Plan coming together for McNamara

Jackie McNamara is taking Dundee United through a transition period but his players are confident of weathering any storm. Picture: SNS

The new-look Tangerines are beginning to get into their stride in manager Jackie McNamara’s first full season and proved so with an emphatic 4-2 league win away to Ross County last weekend.

McNamara has brought in a number of new recruits after losing key performers such as skipper Jon Daly, striker Johnny Russell and midfielder Willo Flood. But captain Dillon reckons the Taysiders, who host high-flying Motherwell at Tannadice today, are starting to show they can emerge stronger from all the upheaval.

Dillon said: “It happens all the time with players coming and going, which creates transitional periods.

“It’s not going to click straight away when that’s happening but you believe in yourself and you believe in the squad that you’re going to be successful.

“I wouldn’t say we were bad in the first few games but we’re certainly playing better than we were.

“If you have a couple of really good players who do well, they tend to move on. You just have to trust the lads who come in and trust that the manager’s bringing the right people in.”

United’s confidence is soaring having hit four against County in the Highlands a week ago and Dubliner Dillon hailed the unsung heroes in their side.

He said: “We got a good win away last week. We’re annoyed we didn’t keep a clean sheet up there but, if you’d said beforehand, we’d go up to Ross County and get three points, we’d have taken it.

“It’s definitely starting to come together. When you look at the attacking options that we have, they obviously deserve a lot of credit.

“It’s no surprise when they go and create lots of chances and score goals, but backing that up, John Rankin and Paul Paton deserve a lot of credit.

“Within the group that’s recognised, but outside of that I don’t think they get the recognition they deserve.

“They’re also sitting just in front of us, so they’re doing a hell of a hard job – and they’re doing it really well.”