First Team
EVERY WORD | JIM GOODWIN AHEAD OF LEITH ADVENTURE
1st November 2024
Back to duty this morning after Saturday's clash with Hibs, Manager Alex Smith expressed both his disappointment with the result yet, at the same time, a degree of satisfaction with the performance. "It was a big let-down to lose as I felt we did enough to at least share the spoils if not win the game. The match was a credit to both teams and it was a very open and attractive game of football. Two exceptional goals were scored, one by Hibs and one by ourselves, plus an unfortunate goal, which won Hibs the game.
Perhaps, so the Manager intimated in a philosophical mode, the result was a matter of poetic justice working its way: "We took three points from Easter Road earlier this season by scoring a winner in the very last minute in a game where they might have felt aggrieved for not taking anything from the occasion. Maybe it was just matching up."
On a positive note, Smith proceeded to underline the contribution of the first team new-comers and the fine work of the recent international call-ups: "It was another outstanding performance by Stuart Duff (pictured), who was asked to play in three different positions in the course of the game and he excelled in each, and it was also an encouraging display by the young debutant Stephen O'Donnell who I am sure United fans will be seeing and hearing a lot more of. On top of their form were again goal-keeper Paul Gallacher and centre forward Steven Thompson, whose spectacular goal and overall performance justifies once more his inclusion in Mr Vogts's squad for Paris. Incidentally", Smith concluded "Berti Vogts happened to be at the game and I am very pleased we managed to put on a good show and I hope he was encouraged by it."
Perhaps, so the Manager intimated in a philosophical mode, the result was a matter of poetic justice working its way: "We took three points from Easter Road earlier this season by scoring a winner in the very last minute in a game where they might have felt aggrieved for not taking anything from the occasion. Maybe it was just matching up."
On a positive note, Smith proceeded to underline the contribution of the first team new-comers and the fine work of the recent international call-ups: "It was another outstanding performance by Stuart Duff (pictured), who was asked to play in three different positions in the course of the game and he excelled in each, and it was also an encouraging display by the young debutant Stephen O'Donnell who I am sure United fans will be seeing and hearing a lot more of. On top of their form were again goal-keeper Paul Gallacher and centre forward Steven Thompson, whose spectacular goal and overall performance justifies once more his inclusion in Mr Vogts's squad for Paris. Incidentally", Smith concluded "Berti Vogts happened to be at the game and I am very pleased we managed to put on a good show and I hope he was encouraged by it."
