Dundee Utd 4
Kilmarnock 0
League (Premier Division)

Manager's Programme Notes

Lately, through this column I have done very little other than to confirm the reputation I have apparently worked hard to get as a meaner. I dearly wish at this particular time that I could have other than criticism to pass on to you. Sadly I do not — principally because of the fact that in this game nowadays it is clearly too easy to con people, and that I do not and never will attempt to do. So here we go again! Not so long ago, at Hampden in fact at the Peru game. Jock Stein and I were agreeing that the Scottish fans were the very best and the very worst following in world football — all wrapped into one. There is no support capable of creating that unbelievable atmosphere at our games, and yet, on the other hand, the Scots have seemingly never learned the meamng of the word patience. They firmly believe in the old high punt upfield into the opposition goal area and clearly fail to appreciate that in todays game our sweepers are there to halt that type of approach at every level of football. In so saying, we here at Tannadice, I include myself amongst them, are apt to get caught up in that impatience — and Wednesday night was a prime example of it. Our pre-game tactics were geared to playing two wingers in an attempt to stretch the Hungarian defence to its full width, but within 15 minutes the full-backs were beginning a night starvation of our wingers and playing long diagonal balls across both sides of the park.

But even at that the results of our two games played m 'the past week have quite frankly been farcical considering the way the games have gone. However, it is only 'the results that count nowadays and between Wednesday night and today's vital Premier League clash against Kilmarnock the main job of ours has been in attempting to hoist the deflated confidence. Therefore, although I realise that you on the terracing must have turned up this afternoon completely frustrated concerning those last two results, I implore you to give the side some time today to find their feet and their confidence. It is absolutely clear that no Premier League outfit is going to be allowed by the opposition to run all over them in the early stages of any game, and therefore that is why patience is an all important ingredient from the terracings.