DUTV
STORY OF THE MATCH | MOTHERWELL (H)
31st October 2024
By Friday afternoon, all at Tannadice were optimistic that Saturday's SPL meeting at Easter Road would be given the green light, despite snowfall around Scotland.
Hibs' undersoil heating system appears to be doing its job, and indications are that the match will go ahead. United boss Alex Smith is relieved to be going into this clash with slightly more selection options than he has been used to in recent weeks. Although striker Beto Naveda will still be sidelined through injury, and midfielders John Licina and Davie Hannah won't see action until after the winter break, fitness concerns regarding David Partridge and Hasney Aljofree have eased.
In addition, defender Jim Lauchlan and attacker Derek Lilley return to the fray after suspension. "I was pleased with Steven Thompson's performance against Celtic, and both he and Derek Lilley can help stretch the Hibs defence a bit," said Smith. "But Hibernian are a very good side who not only have individual flair players but also are strong as a unit. However, we need an away win to boost us, but if we play like we did in the first half at Tynecastle in our last outing on the road, we will expect trouble. The performances immediately prior to the Hearts and Celtic games gave us some reason for optimism and I am looking for similar application and attitude against Hibs."
The Easter Road encounter is United's final game in what has been an unhappy year 2000. Smith added,"It's been a bad year for Dundee United with results not acceptable but I do feel in the last few months there have been signs of things settling down. I think the signs are there - we can get a team together to first of all save United then build from there."
"I can assure all Dundee United supporters that everyone at Tannadice is striving to change things for the better and we will not shy away until that is achieved."
Hibs' undersoil heating system appears to be doing its job, and indications are that the match will go ahead. United boss Alex Smith is relieved to be going into this clash with slightly more selection options than he has been used to in recent weeks. Although striker Beto Naveda will still be sidelined through injury, and midfielders John Licina and Davie Hannah won't see action until after the winter break, fitness concerns regarding David Partridge and Hasney Aljofree have eased.
In addition, defender Jim Lauchlan and attacker Derek Lilley return to the fray after suspension. "I was pleased with Steven Thompson's performance against Celtic, and both he and Derek Lilley can help stretch the Hibs defence a bit," said Smith. "But Hibernian are a very good side who not only have individual flair players but also are strong as a unit. However, we need an away win to boost us, but if we play like we did in the first half at Tynecastle in our last outing on the road, we will expect trouble. The performances immediately prior to the Hearts and Celtic games gave us some reason for optimism and I am looking for similar application and attitude against Hibs."
The Easter Road encounter is United's final game in what has been an unhappy year 2000. Smith added,"It's been a bad year for Dundee United with results not acceptable but I do feel in the last few months there have been signs of things settling down. I think the signs are there - we can get a team together to first of all save United then build from there."
"I can assure all Dundee United supporters that everyone at Tannadice is striving to change things for the better and we will not shy away until that is achieved."
