Missing spark frustrates Levein

Dundee United boss Craig Levein was disappointed with the contribution his creative players made in the defeat to Dunfermline.

The Tannadice outfit had been on a fine run prior to their trip to East End Park, finding the net on four occasions at both Tynecastle and Pittodrie.

Levein said: "We had some very good performances from our players but none of them were in the front three.

"We didn't have enough good quality chances today."

Interview: Dundee Utd manager Craig Levein

John Daly, Noel Hunt and Collin Samuel failed to trouble the home defence with any regularity and United's successful run came to an abrupt halt.

The former Hearts manager said: "I couldn't honestly sit here and say we deserved to win that game. We weren't anywhere near our recent performances.

"The last two times we played Dunfermline I felt we deserved to win the game but I don't think that was the case today.

We passed the ball pretty well up until the last third of the pitch but whenever we got into positions to deliver a good ball into the box we couldn't manage it. Dundee United manager Craig Levein

"That would have been an injustice to Dunfermline.

"Our creative players were poor.

"We passed the ball pretty well up until the last third of the pitch but whenever we got into positions to deliver a good ball into the box we couldn't manage it - we lacked composure.

"Because of that all our good stuff was defensively and in midfield.

"That's the reason we didn't get anything from the game.

"Dunfermline are fighting for their lives and we expected them to be like that.

"They've improved in recent weeks and have got some confidence from getting a few results.

"There wasn't a whole lot in the game but three or four months ago they wouldn't have got the goal they maybe deserved."