Dundee boss Paul Hartley insists he did not consider giving his players the “hairdryer” treatment in the immediate aftermath of their 4-1 derby defeat on Sunday.
Instead, he calmly discussed what went wrong against United and insists his squad will be fired up to make amends when they face the Tangerines again tonight at Tannadice in the League Cup.
The manager said: “We spoke about it after the game. There was no ranting and raving. I think that’s pointless. Those days are gone of coming in and shouting and bawling at players. I don’t think that has any effect now.
“We were really calm about it and what went wrong. We did not criticise them too much. We had a look at the video and I always think you are better analysing it the day after and what we can do better.
“I think we owe the fans a better performance. We didn’t perform to our high levels and the players know that. But it is a different game, a cup tie the players want to win.”
Having had time to reflect on Sunday’s match, Hartley felt there was little between the two sides before Mario Bilate’s penalty-spot opener.
However, he is still looking for a big improvement from his players tonight.
He said: “I watched the game back on Sunday and there wasn’t much in it in the first half. Obviously the two mistakes we made for the goal gave them the advantage but there wasn’t a lot in terms of the play and chances created in the first 45.
“The second half they got their second, third and fourth goals and their tails were up. We know we could have avoided the goals. We got caught twice in the middle of the park and then two setpieces which has been an area where we have been really strong.
“We didn’t dwell on it too much yesterday. I don’t think we can with the next game coming so soon for us. But they were more of a threat in the final third. We didn’t work their goalkeeper enough and didn’t create enough chances.
“I had said that the first goal is always very important in a derby and it proved to be. We know we can play better, there’s no two ways about it. We have to play better tomorrow night if we want to try to progress in the cup.
“That was our first defeat of the season on Sunday but it is always more difficult because it was against your local rivals and the scoreline at the end of it so the players will be up for the game and shouldn’t really need motivated for this one.
“Potentially, it could go to extra time and penalties so we have to be aware of that also. It could be a long night but we want to go there and put a good performance on to get into the quarter-finals of the cup.”
Dundee will be without the injured Kevin Thomson, Peter MacDonald, Willie Dyer and Iain Davidson but Hartley may still ring the changes for tonight’s game.
He added: “I think you have to look at it as we have three games in a week. We go to Ross County on Saturday which is a long travel for us so we have to look at the squad.
“We will need to use it in terms of the personnel and the system.”