DUFC 0 EFFC 2

Where do you even start with this? What a way for United to destroy all that pre-season optimism in one dreadful 90 minutes of abject awfulness.

Congratulations to East Fife on a well deserved win.

As for United....they should be ashamed of that performance this morning. No hunger, no desire, they turned up on the night thinking that all they needed to do was step onto the park to win the game. Have they learned nothing from the last few years of Championship misery? We have no right to win any game and that was again demonstrated to them last night - they need to learn that lesson.

There were abject performances all over the park. The only players who got passmarks for me was Stanton, primarily because he had to do all the running due to the donkey next to him (we'll get to him) and the substitute Appere, who worked hard and put himself about well when he came on. The rest ranged from poor to dreadful.

The manager needs to take his share of the blame. Those players need to be motivated to put the energy in. But more importantly, he spends too much time putting square pegs into round holes.

The biggest of many problems for me last night was the centre of the park, and primarily the role of Butcher. He's a donkey. But worse than that, he seems to think he should only be involved in the play when the opposition have the ball. As soon as we have it he switches off, he doesn't show for the ball, he just stands in the middle of the park doing nothing. And that's criminal in a 442, and it leaves Stanton to do all the running. For me Butcher should be utilised in a midfield diamond which, to be fair, is the system we should play with the players we have. But Neilson doesn't see that and continues with his square peg policy, Nicky Clark being a prime example as he is shoehorned in as a sort of number 10 when he can't do the job.

A special mention for Paul McMullan who couldn't cross a road last night. Dreadfully poor. Also to Mark Reynolds for slowing the game down at every opportunity when an injection of urgency was required.

A lot of work to be done before the league campaign starts, but to be put out of the league cup by East Fife is a horror show. The pressure on Neilson is officially mounting.