MANAGER DISAPPOINTED AT PITTODRIE PERFORMANCE

Manager Alex Smith was less than pleased with his side's performance on Saturday as United fell to their heaviest Pittodrie defeat for eighteen years. "Aberdeen set about us from the first minute, scored early, and as has happened before, we were up against it and chasing the game before the match had settled into a pattern. With this certainly not being the first time that this has happened, it is clearly a great concern. To lose a second within the first ten minutes and the third just after the second half started is really disappointing. We recently lost a first minute goal against Kilmarnock and at Almondvale we lost a goal just after the interval. We will have to find out why this happens and put an end to it."

The United defence certainly toiled in the match with Alex admitting that his captain was still battling to recover from his recent injury. "We got an hour or so out of Danny (Griffin) at Livingston and then he played half a match for Northern Ireland in midweek but instead of sharpening up his play, he appeared to struggle a bit. We may have to persist with Danny at the back however as Stephen Wright could be out for some time following his recent injury.

Alex may play some of his first team squad this evening in the Under-21 derby match at Dens Park with Charlie Miller a likely starter following his recent absence through suspension.