Dundee Utd 1
Celtic 0
League (Premier Division)

Manager's Programme Notes

To-day sees us wind up the first quarter of the Premier League programme when leaders Celtic are visitors for what I firmly believe is one of our most important games so far this term. Last week-end we managed to bring to an end a five-game losing sequence against the other half of the Old Firm at Ibrox when returning with a point in a 1-1 draw, now we must attempt to lay that Celtic bogey of recent seasons. That point we took against Rangers last week brought our tally away from Tannadice to six out of a possible eight— and yet we must weigh that against the fact that only four points have been won at home from a similar amount of games. It simply is not good enough for, as I repeat In practically every communication with you through this column, the home fans just get satisfaction in results of games here at Tannadice.

Indeed, I would go so far as to say that if our home form does not soon get near to matching the results away from home, then even fewer of you will be left out there on the terrace come the end of the season. However, I would again point out that the game has changed so much in recent years that the old adage of titles are won by home form, no longer applies. Commitment to attack in home games is now being counteracted by a negative response from the opposition which breeds frustration and often fatal errors in the home ranks. That's why I see no way that we would be allowed nowadays to play the attractive stuff that took such a trick a couple of years ago. Back to to-day's clash, and anyone who was present at our home League Cup leg against the Parkhead men earlier in the season must realise how desperate we are to win this one. However, to do so you will appreciate that we must take a much higher percentage of the chances contrived on that occasion. Hence the continued search for another striker. In that line Billy Kirkwood's three goals in the last couple of games has proved to me that he can become a more than useful front man — despite playing in what I feel is only his second best position. I have long felt that the youngster could end up becoming one of the top full-backs in the country. Finally, the recent run of respectable results have come at a time when several of the side have been playing below form, thus making them all the more reserving of praise for their tremendously hard work by way of compensation.