Determined Thomas Mikkelsen believes Dundee United are better than Livingston.
And the Dane aims to prove that by helping the Tangerines come back from the dead in tomorrow night’s Premiership play-off semi-final second leg.
Like every player and fan, Mikkelsen was left gutted on Monday night as what should have been a convincing win ended up a sickening defeat.
He admits he was left scratching his head over just exactly how United, leading 2-1 at the break, managed to go down to two late goals at Tannadice.
However, although that leaves them with it all to do at the Tony Macaroni Arena, the man on loan from Ross County is convinced a place in next week’s final is still there for the taking.
“I think they have had the luck but I think we are a better team than them and we showed that on Monday night,” he said.
“We should have won the first game. When we came in at half-time, we had played well, created a lot of chances and I think we could have been even more in front with more goals.
“I think after the break we played well and they seemed tired. I thought we were going to score more goals.
“So it was a big disappointment when we threw everything away and gave them two goals.
“We gave them a goal for 2-2 and they got more energy. We gave them another goal and that was a big hit.”
For Mikkelsen, now it’s about looking forward to tonight and making sure this time there are no repeats of those disasters.
“We have to pick ourselves up and be ready for the second game and if we play like we did for most of Monday’s game I think we can beat them.
“It is tough for the confidence because they got those late goals but I think we can come again.”
Mikkelsen is well aware skipper Willo Flood’s late red card in the first game means he is banned for tomorrow’s match.
He is in no doubt, though, that there is enough quality in the dressing-room at Tannadice to cover for that absence.
And he’s revealed right from the final whistle on Monday night, boss Csaba Laszlo set about lifting his players for the second leg.
“Willo will be a big loss. He is our captain and a good player but we have a lot of good players in the midfield area so we do not have to worry about that.
“Someone can come in a do a good job like Willo does and the manager has told us we can win.
“After the game on Monday there were not really hard words, it was more like the gaffer told us we controlled the game until 70 minutes and gave them two goals.
“He said it was not good enough, and we knew that, but he wanted to build us up again.”
He also believes if United fans are willing to forgive this latest disaster, they can play a big part in prolonging the campaign into next week and the play-off final against either Partick Thistle or Ross County.
“Livingston will be on their home pitch this time but hopefully our fans will support us and they can lift us as well.
“We know we have disappointed our supporters but I think if we stay together we can win the game.
“They have always travelled to support us and I believe they will do this again.”
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