Dundee 1
Dundee United 0
League (Premier Division)

Manager's Programme Notes

Today's game gives us the chance to end the season in the best possible way.

Derby games, of course, are always very special and everyone know that we have a chance to qualify for next season's UEFA Cup providing the results go our way this afternoon.

It's good still to be involved in the race for Europe and this is additionally welcome when you consider that this time last year we were involved in a struggle to retain our Premier League status.

There is pressure on the players to get a result today but they would certainly agree that this is a much better type of pressure than that which was experienced here last term.

Our target this afternoon is clearcut with no doubt about it. We must win - and that won't be easy, no matter what side United field as they surely proved against Rangers last week and we must also look to get a turn elsewhere.

But whatever happens today we can reflect on a fair bit of progress at the club during the season now coming to a close.

It's generally agreed that we were unlucky both in the Skol Cup and the Scottish Cup and after a very bad start to the League campaign we managed to hit a bit of form and our results since about the turn of the year have been a lot better.

Of course, I'll never be really satisfied what with what we're doing but even the harshest critic would have to agree that considerable progress has been made. It's vital that we end the season on a high note and continue making progress next season.

But first we have to deal with today's visit which in a sense will be Dundee's Cup Final with all to play for and the prospect of a major prize at the end of it all. This has been one of these instances when the players have been keenly anticipating the match all week and I always regard that as a very good sign.

Certainly, they can be proud of their performance on Saturday at Parkhead which gave us the points to keep the interest going to the season's end. I felt that the football we played in the first 25 minutes was on a par with anything we've played this season and although the pitches at this time of the year are always a bit tricky, I felt we equipped ourselves well and showed our battling qualities when we were pushed back a bit.

Certainly, it was nice to get a League win at Park head but all the satisfaction we took from that match will vanish if we are unable to follow it up today.

Although this is not quite the end of the season for us - we have Dundee United here again on Monday in the Forfarshire Cup - I would like to take this opportunity of thanking everyone for their support over the past months which has been greatly appreciated by everyone at the club.