Dundee Utd 1
Motherwell 0
League (Premiership)

Manager's Programme Notes

Welcome back to Tannadice for the first home game of the season. Certainly we couldn't have wished for a better start to the new campaign than a 3-0 win over Aberdeen. Delighted as I was that we got off to such a flying start at Pittodrie last Sunday, I doubt if few would have anticipated it. However, it must be said that there were many pleasing aspects of our play. With the power and pace at our disposal, we always carry an attacking threat as we underlined by scoring three goals against Aberdeen but the defensive side is a concern after leaking too many goals last term. Being a former defender, one of my main priorities this season was to tighten up at the back after last season. So it was gratifying to keep a clean sheet. Certain teams punished us last term, but I thought defensively we were solid on Sunday. Not only were we winning headers, but it was pleasing for me to see our central defenders getting distance on them and to help us gain ground up the park. Yet it came against a backdrop of something approaching a defensive crisis as we had to start the season minus three players. Mark Wilson had to have an operation on his foot over the summer and is still recuperating. Then of course, John Souttar picked up a bad ankle injury in Holland to rule him out of the first few weeks of the season. So it was particularly disappointing when Seon Dillon fractured his cheekbone to rule him out for six weeks. Quite apart from his versatility, his form in pre-season had been outstanding, carrying on from where he left off last season. In my book, he was one of only a few who played well in the Scottish Cup Final, which makes his absence all the more unfortunate and frustrating for Sean given that it came in the last pre-season game at Leeds. In addition, Keith Watson had a problem with his calf muscle which ruled him out until the last of our pre-seoson games at Leeds.

Of the newcomers, Jarek Fojut wasn't quite match fit, but at least got two games under his belt, before showing he's back up to speed lost Sunday. Meanwhile, Callum Morris has settled in very well and his partnership with Jarek gives us a real presence at the back. Other than financially, losing Andrew Robertson was clearly a blow, but Conor Townsend has come in and done very well and our revamped back four coped admirobly against Aberdeen, and hopefully, set the benchmark for the campaign. Much has been made of the tough start we have been handed, having to meet the top three teams inside six days. However, it isn't something which concerns us is there is no such thing as an easy game in this league, and you have to meet the top teams sometime. Funnily enough, we seemed to be at our best against Motherwell last season and hopefully we can continue that this season but also repeat it against other sides, and not reserve it just for these games because then it means we will have a successful season. A year ago, with so many new players coming in, it took a white for us to settle and with another big turnaround in personnel this summer, I am hoping we don't encounter the same bedding in process. Having hit the ground running at Pittodrie, we mustn't get carried away by it. Indeed, we face equally as hard a game this evening against Motherwell and remember that they too got off to a winning start by beating StMirren.