DUFC

IMPROVEMENT AT BOTH ENDS REQUIRED

13th November 2000

Manager Alex Smith has stressed the need for an improvement at both ends of the park as United try to end their run without a win.

Alex felt United competed well for most of Saturday's derby against Dundee, but were punished for defensive errors and a failure to take chances. "There have been too many individual errors at the back and it is costing us dearly," said Alex. "We also know we have not been scoring enough goals, though at least on Saturday we created a good number of chances."

United will head for St Johnstone this weekend bolstered by the return from suspension of Jim Lauchlan. Skipper Jason de Vos will also be available after a ban, though World Cup duty with Canada against Mexico in Toronto in the early hours of Thursday morning means his participation is not certain.

On Monday night Lauchlan, along with last week's signing Jamie Fullarton and Icelandic trialist Thorim Kristjansson were due for a run out against Dundee in the Under-21 derby at Dens.