Conceding six against Celtic means Dundee United can currently boast the worst defensive record in the SPL, although centre-half Sean Dillon acknowledges it is nothing to shout about.
United have now shipped 48 goals in the league, two more than bottom side and near neighbours Dundee.
Having said that, though, Dillon is convinced his side can provide the perfect response against high-flying Motherwell this evening and get themselves right back in the hunt for second spot.
“It was obviously disappointing with the way things went at Celtic Park but we have a game straight away to try and make amends, which we’re looking forward to,” said Dillon. “It’s a concern losing so many goals and it’s not a record we’re proud of.
“We want clean sheets, and if we’re not getting them the next best thing is to lose just one goal in a game.”
He continued: “It’s never nice conceding six goals, but it’s never nice conceding just one. This is going to be another really tough game because they are really good on the attack. We’ll need to be at it again.”
Fixtures at Fir Park have not been without incident this season, with power cuts and waterlogged pitches springing to mind, but United enjoyed success in the one game they have managed to play at Motherwell this season a 1-0 win in November.
Dillon is hoping that will give his team confident going into this one.
He said: “We can take confidence from the fact we’ve won at Fir Park already this season, although it doesn’t guarantee anything.
“It’s all about us. We have to make sure we’re ready for it and do what we need to do on the night. They had a great result at the weekend to move them into second spot in the SPL. They’ll be full of confidence.
“That’s where they want to be come the end of the season. Basically, that’s where everyone wants to be and we still want to get second place ourselves.
“There’s no reason why we can’t get second place. We are where we are just now because of results. The table doesn’t lie.
“Maybe there were certain games before when we weren’t getting the breaks but that evens itself out during the course of the season. Maybe we will now start getting the breaks which could give us the extra few points we need from now in.”
United may have slipped to ninth in the table, but victory will close the gap on their second-placed hosts to four points.
Dillon said: “It is still quite close in the table. We’ve gone back to ninth now from sixth but a couple of wins can move you back up again.
“We just need to get the head down and make sure we are where we want to be come May. We don’t want to be sitting there and looking up the table wishing we were there.
“It would be lovely to come home and know that there are only four points between ourselves and the second top team.”
Midfielder Willo Flood has been passed fit for the game.