Dundee 1
Aberdeen 1
League (Premier Division)

Manager's Programme Notes

Here we are at the start of a new season and a warm welcome back to you all. I really believe we can look forward to a good season, as do the rest of the staff and the players. You'll be seeing the same faces this year, as by the restart of training back in July the majority had re-signed. I was pleased that all the players out of contract had put pen to paper again this gives us the same pool for the coming campaign as finished last season in such good style.

Obviously, we would want to start today as we ended against Accies. How about that scoreline as well!

Our visitors today need little introduction and we have a point to prove against Aberdeen. Since beating them in the first season of the Premier League, we've failed to better them. Last season was particularly disappointing in that respect. Only one point came our way from four tight games. That's some thing which must be rectified this season, starting today.

The Dons will likely field a couple of familiar faces-Robert Connor, starting his first full season at Pittodrie, was always popular here, though I doubt he'll be such a hit with the Dens crowd this afternoon. David Dodds plied his trade at Tannadice before swapping orange for red and his style is well enough known to us.

There's every reason to believe this season could be the hardest so far in the Premier Division, with three teams being relegated at the end. No doubt that will make for tighter games. Be sure, however, Dundee are aiming for the top. A place in Europe is my main ambition and the run we had towards the end of last season gives us all a boost. The players have the confidence to build on that and I intend they will be playing positively in every game. After three seasons finishing in sixth place, it's time to get in amongst the top five at least and give us all the opportunity of visiting far away places for our football.

Pre-season training went particularly well before we headed off to the Isle of Man. I condensed the hard running into a week to make room for the tough practise such a tournament demanded, and I can assure you there was plenty of enthusiasm evident right through the squad in readiness for League business. We were all back in harness at Dens on July 13, Lucky for some? I firmly intend it will be lucky for the Dark Blues!