Dundee United Latest Blogs

Daly wary of card happy ref

19/08/2010 13:04:29 by SPLBanter filed in News.

Terrors skipper Jon Daly has warned his team-mates to stay on the right side of Croatian referee Marijo Strahonja in tonight’s Europa League play-off match against AEK Athens at Tannadice.

Strahonja who is one of the youngest referees on UEFA’a list at 34 has gained a reputation on the continent for liberally flashing red and yellow cards during Europa League matches in recent seasons.

Daly is concerned that tackles considered the norm in the SPL, or northern European football in general, could land United’s inexperienced [in Europa League terms] players to fall foul of the tough European rules.

The big Irishman said: "The referee we've got averages five or six yellow cards in a game so we've got to be aware of that.

"If he's card happy then we can't go flying into tackles because you could easily find yourself getting a red or yellow card.

"It's going to be exciting, the crowd will get the boys up for it at one hundred miles an hour so you have to be careful.

"I'll have a chat with the boys before the game and I'm sure the manager will too because we can't afford to give any silly free-kicks away.

"From what we've seen they look dangerous from set plays so it's definitely a case of us being sensible.

"It's not going to be like an SPL game in terms of play going up and down the park. The style of playing in Europe is totally different and that's something we'll have to adapt to."

Team news to follow.

Houston tells trio they can leave

18/08/2010 15:36:27 by SPLBanter filed in News.

With money tight and Peter Houston desperate to sign defensive cover, the manager has told Fran Sandaza, Danny Cademarteri and Jennison Myrie-Williams they can leave the club.

Houston currently has eight strikers to pick from but is thin on the ground defensively, particularly at centre-half where he has lost Lee Wilkie to retirement and Andy Webster who has returned to Rangers following the end of his loan spell.

Chairman Stephen Thompson has told Houston he can only sign a defender once he has reduced the size of the squad, and with Irmantas Zelmikas waiting in the wings after having impressed during a trial spell, Houston has told the trio they can leave.

Houston said: "I spoke to the three players and told them if someone comes in for them we wouldn't be difficult to deal with,

"Fran [Sandaza] is at Swansea for a few days to let them have a look at him.

"He's a quality player but has had fitness problems. We've brought players in and renewed contracts, which is all money spent, without bringing any in.

"We thought someone would have been sold by now but it hasn't happened so I have to free up cash.

"I need a centre-half and it looks as if a striker will have to make way to get the man we want in. If nothing comes of the Swansea trip, Fran will come back."  

Houston frustrated by draw

16/08/2010 14:35:07 by SPLBanter filed in News.

Terrors boss Peter Houston admitted he was left frustrated by his team’s opening day draw against St Mirren in Paisley.

It was a match largely dominated by last season’s cup winners but they needed a last minute goal to take a share of the spoils after Sean Lynch’s spectacular opener for the hosts with just over 15 minutes left.

Houston said: "I'm frustrated that we didn't get three points because it was like waves of attack towards the St Mirren goal.

"I thought it was going to be one of those days, because after an opening spell of 15-20 minutes where St Mirren came out of the traps, we played our way back into the game.

"All of a sudden, a corner came to the edge of the box and Sean Lynch hit a nice goal, although it was poor defending from our side, but after that, you're saying that you don't want to lose the game.

"We like to put crosses into the box and think we put about 50 in today, but it just didn't break for us until the last couple of minutes.

"However, we had most of the ball in the second half, worked hard and kept playing, and got our just rewards in getting a goal.

"I also thought we should have had a penalty - Jon Daly hung in the air and was pushed in the back, but the referee said he thought there was nothing in it."

Goal scorer Daly was delighted and relieved in equal measure, he said: "Although it would have been great to get the win, we’ll take a point having been a goal down with 15 minutes to go.

"There was a sense of relief when the goal went in. It’s a weight off your shoulders to equalise and it’s just a shame that there were only a couple of minutes left and we didn’t have time to go and get the winner.

"We came here wanting to win and I think we were unfortunate that we didn’t. We had plenty of crosses but it’s turning them into chances, and the final ball is probably what let us down.

"Things just didn’t seem to be going our way. Everything seemed to be dropping to them until the last minute when it just fell at my feet and I put it away.

