Dundee 1
Ayr United 1
League (First Division)

Manager's Programme Notes

The last few games gave us the opportunity to go top, but defeat by Airdrie last Saturday meant we missed out.

Against Clydebank we controlled the game and played well within ourselves and in the end won comfortably. Unfortunately at Broadwood, as in the two previous meetings with Airdrie they hit us on the break to provide us with a major set back

The problems we had with injury and suspensions for the long trip to Stranraer in midweek were well publicised and I was left with no option, but to call up the younger brigade.

However, I am delighted to report that on a surface made treacle-like by all the heavy rain, the young boys did very well. We dominated the match and arrived back in the wee small hours with three very good and well deserved points. With Airdrie losing in midweek, we got to close the gap on them to the narrowest of margins in terms of goal difference. It wasn't only the contribution of the young players which pleased me at Stair Park, but also that of the senior players, so all round the long journey was made worthwhile.

And on the point, I would like to pay tribute to the loyal supporters who took the time and trouble to make the trek to Stranraer. The defeat by Airdrie plus our lengthy list of absentees for Wednesday's match made it understandable why supporters wouldn't make such a long journey in midweek, but to those that did make it, all I can say is that you.deserve a resounding thank you fromm everyone associated with the club.

This afternoon we have the pleasure of welcoming back Simon Stainrod to Dens Park. He has been putting the Somerset Park side in the headlines with his "foreign policy" by which he favours introducing a European aspect to the Scottish game. Some have paid off. whilst others haven't.

As we found out to our cost at Ayr, because of Simon's Dundee connection, his side have an added incentive to do well against us, but if we keep playing as we have done in recent weeks when we have been missing two or three of our better players, then we are more than capable of taking maximum points this afternoon.