DUFC

UNDER-21'S TIRED AFTER TWO MONTH GAP

20th February 2002

United Coach Maurice Malpas was delighted with the Under-21's win at Dens Park on Monday evening, especially as it had come about after having started the match disappointingly.

"In the first half it showed that that we had not played since early December. Our passing was poor, our team play was poor and the individual sharpness was very poor. We arrived at half time a goal down and spoke to the lads about what was happening. After the interval, we started to play as we can and by the time we had equalised, we looked like a more settled team. In the end we deserved our 2-1 win with McCracken and Paterson getting on the end of assists from Charlie (Miller)."

Maurice was pleased that Miller, having missed the last two first team matches through suspension, played himself back into his own high standard of performance. "Charlie played the entire match and for the final half hour, he looked more like his normal self. David Hannah gave a sound performance and was unfortunate not to score in the first half when he hit the post. The players were very tired by the end of the match. This was because the gap over the New Year was far too long and it was like starting the season all over again."

The United coach was happy that Jim Paterson also got through the entire match. "Jim got through the ninety minutes as part of a fitness regime that he is going through because he has lost a lot of the season due to injury and illness."

The Under-21's have now moved up to within a couple of points of third top of the league.