"I had thought it looked as though it was going to be one of those days, because we were dominating, then St Mirren had their first real shot on target of the second half and it flew into the top corner with Dusan [Pernis] unable to do anything about it. St Mirren is a difficult place to go to as they’re a well-organised side and you know they’re going to make it difficult for you. Once they got that goal it was always going to be tough for us to break them down.

"We didn’t play particularly well as we didn’t start well, were second to a lot of the ball and didn’t press as well as we normally do. But after the first 15 to 20 minutes we got into it and dominated."

Houston’s thoughts now turn to AEK Athens and the first leg of their Europa League qualifier at the Olympic stadium on Thursday.

The gaffer said: "We're going to be playing a real good quality side who've never been beaten by a Scottish team, and what I can guarantee is that the Dundee United boys will be trying their very best.

"We're going to have to try to put our dominance on the fixture as well, and having played our first game of the season will benefit the lads because we'll have that wee bit of sharpness."

St Mirren 1 Dundee United 1

14/08/2010 22:52:54 by SPLBanter filed in Match Reports.

St Mirren  1  Dundee United  1

Danny Lennon’s new look St Mirren were one agonising minute away from pulling off a surprise opening day victory against last season’s Scottish Cup winners Dundee United at Greenhill Road.

It took a last gasp Jon Daly goal to deny The Buddies, but in all honesty it was the least United deserved for their efforts, with Paul Gallacher easily the busier of the two keepers.

Saints had earlier taken the lead in spectacular fashion on 73 minutes when new signing Sean Lynch sent a right-foot volley into the top corner from the edge of the box.

But United’s pressure eventually told when Daly side-footed home a Morgaro Gomis cross.

St Mirren: Gallacher, Van Zanten, Potter, McGregor, Travner, Murray, Thomson, Robb (Love 80), Lynch, Wardlaw (Mair 61), McGowan

Dundee Utd: Pernis, Dillon, Dixon, Dods, Kenneth, Conway (Cadamarteri 81), Robertson (Myrie-Williams 74), Buaben, Gomis, Daly, Goodwillie

Goals: St Mirren: Lynch [73]; Dundee United: Daly [89]

Sandaza surprise inclusion for Arabs opener

13/08/2010 16:51:48 by SPLBanter filed in News.

Fran Sandaza has made a quicker than expected recovery from his hamstring injury and has been included in The Terrors squad which travels to Paisley for their SPL opener against St Mirren.

It was initially feared that the Spaniard would miss the first two to three weeks of the new season.

Scott Robertson and Garry Kenneth have been passed fit following their exploits in Sweden on Wednesday.

But Danny Swanson misses out through suspension, while long-term absentee Mihael Kovacevic is out with a knee injury.

Dundee United [from]: Pernis, Dixon, Kenneth, Dods, Dillon, Douglas, Shala, S Robertson, D Robertson, Gomis, Buaben, Conway, Myrie-Williams, Casalinuovo, Goodwillie, Daly, Sandaza, Cadamarteri, Banks, Mentel.

Zelmikas deal imminent?

03/08/2010 19:39:40 by SPLBanter filed in News.

Dundee United are hoping to complete a deal for Irmantas Zelmikas after the Lithuanian defender impressed during a trial period at the club.

The 30 year-old former Kaunas centre half is available on a free and it is believed that Chairman Stephen Thompson is hoping to agree personal terms with the player within the next 48 hours.

Peter Houston is keen to add another central defender to his squad following the retirement last season of club captain Lee Wilkie and Andy Webster’s return to Ibrox after a season long loan deal.

The 11 times capped Zelmikas appears to fit the bill having performed well in The Arabs pre-season games against Glentoran, Raith Rovers and Hull City.

In other news, with the kick-off to the 2010-11 season just 10 days away Fran Sandaza who missed the best part of a year with serious hernia problems looks set the miss the start to this season too.

The Spanish striker is currently hamstrung but Peter Houston is encouraging the player to stay positive, as this latest minor setback is exactly that in comparison what he has been through over the past year.

Houston told The Courier: "Fran's injury is less serious than we feared but he is still missing training and I don't know if he will be fit for the first game of the season.

"He is dejected because he is picking up these injuries but I have told him not to worry about it. It is not his fault — it is not as if he means to get injured."

United play EPL side Wigan Athletic on Sunday at Tannadice [KO 15:00], their final friendly before the serious stuff begins away to St Mirren the following Saturday.