United locked themselves behind closed doors at Tannadice yesterday for a crisis summit they hope will spark a revival. Boss Alex Smith cancelled his first-team squad's day-off following Tuesday's latest defeat - the Arabs' spineless CIS Cup exit at the hands of Rangers at Ibrox. And Smith pulled no punches when confronting the squad responsible for the club's worst-ever run of form. After he was finished, he left it to the players themselves to come up with their views on the subject.

There was plenty to discuss, with United holding the worst record of any senior club in Britain - not a league win in sight since last April. Since then, the once-proud Taysiders have contested 18 league fixtures and taken just two points from a possible FIFTY FOUR ! The side's miserable show against Rangers on Tuesday followed what had been displays of promise in recent league games against Celtic and Hibs. And that was what annoyed boss Smith most. He said: "I asked the players to ponder over the comparison between their performance against Hibs last Saturday and the disappointment of Ibrox. "The commitment shown even in defeat by Hibs earned the side a standing ovation from our support at the end. "I have been in the game a long time but have never seen a side clapped off the park after a defeat. "We needed to offer our fans that kind of desire at Ibrox but fell far short of doing so. "We had gone into the cup-tie after appearing to gain ground in terms of performance. Now, the defeat has set us back".

Once Smith had had his say yesterday, he left his players to say their piece - to each other. United skipper Jason de Vos reckons that the 30-minute dressing-room meeting was a success. He said: "Every player had the chance to have their say and although there were understandably different opinions, a clear message came through. We all know we have to pull together in what we know is a fight to stave off relegation. It is up to the players to make sure that does not happen. "We know we showed the right attitude in the Hibs game, hence the reaction from our supporters. "Then we go and let ourselves down badly at Ibrox where we were simply not committed enough. "Hopefully we have learned a harsh lesson and that at Motherwell on Saturday we will show the attitude we need to show in every game."

The entire United backroom staff were on scouting duty last night, taking in games south of the border. Hearts' unsettled ex-Scotland man Darren Jackson appears to be a prime target for a return to Tannadice. Smith said: "Moves are afoot to strengthen the squad and I would hope to have a new face for the important games ahead against Motherwell and Dundee." ©Daily Record