Dundee 1
Rangers 3
League (Premier Division)

Manager's Programme Notes

Since I last wrote this column we've managed to progress into the last eight of the Scottish Cup thanks to our 2-1 win over Airdrie on Sunday.

That game underlined once again just how hard it is to get through against the teams everyone says we're supposed to beat with ease. The fact that we were against First Division opposition put additional pressure on the players and I think this was reflected in their performance.

Even the supporters were a bit subdued because they too were aware of what was at stake and all in all I was pleased to get through to the Quarter Final against Rangers an occasion that everyone here is looking forward to.

It's Rangers at Dens today on League business and it's remarkable to think that with March just round the corner this game will be only our third League fixture since the turn of the year.

It's frustrating being unable to get moving at all in terms of the League but we couldn't have hoped for a better game than today's to get us going again.

RANGERS' SUCCESS IN THE LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL ON WEDNESDAY SHOULD MEAN A BUMPER CROWD AND THE ATMOSPHERE GENERATED BY THAT CAN ONLY BE GOOD FOR THE PLAYERS.

We all know how hard this game is going to be.

Since Big Jock arrived at Ibrox in November, Rangers have suffered only one defeat rampaging through every obstacle put before them. And although the Quarter Final tie is only two weeks away I think you can forget about this game being regarded as a dress rehearsal.

This match won't have any bearing on the Cup tie...whoever wins will claim a psychological boost and whoever loses will say that the Cup presents a completely different set-up. The one thing which both games will have in common is that they will attract bumper crowds.

And the more games with bigger crowds and a better atmosphere we have here at Dens the happier I will be. These occasions generate the feeling that something is happening... and that's the way we want to work out.