Jack chasing new faces as he plays catch-up at United
Dundee Utd...............0 Sunderland...............2
Jack Ross admits he’s playing catch-up as he attempts to add at least four experienced outfield players to his young Dundee United squad.
The gaffer took charge at Tannadice for the first time against his former club Sunderland, with the Black Cats securing the win thanks to Trai Hume’s header and a spectacular own goal from Charlie Mulgrew.
Ross, who handed a start to 16-year-old Rory MacLeod up front, is now desperate to bring in more experience ahead of the start of the Premiership season.
He said: “We need bodies, there’s no doubt about that.
“You can see where we are squad- wise, we had 16-year-olds starting today and when you looked at the bench with the exception of Nicky Clark, there was nobody over 21.
“So we have a very young group and need reinforcements. I think we need at least four outfield players, you can see that. Hopefully we can get them in soon.
“The Scottish Premiership isn’t an easy league so you need that depth of quality and that’s what we’ve striving to get.
“It has been harder playing catch-up because all the work I would have done at the latter part of last season and into the early summer I wasn’t able to do because I wasn’t here.
“We are chasing it a bit and that makes it harder because a lot of the ones you would have identified go and you have to find others.”
Rangers scout John Brown was watching from the stands as Sunderland carved out the first opening in the eighth minute when Dan Neil crossed inside the United box.
However, Scotland striker Ross Stewart’s header f lew wide of home keeper Carljohan Eriksson’s right-hand post.
Stewart was looking lively and linked well with Patrick Roberts but his dangerous low cross was cut out by Eriksson.
United finally created an opportunity two minutes after the break when striker Tony Watt sent a ball in from the left flank but Liam Smith headed over.
Sunderland finally took the lead in the 52nd minute.
Dennis Cirkin swung in a high cross with Eriksson trying to clear but the ball made its way to Hume who calmly headed home.
United looked to hit back straight away and Archie Meekison’s 20-yard shot was wel l held by Sunderland keeper Anthony Patterson.
Sunderland doubled their lead courtesy of one of the most bizarre own goals ever seen at Tannadice.
Mulgrew spun and hit a pass back from 10 yards inside his own hal f but Eriksson was well off his line and was helpless to prevent the ball rolling into the net.
DUNDEE UTD: Eriksson 6, Smith 6, McMann 6, Mulgrew 6 (Graham 4, 75), Niskanen 6 (Glass 4, 75), Edwards 7, Sibbald 7 (Freeman, 60), Meekison 6 (Chalmers, 75), Harkes 6 (Mochrie 3, 85), Watt 7 (Clark 4, 75), MacLeod 6 (Cudjoe 5, 56). Subs not used: Adams, Watson, Duffy, Thomson.
SUNDERLAND: Patterson, Hume, Cirkin, Evans, Wright ( Alese, 65), Ballard, Neil, Dajaku, Pr itchard , Rober ts, Stewar t (Diamond, 65). Subs not used: O’Nien, Matete, Winchester, Gooch, Embleton, Carney, Batth, Sahmna, Taylor, Clark.
Referee: Don Robertson.