It was a far from vintage display from the Clydesdale Bank Premier League champions, who lost to a first-half goal from Scott Robertson which clinched fourth spot in the table and a place in next season's Europa League for Peter Houston's side.

The Parkhead boss was angry that referee Iain Brines ignored the Hoops' claims for a spot-kick when Emilio Izaguirre's cross hit the hand of home substitute Keith Watson in the second half, but he was just as unimpressed with his side's display.

"It was a disappointing result and I am annoyed," he said.

"I was not happy with the attitude of some of the players out there. Some of them are in holiday mode already.

"We need to knuckle down again this week. We are making some plans with fitness testing this week to compare to where they are when they come back for pre-season.

"So they were in for a tough week but it may even be tougher now because I am not happy with a few of them.

"They better be (ready for one final push against Hearts next week) otherwise they won't be going on holiday just yet."

Houston praised his players, who turned their season around after an unconvincing start led to speculation about the United boss facing the sack before the game at Dunfermline on October 29 - which the Tannadice side won 4-1.

He said: "That's three years in a row that we have got European football so the players can be proud of themselves.

"It just shows what they have done since the turn of the year and it has turned out a good season.

"I did say at the time I needed a chance (in October),

"It was early in the season and I believe you need the opportunity to blend a new team and it very much was a new team.

"We worked hard on the training ground and got a result at Dunfermline which maybe kept me in a job but as I say, since then the players have worked really hard and we carried a bit of luck, which we weren't getting at the start of the season."