Dundee United boss Csaba Laszlo went jogging to help cope with the Falkirk fallout but insists he isn’t running away from the challenge now facing the Tannadice club.
The Tangerines, whose away form has dogged them this season, travel to East End Park to face Dunfermline in the Championship on Saturday and must improve dramatically from last Saturday’s shocker if they are still to be considered credible title contenders.
The 6-1 hiding they got from the Bairns was made to look even worse on Tuesday night when Paul Hartley took the team that had run United ragged up to the Highlands and they were thumped 4-1 by Inverness Caley Thistle.
It may be ironic that Laszlo is pounding the pavements as he tries to find a way for his players to improve their form on the road.
Nevertheless, the Hungarian stressed that he won’t run away from the daunting task that awaits him and his players in Fife this weekend.
Asked how he handles the pressure created by results like the Falkirk one, he replied: “It is always better for me if I go for a run.
“Even if I win a game I can’t sleep!
“This was different, though.
“It is about how you handle the situation.
“I am not going for runs at 12 o’clock at night or two in the morning but I do need activity and running is what works for me.
“It is the best way to come a little bit down from the pressure and stress,” he added.
“I have been getting out running nearly every day and it helps.
“When you are running it means you don’t think too much about daily life.
“Mind you, what I don’t want to do is run away from the responsibility I have here.
“I am not running away from anything. It just helps me calm down.”
Laszlo is only too aware of the need to solve the travel problems that have seen United already lose twice away to St Mirren, once in Livingston, once in Falkirk and draw up at Brechin in the league this season.
He said: “In my opinion, during my time here we have played all of our best games at Tannadice.
“I have asked why we didn’t play the same good football against Falkirk.
“There are no excuses for anybody. Not for me, not for the players.
“Now we have to really go and show that we are capable to change this.
“You lose the three points with a defeat like that but you also lose your pride. You have to take that back.
“What for me is, maybe, a positive is that I know this isn’t (typical of) the team. It isn’t Dundee United.
“If you lose every game by four or five or six goals then that’s different.
“We win a lot of games and we play good football.
“We have had a kick up the backside and we have to handle this.
“We have to handle the media, the fans and, the board.
“We are Dundee United and we are in charge.
“For that reason, we don’t have to run away from this problem.”
Laszlo confirmed that Scott Fraser has had an operation to repair the broken metatarsal in his foot, while Fraser Fyvie’s knee surgery will go ahead later this week.
Meanwhile, 16-year-old Alassan Jones has since a professional contract with United.
The Swedish-born midfielder’s deal ties him to the club until May 2020.
Goalkeeper Brett Long has returned to Tannadice after his loan spell at Cliftonville, while striker Joe Piggott has left the club.
