Peter Pawlett has revealed how his rallying cry helped Dundee United’s young players believe they could beat Ross County.
Few people outside of Tannadice fancied Micky Mellon’s side to travel up the A9 and take all three points off the in-form Staggies, who had a chance to top the league with a victory.
When the team lines came out, United’s odds would have lengthened even further, with no Lawrence Shankland, Jamie Robson, Liam Smith, Paul McMullan or Ryan Edwards listed – every one of them injured.
In at right-back for his debut was Kieran Freeman (20), while Mellon also selected Logan Chalmers (20), Louis Appere (21) and on-loan Luke Bolton (20). On the bench were Declan Glass (20), Chris Mochrie (17), Ross Graham (19) and Lewis Neilson (17), with the latter coming on to replace Freeman late in the game.
Pawlett is hardly ancient himself at 29 but he found himself in the role of master with the apprentices as he tried to plot a way of winning 2-1 in Dingwall under such adversity.
The midfielder said: “We had four or five players (out) but sometimes when it is a younger team you say: ‘Come on lads, let’s get together.’
“We had that fighting spirit and the young lads should be really proud of how they played.
“They deserved their chance after doing well in pre-season and hopefully they can kick on now.
“Before the game, I tried to have a chat with them about it.
“They have worked so hard to get this opportunity so it’s a case of saying: ‘Right, I know I am good so let’s go and kick on.’
“It is about mindset and not being afraid.
“They are here for a reason and they got the chance to play for a reason.
“I told them to kick on and they did that against County.”
They certainly did, with Nicky Clark’s brilliantly-finished winner on 79 minutes coming after Pawlett’s equaliser five minutes before the break, which had cancelled out former United defender Coll Donaldson’s opener for County.
In the Premiership, though, there is no let-up in the tough challenges and none is greater than a game against Celtic, with the 10-in-a-row-chasing Hoops visiting Tannadice this Saturday.
Pawlett urged his teammates to embrace that occasion rather than fear it.
He added: “It’s been a really good start and I think we just need to have a bit of belief in ourselves.
“We are a good team, we are fit and we have come through a really hard pre-season.
“The manager has come in and we have all really bought into what he is trying to do.
“I have been so impressed with how he has gone about it and we are all buzzing about things.
“We have quality and I think we can do OK this season.
“Celtic are a good side and we will be aware of their strengths but we also need to have belief.
“We need to realise they carry a threat but we also need to be brave on the ball.
“It is about expressing ourselves and taking the chances we get.”
United’s fine start to the season has been mirrored by that of Pawlett himself, with the former Aberdeen and St Johnstone man putting the lockdown days to good use.
He said: “I used the time off to really focus on my diet and getting fit.
“As a footballer, you never get that kind of opportunity when there are no games and you can say: ‘Let’s this right, let’s get that right.’
“I spoke to the sports science staff about things and it’s just a case of being really strict in terms of diet.
“There are times when you fancy something on a Saturday night but it’s about self-discipline and being strict.
“It notice a big difference. I have benefited from that and I feel good.”
