Dundee 1
Aberdeen 0
League (Premier League)

Manager's Programme Notes

The frustrations of our season continue and were sharply brought into focus by our two recent games against Celtic and Livingston.

Against the reigning champions and current leaders Celtic, we turned on some outstanding football, in addition to great commitment and fighting spirit and a togetherness that was rewarded by a thoroughly merited point.

But much of that good work was undone the following week at Livingston when instead of going out and building on the display against Celtic, we produced a first half of abject poverty.

In fact, being quite honest, we never got out of the starting blocks and although there was an improvement after the break, the damage was done in the first half when we lost the dreadful goal that defeated us.

Next up it was Ibrox and that is always an extremely difficult fixture, but the loss of two goals in the opening three or four minutes, made it virtually mission impossible.

Not that the award of a highly dubious penalty for their opener helped us.

True, we played okay after that, but after they scored their third, the quality in their side allowed them to play out time relatively comfortably.

Having met both members of the Old Firm in the last three weeks, we now come into a spell of fixtures where there can be no more excuses.

We must drive on and pick up points from these next few games.

There have been spells this season when some of the younger players have been gaining in experience, but we have now reached the point where that experience must start to count in helping us picking up points.

This starts with a very difficult game against Aberdeen, who have made such a phenomenal start to the season under Jimmy Calderwood and Jimmy Nicholl.

It will be an extremely tough match, but as we show the same kind of commitment and form as we did against Celtic, there is no reason why we cannot win it.

Unfortunately, this is our only home game in five fixtures, which to my mind is outrageous, and another handicap for us to overcome, but we will just have to get on with it and hopefully grind out the results we need.

And as this is sadly the only programme of the festive period, I would again like to thank all the fans that have continued to back us and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.