Dundee Utd 1
Aberdeen 3
League (Premier Division)
Dundee UtdDundee Utd |
1 - 31 - 3 |
AberdeenAberdeen |
 |
League (Premier Division) |
 |
| Goalscorers | |
|
Paul Sturrock (5) |
Gordon Strachan (10) Mark McGhee (25) John Hewitt (86) |
| Team Managers | |
|
Jim McLean |
Alex Ferguson |
| Starting Eleven | |
|
Hamish McAlpine Dave Narey John Holt Paul Hegarty Frank Kopel Ian Gibson Eamonn Bannon Billy Kirkwood Paul Sturrock Graeme Payne Willie Pettigrew |
Jim Leighton Stuart Kennedy Doug Rougvie Doug Bell Alex McLeish Willie Miller Gordon Strachan Steve Cowan Mark McGhee Drew Jarvie Ian Scanlon |
| Bench | |
|
Ralph Milne Joe Ward |
John Hewitt Neale Cooper |
| Substitutions | |
|
Joe Ward for Ian Gibson Ralph Milne for Graeme Payne |
John Hewitt for Steve Cowan (85) |
| Cautions | |
| None. |
Doug Bell Doug Rougvie |
| Red Cards | |
| None. | None. |
| Match Officials | |
|
J Wales (Referee) |
Match Report
This was an aggressive local derby, but the scoreline didn't do justice to United's attacking efforts. United got off to a great start with a goal in the 4th minute. Eamonn Bannon pulled down Billy Kirkwood's long high free-kick in a crowded box and teammate Paul Sturrock whipped the ball off his toes to crash in a fine opener.
This stung the Dons into action and within six minutes they drew level. Gordon Strachan cut off a stray pass back from Dave Narey and fed McGhee and was on the spot to head home the cross when it arrived in the middle.
In the 25th minute Aberdeen went in front with a well-worked goal which finished with Mark McGhee slipping past two defenders to shoot the ball high into the net. Although United laid siege around Leighton's goal for most of the second half, two minutes from the end Aberdeen rubbed salt in the wound with a third goal when John Hewitt crashed home a Scanlon cross.
Squad Statistics (as at October 25th, 1980)
| 1980-81 | All Time | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | Nat |  |
 |
|
|
|
| Hamish McAlpine (GK) | 32 |
|
21 | - | 430 | 3 |
| John Holt | 23 |
|
9 | 1 | 118 | 11 |
| Dave Narey | 24 |
|
20 | 1 | 304 | 21 |
| Paul Hegarty | 26 |
|
21 | 5 | 259 | 44 |
| Frank Kopel | 31 |
|
14 | - | 354 | 13 |
| Eamonn Bannon | 22 |
|
18 | 4 | 49 | 8 |
| Ian Gibson | 24 |
|
2 | - | 2 | - |
| Billy Kirkwood | 22 |
|
17 | - | 141 | 28 |
| Willie Pettigrew | 27 |
|
9 | 4 | 59 | 26 |
| Graeme Payne | 24 |
|
19 | 4 | 249 | 17 |
| Paul Sturrock | 24 |
|
21 | 7 | 240 | 62 |
| Ralph Milne (sub) | 19 |
|
13 | 3 | 34 | 6 |
| Joe Ward (sub) | 25 |
|
9 | 5 | 9 | 5 |
League Table (as at October 25th, 1980)
| Pld | W | D | L | +/- | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Aberdeen | 11 | 8 | 3 | 0 | +18 | 19 |
| 2. | Celtic | 11 | 8 | 2 | 1 | +16 | 18 |
| 3. | Rangers | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 | +18 | 17 |
| 4. | Airdrie | 11 | 4 | 5 | 2 | +2 | 13 |
| 5. | Partick Th | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | -4 | 12 |
| 6. | St Mirren | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | +1 | 8 |
| 7. | United | 11 | 1 | 6 | 4 | -7 | 8 |
| 8. | Morton | 11 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -10 | 7 |
| 9. | Hearts | 11 | 2 | 1 | 8 | -10 | 5 |
| 10. | Kilmarnock | 11 | 1 | 1 | 9 | -24 | 3 |
| League results since United's last match |
|---|
| 25th October 1980 |
|---|
| Airdrie | 3-0 | Hearts |
| Celtic | 4-1 | Kilmarnock |
| Dundee Utd | 1-3 | Aberdeen |
| Partick Th | 1-1 | Rangers |
| St Mirren | 1-1 | Morton |
Manager's Programme Notes
Good afternoon and welcome to Tannadice for the Premier League clash against champions Aberdeen, always exciting visitors. After a spell of disappointments I must admit to being more satisfied of late with the side's performances. The reasons for our under - par displays was clear at the time, too many of our regulars were falling below the expected level of performance. However, in recent games things have improved to the extent that I now rate only two or three of our players to still remain below the standard they are capable of.
However, I would hasten to add that improvement or not, it would be fatal 'or us to assume that we are there — we all know that better has yet to come. Wednesday night's UEFA Cup display against our Belgian visitors Lokeren was in my opinion a further indication of the corner being turned — if ever so slowly. The players knew only too well that their attitude was wrong, and I instance the contrasting fortunes of Eamonn Bannon in midweek as the prime example. Throughout the opening half it was always a case of safety-first as far as the midfield man was concerned. And yet after fhe interval we once again witnessed the powerful and direct running at defences for which he is known — and feared by opponents.
Incidentally, on the subject of attitude, it has been my delight to witness a particular member of our staff putting in extra voluntary sessions here at the club in recent weeks. As far as I can remember that player has never throughout my term here offered himself for over time work. That's the attitude I am seeking! Today we face title holders Aberdeen in what is usually a top fixture of the season. Neither of our clubs "did" as well as we might have hoped in European competition in midweek and cleariy both are desperate to atone today.