Dundee Utd 1
St Mirren 2
League (SPL)

Manager's Programme Notes

After the defeats by Celtic and the double dunts at Motherwell, I said I'd be delighted if we could grind out a 1-0 win to get back on a winning track. Having achieved that not only against Hibs, but also against Hamilton, I am even happier. Certainly, we had to dig deep to beat Hibs which highlighted the character within the squad. Of course, we had much to thank Dusan Pernis with him saving John Rankin's penalty. It again emphasized the quality of the big keeper who has been terrific. He's very much a calming inOuence on the whole team. Nothing ruffles him and I was really delighted for him. David Goodwillie got our winner against Hibs as he did again at Hamilton last Saturday, proving once again what a talent he is. He is as good as anyone in the SPL as far as I'm concerned and the world is his oyster if he starts to concentrate solely on football. He has got to screw on the head and try to take on board what I and previous managers have tried to tell him. We hope the penny drops. What I can make sure of is that it becomes very, very difficult for him to go out on a Tuesday night. Enough has been said and written about the events in Glasgow that meant he and three other players being involved in an incident in the early hours of last Wednesday. Suffice to say I felt let down by them, but there was no alternative but to include them in the squad for Hamilton at the weekend, because we had a Scottish Youth Cup tie at Hearts and with the injuries that we had without them, I wouldn't have had 18 players available. Goodie didn't start because I believe players should prepare properly from Monday to Friday. However, every cloud has a silver lining, and with JonDaly not fully fit. Cads and Johnny Russell came in and worked the Accies defence really well. They ran their socks off, ran them into the channels and did all the bits and pieces that make defenders tired. But crucially, the goal never came and. again, it gets back to us needing to score more goals from other areas of the park. You look at Scott Robertson's chance in the first 15-20 minutes or so — the whole place has opened up for him and he's snatched at it. These are the things we've got to continue to work on in training — to make sure midfield players chip in with some goals. We might have an embarrassment of striking riches — but it won't count for anything unless the goals start coming from elsewhere. Morgaro Gomis is the only player outside of Jan Daly and David Goodwillie to find the net this season. As yet it hasn't happened — but if we win 1-0 every week and it's a striker that scores, you won't hear me complaining. The performances of the two strikers on Saturday has given me food for thought, especially as Jan Daly is okay now.

St Mirren, whom we welcome this evening may be at the bottom of the league, but I can assure the fans that we'll be taking nothing for granted. They are big and uncompromising at the back and win headers and stifled Rangers in the first half at the weekend when I watched them. To be honest, they lost a couple of poor goals and they'll be disappointed. I know they'll come here organised and sit behind the ball, hoping to hit us on the counter attack because we're at home. But if the lads play as we did in the second half on Saturday — and I think that's the best we've passed the ball all season — then I'm sure we can come out on the right side.