Dundee Utd 0
St Mirren 0
League (Premier Division)

Manager's Programme Notes

It goes without saying we are all very excited and happy at Tannadice to be in the League Cup semi-final. All right, we made things difficult. But the main thing is we're there. Mind you, if you'd been in our dressing room at half-time on Wednesday you'd have thought no way. It was more like an ambulance room with physic Andy Dickson working overtime. However, he managed to patch up lain Phillip and Paul Hegarty but at the time of writing we're certainly counting the cost of that bruising tie. I read recently Brian Clough said he'd give £1 million for a free week. I know exactly how he feels and I'm delighted we have no mid-week match this incoming week. Our close season tour of Japan has certainly caught up. We're desperately needing a rest. Long tenn injuries to vital players Paul Hegarty and John Holt haven't helped. Fortunately both are progressing nicely and Paul's match-winning goal at Stark's Park will definitely help his confidence. Unfortunately we're still relying on defenders like Hegarty to score goals. Home games against Rangers, Celtic, Raith, Anderlecht and Miskolc immediately spring to mind, as well as the "Derby" across the road against Dundee. We didn't win one of those 6 games. Yet all should have been United victories!

This is where I must be critical of certain players., Graeme Payne, Paul Sturrock and George Fleming have contributed a great deal over the years and I appreciate that. However this trio just don't score enough goals. So it's come to the point, although I rate all three tremendously, where I must seriously consider splitting them up. They don't carry enough goal threat to all play at the same time. Obviously they'll never be far out of our 13. Especially with replacements so difficult to find. But I can't hide from the fact I'll be exactly 8 years at Tannadice next month. So far United have won nothing. Therefore it's up to me to do something. And if I'm not hiding from the facts, these three players I mention can't either. And until we start scoring regularly, the cupboard will continue to remain bare !