Appere: Neilson knew Dundee derby would be rout

LOUIS APPERE has revealed how Dundee United manager Robbie Neilson ordered his players to demolish Dundee.

Appere was a stand-out as the rampant Tangerines ran riot during Friday night’s 6-2 Championship drubbing of their shell-shocked city rivals at Tannadice.

And the 20-year-old striker, who crashed home United’s second goal as they stormed to a 4-1 half-time lead, insists Neilson had his tabletopping troops believing they could pull off such a clinical destruction before a ball was even kicked.

Appere, who is close to signing a new deal with Dundee United, said: “It was a great result and we are really happy.

“Even before the game the gaffer said we know how good we are and we could go out and batter them, if we play the way we know we can play!

“Even at half-time he was telling us to keep going and to get a really good result.

“He wanted us to make a statement and I think we certainly did that.

“He told us to go out and be ruthless and we certainly were.”

Appere has enjoyed a remarkable rise in the past few months having spent time on loan at junior outfit Broughty Athletic to aid his development before breaking into Neilon’s first team this season, starting in all four of the Tayside club’s league fixtures so far this campaign.

He added: “This time last year and I was training with the reserves and then I was on loan at Broughty.

“I did well there and came in and did well in pre-season and now the gaffer has given me my chance.

“Not long ago I played a Junior Cup final here [Tannadice] and now I am playing here in front of a sell-out derby.

“We beat North End 3-0, I didn’t score but I got the man of the match.”

Appere has already struck up a prolific partnership with Lawrence Shankland and admits his forward partner convinced him he’d find the net during the Tannadice derby.

He said: “I just took it down on my chest, composed myself and then volleyed it and thankfully it went into the roof of the net!

“We got another couple of goals and got to 4-1 and it was a great performance.

“People were asking me if I had my celebration ready before the game.

“I said yes but after I scored I don’t know what came over me and I will need to work on that for the next one.

“Lawrence told me my goal was coming.

“He is a great goal-scorer and asset for the team and I know he was delighted for me.”

Shankland, who spent the last two seasons playing for Ayr United, is currently the top scorer in Scotland’s second tier having already notched eight goals in four games.