Dundee Utd boss Laszlo hoping St Mirren will slip up in title chase

Dundee United boss Csaba Laszlo has been left hoping for St Mirren to slip up in the race to seal promotion to the Ladbrokes Premiership.

The Buddies currently hold a 12-point lead over Livingston in the Championship, with United a further seven points back, a total of 19 points adrift of the league leaders.

However the Tangerines have three games in hand on the two teams above them and Laszlo admits he hopes Jack Ross' men could still slip up, but accepts they are in a strong position.

I am realistic but also hope that St Mirren might lose some games,'' he told Arabzone.But definitely they are stable and we are not.

We have some games to go and for me it's most important against Queen of the South.''

The instability of Laszlo's side is reflected by a run of just one league win in six matches, which came last Tuesday against their opponents this week, Queen of the South.

His side came out 3-1 winners on that occasion but then struggled to a draw at home to Inverness, and the manager is urging his players to show respect despite beating them so recently.

He said: They are not a bad team and Tuesday will be a new game.

I have respect for the team and tomorrow I want the team to play with confidence and respect to the opponent. We have to try and keep the three points at home.''

Anthony Ralston could come in to make his debut for the club after sitting on the bench at the weekend following his move from Celtic, while Scott Fraser made a welcome return from injury having last played in December.

Dunfermline will look to put the pressure back on the top four away at Brechin, with Allan Johnstone's men hoping to close the gap on fourth-placed Morton to just a point.

Johnstone's side have scored just one goal in the past five games, but he is concentrating on trying to close the gap to the top four.

He told the club's official website: I suppose you can turn stats any way if you want to look at stats, the main thing is closing the gap. We need to make sure that we win on Tuesday night, it is as simple as that.

Then it is whoever finishes the season strongly, we have to make sure that it is us.''

Bottom side Brechin, meanwhile, are yet to win a game this season and are 23 points adrift of second-bottom Dumbarton