to review the referee’s mistakes, because once against Scotsport decided not to show the invident that lead to Hibs freekick or the penalty claim – instead making it look like Hibernian fully deserved their 2-1 win.
‘Im disappointed, but like I told the players, disappointment is good – because it shows you were capable of much better,’ said Levein.
‘There were encouraging things for us in the game. David Goodwillie did well in what was a hard game for him against a couple of experienced defenders.’
‘However, he`s still only 17 and has a fair bit to go before he`s the finished article.’
