Mixu Paatelainen feels there is “hope” for a brighter future at Dundee United despite losing his first game in charge.
The Tangerines’ new head coach gave his verdict on his team after yesterday’s 1-0 loss to Hearts at Tannadice, which saw Juanma score the only goal from the penalty spot on 16 minutes.
It wasn’t all bad news for Paatelainen’s players, despite the fact that bottom club United trail Partick Thistle by four points in the Premiership table.
The Finn felt that the attitude was “excellent” but that greater “quality” was required in the attacking third of the pitch.
He said: “The players showed plenty of appetite to fight, do well and win second balls.
“To my surprise, what let us down today was quality.
“I thought we rushed our passes and didn’t make the right ones when we were in Hearts’ half.
“We didn’t create anywhere near as much as we should have done.
“It is early, though, and we have only had a couple of training sessions with the boys.
“The players are great to work with, are receptive and want to take things on board.
“So that gives us hope.
“Confidence comes from getting results and by doing the right things on the pitch.
“Today we did a lot of good things but when we had the ball in the final third I don’t think we passed it as well as we should have done.
“We need to work on that.
“But the boys are determined. They are not down.
“The attitude was excellent and that’s what I told the players that I want that every week now.”
Paatelainen felt Hearts’ penalty should not have been given, exonerating his player Blair Spittal for the challenge on Sam Nicholson that led to the winning goal.
He added: “Yes, we could have defended a little bit better at the goal, although Spittal’s leg was planted on the ground and Nicholson runs against it so it was not a penalty but the referee made his call and so be it.”