Dundee United's Coll Donaldson says cup loss must spur survival bid
Sunday 17 April 2016 16:13, UK
Dundee United defender Coll Donaldson has urged his teammates to avoid further heartache by securing their Scottish Premiership survival.
United lost to Hibernian on penalties in the first Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park on Saturday, with goalkeeper Conrad Logan the Hibs hero as he made crucial saves during the match and in the resulting penalty shootout after the game finished 0-0 after extra-time.
Donaldson is hoping they can now challenge that pain and disappointment into something positive by closing the gap on their relegation rivals to end the season on something of a high, although United could find themselves 11 points adrift of safety before they play Hamilton at Tannadice on Sunday.
"The disappointment we feel has to spur us on. We don't want to be feeling like that at the end of the season," said Donaldson.
"It would be horrible to lose a cup semi and get relegated. So we will be doing everything we can.
"A lot of boys in the changing room think it may be the last final they had the chance to go to for the club and it's a massive disappointment to lose the way we did.
"You can maybe accept if you had been outplayed and lost by a couple of goals but to arguably be the better team and lose on penalties is so disappointing."
Donaldson also took the opportunity to clear up an incident involving him and manager Mixu Paatelainen after the 21-year-old was substituted after 74 minutes due to a hamstring injury.
The pair appeared to exchange angry words on the touchline but Donaldson insists it was merely the result of a misunderstanding.
"The gaffer was telling me to stay down so they could get the sub ready," added Donaldson.
"But the ref had told me after I started walking off the pitch that, if I didn't walk off the pitch quickly, he would book me for time-wasting.
"I had already been booked previously, so I would have got sent off if I hadn't walked off quickly.
"I tried explaining that to the gaffer but in the heat of the game things can get a wee bit funny. But I spoke to him after and there was no problem whatsoever."
