MANAGER ANTICIPATES TESTING START

Looking ahead to next season's fixture schedule, Manager Alex Smith anticipates a tough and exciting opening match to United's 2002-2003 campaign. In an interview earlier today, Smith commented: "Kicking off the season away to newly promoted Partick Thistle at Firhill will certainly make for a testing start. Thistle will be full of enthusiasm and confidence following last season's Championship win. John Lambie, Jerry Collins and their players deserve great credit for the job they have done over the last three seasons and we shall give them every respect as we go into the match. At the same time, we will endeavour to use our Premier League experience to get off to a good start. It is always very important to win the first game as it tends to set the trend for the season. Last year, we set out with a home match versus Dundee in which we battled to get a 2-2 draw. To start the new season with an away win would be particularly positive and this is what shall be aiming and preparing for."