Lennon is wary of wounded Arabs

Oct 25 2012 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

Buddies boss Danny Lennon last night warned his players not to be fooled by Dundee United’s lowly league position ahead of this Saturday’s SPL showdown.

The Tannadice team have struggled so far this season and currently sit second bottom of the table.

To make matters worse for United, they haven’t won a league game in six attempts and there are also question marks hanging over the future of manager Peter Houston as he approaches the final few months of his contract.

However, Lennon is convinced the Tayside club will come good at some point ... and he’s hoping the ‘Arab Spring’ doesn’t begin in Paisley this weekend.

“Dundee United are a good side and they have very good individuals,” said Lennon. “We’re very much aware of where their strengths lie.

“They are the type of team that likes to get a lot of balls into the box and put defences under pressure, so that’s something we have to be ready for.

“I’m sure Housty will have been looking at the goals we have conceded recently and he’ll think ‘St Mirren could be vulnerable there.’”

Lennon admits he has been shocked by some of his team’s defending in recent games but he’s also backing the players to come good sooner rather than later.

He added: “It was only a few weeks ago that everyone was raving about our centre-backs.

“Now it’s up to us to regroup and that’s not just our centre-backs I’m talking about – it applies to everyone.

“We have to concentrate on getting back to the basics of attacking the ball and doing what we do best.”

Lennon will also continue to drum home the message that his men can’t afford to surrender possession as meekly as they did against Celtic last weekend.

The Buddies quickly found themselves 2-0 down and went on to concede another three goals before the full-time whistle sounded.

That 5-0 defeat means Saints have shipped an alarming 14 goals in their last four league outings and Lennon knows a much tighter defence will be needed this weekend if the Paisley men are to beat United.

He said: “We simply can’t surrender possession as cheaply as we have done in the last couple of weeks but, in saying that, I have been pleased with the players’ reaction in training.”