Dundee Utd 1
PSV 1
UEFA Cup (1st Round 1st Leg)

Manager's Programme Notes

Naturally I was more than pleased to capture both points in our opening league clash with Aberdeen who are always a difficult side to beat. Unfortunately tempering my satisfaction was the inexplicable lapse of form in the second half. After establishing a two goal lead, the players rested on their laurels in the second period and allowed Aberdeen back into the game instead of pursuing -further goals. You can never score too many goals! Failure to press home an early advantage has cost us dearly in the past. I need only cite our last tie in Europe against Radnicki Nis. After establishing a 2 goal interval lead, we failed to improve on that base with further goals and that proved our undoing in the second leg in Yugoslavia. Lapses such as this must not re-occur and it is time that we found the reasons for these periods of inconsistency.

Last season was the first time we have made any real impact on the European scene, but having said that there is little doubt that we could have done even better! Tonight we welcome P.S.V. Eindhoven in the first leg of this 1st round U E.F A. tie. It is always more difficult when playing the home leg first. The main problem is how to approach a tie where the prime essential is to ensure the opposition don't score, but at the same time establish a big enough lead for the second leg. However, I feel that there is enough experience in the present squad to cope with the situation in hand. One headache we still have is whether to utilise the talents of Dave Narey in defence or in midfield. Up front, however, the problem is that with the exception of Davie Dodds, none of the forwards has performed on a consistent basis this season. Certainly if we are to again make progress in Europe, then all the players must produce peak performances. You the fans can assist us in attempting to overcome tonight's stiff hurdle by displaying the patience which the players will have to exercise as they face a side
of P.S.V.'s calibre.