UNITED DRAW 1 - 1 AT HIGHFIELD

Back at his desk today, Manager Alex Smith declared himself pleased with the last pre-season friendly played at Highfield Road Saturday past: "The game against Coventry was an excellent exercise for both teams. Certainly, from a Dundee United point-of-view it was a good, hard game - just the right build-up for the new season. Both teams played brilliant football and scored two exciting goals. For us, it was another opportunity to play our central defending partnership of McGowne and Lauchlan, and it was their best game to-date. Plus, our two young full-backs, McCunnie and Duff have done themselves no damage whatsoever. Crucially, we were also very strong up front, with our attacking duet of Steven Thompson and Charlie Miller. Also Jim McIntyre scored an outstanding goal and looked his sharpest yet. Not least, Icelandic trialist Arnar Gunnlaugsson came on at half time and showed plenty of clever play to suggest he would be an excellent acquisition."