LEVEIN WORKED THE MIRACLE AND SAVED ME FROM UNITED HELL

STEVEN ROBB last night admitted Dundee United's revival helped him forget his own nightmare start to life at Tannadice.

The fit-again defender is savouring every minute of Craig Levein's reign as they try to make it five straight home wins when Hearts roll up for a potential Christmas cracker on Tayside today.

Before Levein's arrival, Robb hit rock bottom due to a combination of niggling injuries and the team's in ability to win after his summer switch from rivals Dundee.

He said: "It's been a really hard past few months but since the gaffer came in everything has changed so much. It's easier coming into a team that's winning than one that's getting beaten.

"I've had the most frustrating injuries, things that annoy every player. There's nothing worse than coming in every morning and the boys are going out to training, having a laugh and a joke, and you've got to go to the gym for a session on your own.

"But the frustration disappears when you win games such as last week's at Motherwell. That's what makes you feel part of the team again."

Robb is in line to replace suspended Christian Kalvenes at left-back and is thriving with confidence thanks to the effect Levein has had on morale.

The player said: "We are all confident. That has been the main reason behind the turnaround and even the fans will be thinking that as well. Before it was all doom and gloom but now there is a level of expectation. As long as the fans see every player giving 100 per cent they're pleased.

"It was brilliant to come on against Motherwell and help the team get three points. It was a great effort, especially after going down to 10 men and them going all at us.

"At one point, they were playing four up front so it said a lot about the players' character. Everyone is working hard for one another and team spirit is good."

Robb reckons Hearts are a formidable outfit despite the circus surrounding the Gorgie club off the field. But he believes the rejuvenated Arabs have a secret weapon in young David Goodwillie should he come in for injured Noel Hunt up front.

Robb said: "We're short of numbers up front but I'm sure that if Goodie comes in, he'll do really well.

"He's got so much potential and I hope he just keeps progressing the way he's been doing. When he came on last week at Fir Park he was excellent.

"He's so strong for such a young boy it's incredible. He gets frustrated with himself but after that he lets it go and gets on with his job.

"I don't think Hearts are vulnerable because they have a great squad. It is a lot bigger than ours so everyone knows it's going to be tough no matter what side they put out."

Robb is sure the new style Levein has implemented in such a short space of time is well suited to securing United yet another win on home soil.

Levein made his name at Hearts with a high-tempo pressing game that rarely allowed the opposition time to settle - something United are now reaping benefits from.

Robb said: "That's one of the biggest things that's happened since the gaffer came in. He wants everyone to add that extra bit to their game by pressing opponents and not giving them time on the ball.

"It's such a big thing in the Scottish game. The majority of teams are all quite similar and if you can press the ball like that for 90 minutes you have a fair chance of winning the game.

"Hopefully there will be even more fans at the game on Saturday to cheer us on. If we can keep performing, they will come back in numbers."

Levein has banned his players from looking too far ahead. A win over Hearts could move United on to the same points as sixth-placed Hibs but the manager said: "It's irrelevant where we are in terms of our league position right now because if we start talking about it all we will do is make a rod for our back.

"If you say, 'We better watch out we are down at the bottom of the league' people freeze, get worried and start making mistakes and the same can happen if you are at the top or in the middle, so you don't talk about it.

"What is more important is that we concentrate not on what happened last week, the week before that or any statistics, but on doing our jobs properly and then we can maybe walk away at the end having picked up points.

"So I am not interested in talking about league positions and achieving this or achieving that because it can be counter-productive."

Taken from the Daily Record