DUNDEE United manager Craig Levein has revealed that his players have been straining at the leash all week to get the defeat by Hibs out of their system.
United slipped to the bottom of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League following Saturday's 2-1 loss at Easter Road but Levein has been happy with performances and believes that his side's fortunes will soon turn.
United travel to face north-east riv
als Aberdeen in the lunchtime kick-off at Pittodrie today and are desperate to get the win they feel will invigorate their season.
Levein said: "We're still a bit disappointed to have not got what we deserved last week but the only way to get rid of that is to get out there and try to rectify it in another game. So this weekend's match could not have come round quickly enough for my players. They've been really raring to go all week and we're looking forward to it.
"There is a real edge to this game because it's a derby and there are a few ex-United players at Pittodrie these days. To be honest, the game is going to be that competitive, it doesn't need an edge, but it promises to be a really good match."
United will come up against former player Mark Kerr for the first time since the midfielder made the switch to Aberdeen. Levein wanted to keep the ex-Falkirk player at Tannadice but could not fit a new contract into his budget so watched as he headed north to join the Dons.
Despite him moving to one of their rivals, Levein insists he wishes Kerr well in his new career – but only after this weekend.
He said: "Mark is a smashing player and it is no secret I really like him. I wanted to keep him here and had the circumstances been a bit different, he'd probably still be with us.
"But he moved on in the summer, he's a great lad and I wish him all the best – apart from this weekend of course."
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood is refusing to panic about his side's lacklustre home form, despite having only managed to pick up one point at Pittodrie so far this season.
In sharp contrast to their exemplary away form, the Dons have been beaten by Inverness and Hamilton on their own patch – with a commendable draw against Rangers in between.
However Calderwood insists that Pittodrie remains a difficult place for teams to visit.
He said: "I've been doing my research and we've only lost four of our last 27 games at Pittodrie, and that includes matches against Bayern Munich, Dnipro and (Lokomotiv) Moscow.
"I think it is a bit unfair to criticise the players because if we only lose four games of the next 27 at Pittodrie I'll be a very happy manager."
The full article contains 481 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
