Dundee United full-back Kieran Freeman admits they are struggling to find answers to their alarming collapse in form – but need to reverse it quickly.
United suffered a record home defeat on Sunday when they lost 9-0 to Celtic in Tannadice to make it five straight defeats ahead of Wednesday’s Premier Sports Cup second round tie at Livingston.
Freeman and his team-mates have conceded 23 goals in their last four games and still appear to be suffering from the aftermath of their 7-0 Europa Conference League capitulation to AZ Alkmaar.
When asked what was wrong, the 22-year-old replied: “None of us know. We are working hard to resolve this issue.
“Nobody wants to be on this pitch – or even watch this. It was horrible. We just have to work hard and slowly make it right.
“No one has had the answers recently and that’s what we need to do quickly.
“It was a terrible day. I don’t think there’s anything we can say now that can change that or justify that. Everyone in there knows it was shocking and in order for the fans to pay their money and watch it, we’re wasting everyone’s time producing.
“We have a game on Wednesday and the only way to start making things right is to get a win and stay in the cup.
“I don’t think a match is easy after this, but the least we can do is show that we are fighting and at least put in the effort and hopefully we can win and repay the fans a bit. “
Manager Jack Ross took responsibility for their form, while calling on his players to work harder and show more hunger to win the ball back.
Freeman said, “It’s us on the court. He can’t do anything on the field. We produced this 9-0. You can’t deflect it on anyone other than us.
The United academy graduate dismissed suggestions the players weren’t playing for the manager.
“It’s easy to say based on this performance, but I think everyone is playing for the manager,” he said.
“I can’t say that everything is perfect because of what we produced. We have to work harder than we did and get things back on track on Wednesday.
