Paul Dixon is determined to stay upbeat while admitting it was a “missed opportunity” for Dundee United when they lost to Aberdeen.
The relegation-threatened Tangerines went into that clash against the Dons at Tannadice on Wednesday night hoping to close the gap on second-bottom side Kilmarnock to five points with a game in hand, a scenario that would have piled pressure on the Ayrshire men.
As it turned out, United were beaten 1-0 by the Pittodrie side so it was as you were in the table.
That took some of the wind out of the sails, coming as it did after encouraging victories over Ross County and Hearts.
Nevertheless, Dixon was adamant that the players will remain positive, starting with tomorrow’s William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final against Ross County at the Global Energy Stadium.
He said: “It was a missed opportunity in the sense that Kilmarnock lost on Tuesday (at home to County) and if we had won we would have closed up on them.
“We still pushed and pushed and tried our best to get the result we wanted.
“Even a point would have been a good result against an Aberdeen team who are second in the league and are trying to push Celtic as far as they can again.
“Still, at the beginning of these three games against Hearts, Ross County and Aberdeen had we been offered six points then we would have gladly taken them.
“So we are looking at the positives and we will go again on Saturday.
“It is a cup match but it is a game to win and we can try to get confidence from it.
“We are professionals and this is our job.
“It is evident we are fighting for the cause.
“As long as it is mathematically possible and we have time on our side we will keep going.”
It could have been worse for United and Dixon, who looked to have scored an own goal only to see it get chalked off by referee Bobby Madden for an alleged diving offence by Aberdeen’s Graeme Shinnie in the build-up.
Dixon said: “I just tried to cut the ball out and I put it into my own net.
“It happened that quickly that I didn’t know what the ruling was.
“I didn’t see the (simulation) incident.
“I was relieved when the ref called the game back, although I have put through my own net before.”
United now sit only five games away from the Premiership split, when they will play each of their fellow bottom-six sides.
On paper, that should make it easier to pick up points than if they were playing the Dons, Celtic, Hearts and the like.
Dixon said: “We definitely have to be in touch at the split or right there with them.
“One win and other results could go our way and it could totally change the outlook.”