Calum Butcher has revealed that the Dundee United players and management had a lengthy discussion in the Dens Park away dressing-room after Wednesday’s derby defeat in a bid to pinpoint exactly where they are going wrong.
The 3-1 loss at the home of the Dark Blues meant that the Tangerines have failed to win in their last 10 games.
And Butcher admitted boss Jackie McNamara let the players know in no uncertain terms what he thought about the poor run with the players responding with opinions of their own.
Having said their piece, Butcher insists it is now fully up to the players to end the miserable run, starting this afternoon against Hamilton at home and he admitted he would cheerfully accept “winning ugly”.
The 24-year-old said: “There were some strong words from the manager.
“I think the gaffer is very passionate. Managers show it in different ways and he has his own way of displaying it.
“Everything he does is passionate and it is about the club, us doing well as a team.
“We had a long discussion and some things we needed to deal with.
“People gave their opinions about what they think we need to do to get back on track.
“I think sometimes senior players especially need to be able to say how they feel and get it out in the open.
“We have dealt with it, we have put it to one side now and we are just focused on Hamilton.
“We have to go onto the pitch and produce performances it is down to us.
“The gaffer wants us to play good football and we are a team that want to do that ourselves but at the moment we also want to win.
“It’s all about getting that victory and then focusing on our game.
“We always want to play it out from the back and do the nice things but at the moment we just want to get that win.
“We would definitely take winning ugly. It might take that to kick-start our season again.
“There is still a lot to play for. If we can get that one win out of the way, then we can definitely kick on again.
“We were very disappointed to lose the derby but we have to be ready to go again against Hamilton.
“We have to focus on that and move on.”
When asked if the Dundee defeat had hurt the United players’ pride, Butcher insisted: “Of course, it is a derby. Obviously, everybody is affected right through.
“You can feel the fans’ disappointment and our disappointment after the game.
“It was a big blow to lose so we just have to pick ourselves up, go again and get that break we need.
“I think the other night we didn’t play particularly well but we weren’t that bad either.
“I think some things went against us and I had one cleared off the line. Goals change games and if we had got one, it would have been a different story.”