Houston seeks swift response
Dundee United manager Peter Houston hopes his players can produce a backlash from Easter Road in Friday night's Clydesdale Bank Premier League match with Kilmarnock.
United lost 2-1 to league leaders Hibernian last Sunday, which halted their recent revival in the SPL. Houston's side have the chance to get back to winning ways when Kilmarnock visit Tannadice and he has urged them to make amends for the manner in which they went down in Edinburgh.
He said: "The players were very frustrated after losing to Hibs and we're obviously hoping to take some of that feeling into the Kilmarnock game.
"We shouldn't have been 2-0 down by our standards. One thing they know is that they can't put in a first-half performance like we did at Easter Road.
"We were on the back foot and allowed Hibs to dictate to us, which wasn't like us. But Tannadice is different and we always seem to enjoy a night game.
"We want to start at a high tempo and hopefully take the game to Kilmarnock. The games with Killie are normally tight but we have to look to get our noses in front and see where it takes us."
Right-back Keith Watson is a doubt after picking up a leg injury in Sunday's defeat by Hibernian.
But Barry Douglas is fit again after a recent ankle injury so could return at left-back.
French defender Gregory Vignal is still absent after his recent hamstring tear.
Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels admits he had mixed feelings about his players being on international duty this week.
Liam Kelly earned his first full Scotland cap in last night's 2-1 win in Luxembourg, while goalkeeper Cammy Bell was also called-up but did not feature in the match.
Rory McKeown completed the trio with an appearance for Northern Ireland Under-21s in their defeat against England on Tuesday.
Shiels is thrilled to see his players and the club earn international recognition but says the timing was not ideal.
He said: "You've got mixed feelings. You want them to be called up, it's recognition for our club.
"It's really pleasing that we're striking a chord with the international team and we're getting players capped and representing their country.
"But hopefully it doesn't have an adverse impact on their game preparation.
"We've had three players on international duty which isn't the best preparation but it happens to clubs all the time. We are just part of that.
"Saturday would have been better for the game for us."
On the prospect of playing on a Friday night, Shiels added: "The summer months - August, September, April, May - are good times but the climate really isn't conducive to supporters coming home from work and travelling.
"If it was Kilmarnock against Ayr, or Dundee and Dundee United, teams in close proximity, then I would say it could benefit the crowd.
"But I think it takes from the crowd a little bit. You just have to bite the bullet."
The visitors will be without Rory McKenzie, who is is expected to be sidelined for a couple of weeks with a groin injury.
William Gros, Garry Hay and Danny Racchi all remain on the sidelines.
Source: PA
