Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Stu: All teams make our life
FOR Stewart Murdoch, one of the big things about being at Dundee United is playing at Tannadice.
Problem is he knows pretty much every opposition player i n the Championship will relish running out there as well.
And the Tangerines defender accepts that’s j ust something he and his team-mates will learn to live with.
“There is a factor of boys coming to Tannadice and viewing it as the biggest game of the season for them. They really want to impress.
“This is a great place to come and play football and people look forward to it. That’s maybe even more so the case this year because we are the favourites.
“Last year it was Hibs who were the favourites and pulling in massive crowds. We’re the team doing that this season and it means our home games are going to be difficult because people will be desperate to impress when they come here.
“Do well here and there are more people watching and more people taking note.”
That’s not the same as saying teams will come to Tannadice and have a real go.
As was the case last term, in the games so far this year United have already discovered the policy of most visitors is going to be to shut up shop.
Brechin did it last month and almost escaped with a point and Murdoch does not expect Dumbarton to be any different when they arrive tomorrow.
“You just have to look at Brechin coming here the other week, the quality they showed and how difficult they made it for us, to see this one won’t be easy.
“Dumbarton will be set up really solid, probably a four and a five with just one up top. So it’s going to be difficult to break them down.
“They were also a bit of a bogey team for us last year. They still have quality as well because they scored a few goals against us last season, so we need to be aware of that threat as well.”
United will have the benefit of some inside knowledge in the shape of Sam Stanton. The man on loan from Hibs for the season had a similar spell with the Sons.
Even more than any info he’s able to provide, Murdoch believes the real benefit of having the midfielder is the quality he’s added to the team.
“Sam has done really well. He covers