McKinnon hoping Dundee United play-off pattern continues against Hamilton

Boss Ray McKinnon is looking for Dundee United's Premiership play-off pattern to continue against Hamilton on Sunday.

A goalless draw between the teams at Tannadice on Thursday night means there is all to play for in the second leg in Lanarkshire.

United battled past Morton and Falkirk in the quarter-final and semi-final play-off ties respectively and McKinnon noted that his side won both the away games, 2-1 in Greenock and by the same scoreline at Falkirk.

The former Dundee United midfielder is hoping that trend extends to the SuperSeal stadium.

In the last play-off games we went and won at Morton and Falkirk,'' said McKinnon, who will have striker Simon Murray available after appealing his sending off for simulation against Accies

Maybe it is going to repeat itself on Sunday, we will go down and win at Hamilton.

I was pleased with the second-half (against Hamilton), pleased with the second-half against Morton and Falkirk.

That is the way we have got to look at it.''

A crowd of almost 10,000 turned up at Tannadice on Thursday night, the vast majority to cheer on the home side and there will be almost 3,000 fans travelling to Hamilton.

McKinnon acknowledged the importance of United returning to the top flight after a one-year absence.

He said: It is massive for the club. I understand that but we can't let that get in the way.

We have to focus on how we play and get the best out of the players on Sunday and make sure they are ready to go.''

The Tannadice club revealed on Friday that they appealed against the second of two yellow cards Murray picked up for diving against Accies with the Scottish Football Association confirming the 25-year-old striker is free to play.

Murray was booked in the first half for simulation after going past Hamilton defender Massimo Donati.

However, he appeared hard done by in the 77th minute when referee Steven McLean, seemingly acting on the advice of assistant Graham Chambers, produced another yellow after a challenge by Scott McMann inside the Hamilton box as footage showed Murray was caught on the knee by the Accies defender.