Dundee Utd 1
Hamilton 1
League (SPL)

Manager's Programme Notes

After a month on the road, it is good to be back at Tannadice and welcoming Hamilton Accies this afternoon. After a slow start to the season, they are settling in and Billy Reid has made some good signings after a big turnover in personnel since last season. One of course is James Wesolowski, whom of course was on loan to us from Leicester in the second half of last season. Most recently they also added Guillaume Beuzelin who was latterly with Coventry City. And from our experiences against them last term, we know they will fight tooth and nail to make things difficult for us again. Our last home game against Motherwell proved to be very disappointing. It wasn't a game where we were at our best, but certainly felt that we deserved to take at least a point out of the game. Indeed, had things gone our way maybe even more. But it wasn't to be with Motherwell winning thanks to the only goal of- the game which came from the spot. The good thing was that we recovered from that setback really quickly, winning away to Ross County, the then leaders of the First Division to book a place in the last eight of the Co-operative Cup. I'm just grateful we didn't slip up because there are plenty of cases where teams go out to tower division opponents. You just have to look at what happened to Hamilton at Ross County in the previous round and Aberdeen away to Dundee on the same night we won at Dingwall. A big plus for me was the fact we managed to bring in a few lads. Stevie Banks got a run in the goat, Jennison MyrieWilliams made his first competitive start, although he tired towards the end, Lee Wilkie came through it okay. It was also pleasing to see the likes of Mihael Kovacevic and Craig Conway get 90 minutes under their belts. Making so many changes was a little bit of a risk, but, for the sake of the squad, it's important people get games, particularly given the situation we face this afternoon due to injuries and suspension.

It was particularly pleasing that we then went on to beat StJohnstone at Perth. It is always difficult winning games away from home in the SPL, especially against sides that have just been promoted as we found to our cost last season against Hamilton. Both Andy Webster and Damian Casalinuovo were on target in our 3-2 win with what were their first goals for the club which was good to see. Damians returned to Tannadice after a spell out on loan with Raith Rovers where he did well, so I was pleased that he continued from where he left off with Raith in what was his first competitive start for us. He can be a handful for defences so its great to have another option up front. Having done so well at Perth, the opening forty five minutes against Easter Road came a reality check. Poor wasn't the word for our first-half performance and for only the second time in three years at the club, I raised my voice at half time. I just couldn't believe how bad we were. Okay. Hibs played well, but there are two parts to a game—attacking and defending—and we got zero of those right. But having been so second rate before the break. I was pleased with the attitude right from the kick-off for the second half and in the end just about deserved our point thanks to another Webby goal. We concentrated better and were on the front foot from the off, and even if we'd lost the match I'd have been proud of the way we played the second Since then of course, we have had a fortnight s break and that has brought long term casualties Jon Daly, Keith Watson and Kevin Smith closer to being available. However, on the down side Paul Dixon and Scott Robertson face lengthy lay-offs. Paul will be out for at Least four weeks and whilst we are stilt waiting to see the extent of Scott's groin injury. he'll almost certainly miss the rest of this month at least. Fortunately, Mark Fotheringham has agreed a deal to play for us for next to nothing and having another quality player in midfield is handy, especially as we are today without Prince Buaben and Danny Swanson through suspension in addition to Scott Robertson's absence. Looking to the future, notwithstanding their defeat by Falkirk last week, the Youth team have had a good start to the season and were very impressive when I watched them put Stirling Albion to the sword to reach the third round of the Youth Cup. In previous seasons. I have had a number of the more experienced Under-19's out on loan at this stage of the season, but that has not been the case this term and I am quite happy with the strength and the quality of the side as proven by their progress so far. But returning to immediate future and today s game with Hamilton, it is vital that we build on taking four points from the two recent away games by taking three points from a home match.