McIntyre praise for United

United yesterday responded to headlines claiming manager Peter Houston faced the sack by insisting the reports were “simply speculation and rumour”.

United sit one point above Dunfermline in tenth place in the SPL ahead of their trip to East End Park tomorrow, having won just two league games this season.

The pressure on Houston increased this week after United’s penalty shootout defeat by Falkirk in the League Cup quarter-finals following a 2-2 draw at Tannadice.

Dunfermline are aiming to repeat the win they secured over United at Tannadice in August, their last victory. But former United striker McIntyre said: “No two games are the same and Dundee United are a very good side.

“I watched them on Tuesday night and they did exceptionally well, they just couldn’t score. But they bossed most of the game and I’m sure they will be coming here to put that right. It is tight and I think one win will jump them up to sixth place.

“So I’m sure nobody is panicking there, it’s a case of putting the ball away and moving up the table. But we can’t be concerned with what’s going on up there, we have to look after our own corner and make sure we get the right result.”

Dunfermline arrested their own poor run of three consecutive defeats with a late equaliser from Liam Buchanan in Saturday’s 1-1 draw away to Inverness.

McIntyre is now hopeful that, buoyed by that comeback and an improved display in the 2-0 defeat to Hearts, the next three points could come tomorrow.

He added: “Even although we lost the game against Hearts, we turned in a performance which was more like us. And I think we took the confidence from that into the game against Inverness.

“It is a building block for us and we are determined to turn in another big performance against Dundee United.”