Dundee 1
Perugia 2
UEFA Cup (1st Round 1st Leg)

Manager's Programme Notes

After our first European joust against Vllaznia, this evening's tie against AC Perugia promises to be a fantastic occasion.

No matter that they may be one of the less well known sides in Italy, any side that plays in one of the top four leagues in Europe has got to be given the highest regard.

Perugia certainly present us with a massive challenge, but it is one that we are ready to respond to.

Many people undervalue our own league and this game affords us the opportunity to put Dundee FC on the map.

However, if we are going to enhance the reputation of the club and Scottish football, it will require a highly positive performance by us.

However, we readily accept that responsibility, although it would be nice to think that we can do it more often than once in 29 years!

Whilst it does put pressure on us, it is of a very welcome variety and I think that it gives us the chance to prove that we are a decent side. We may not play at the same level of European football as our opponents, but hopefully, we'll thrive on the occasion and get a good result to give everyone at the club a boost.

As you probably know I watched Perugia last week and they play three at the back with two very quick defenders on either side but perhaps untypical of what you might normally expect in Jay Bothroyd, they have a big target man which gives them a different aerial option.

They are also very dangerous from set pieces.

Although they didn't finish high enough the league to quality directly for the UEFA Cup, they fact that they came through three testing Intertoto ties and without losing a goal shows that have the typical Italian defensive mentality

And when you look at the ease with which Inter Milan accounted for Arsenal recently, think it says it all about the demands of playing in Serie A

Given that Perugia play in that kind of exalted company week in and week out, it immediately indicates the difficult task that lies ahead of us this evening.