Thompson demands top-six finish

And the manager shares the growing exasperation felt by chairman Eddie Thompson and the Tannadice supporters.

Chisholm told the Evening Telegraph: "Nobody can put more pressure on me than I put on myself.

"I know where this team should be and what it is capable of, and that is why, after a result like Saturday's, I am frustrated and angry."

United lie ninth in the SPL after the 1-0 loss at Livingston.

Thompson told the BBC last week that anything less than a top-six finish was unacceptable.

And there are suggestions that Kilmarnock's Jim Jefferies will take Chisholm's place should United slip up at the weekend.

Even the most die-hard Gordon Chisolm fan now accepts it may be time for change Angus Falconer Federation of United supporters clubs

"After beating Hibs and playing so well, we were flying and the atmosphere in the dressing room right up to the Livingston game was buzzing," added Chisholm.

"We had put ourselves back in a good position in terms of getting where we want to be and we were on the verge of something.

"Then we shot ourselves in the foot and it is not the first time we've done that.

"Now, we have to shake that out of our system and concentrate on winning on Saturday, but right now that does not take away any of the frustration I feel."

Thompson has invested some �2.5m since taking over at Tannadice in the summer of 2002.

Since then Thompson has dismissed Alex Smith, caretaker-coach Paul Hegarty and Ian McCall from the Tannadice hot-seat.

Chisholm, who was McCall's assistant, steered the club away from relegation and reached the Scottish Cup final as interim boss last season.

But United have struggled since he was given a three-year deal in the week before the cup final loss to Celtic.

Thompson will have his annual meeting with the Federation of United supporters clubs on Thursday evening, knowing that he has their backing if he decides to make changes.

Federation chairman, Angus Falconer, told BBC Sport that there was broad support for the chairman and the investment he has made at Tannadice.

He added "Even the most die-hard Gordon Chisolm fan now accepts it may be time for change.

"The chairman has put a lot of money into the club and we have a statement ready to go in support of him, if he makes a change to the management set up."

Sacking the current coaching staff would cost some �300,000 in compensation.

But it is thought that Jefferies, who has two years of his contract to run at Rugby Park, would be available for nothing since he agreed a large drop in salary last year.