Preview: Dundee United (a)

Both teams are enjoying the season's start under new managers. Levein took charge in Dundee almost a year ago and stopped a sad decline. They finished ninth last season. Motherwell's new man has yet to complete a full cycle of SPL fixtures but with a superb set of results in the bag already there is every reason to suppose that we can improve on the tenth position from last year. The teams seem to be evenly matched and currently share fourth place, our hosts having a better goal difference.

United's bright start has stuttered a bit and they lost the last two outing to Celtic and Gretna(!). Kalvenes is expected to resume his place in the back four on Saturday and they'll be hoping that a return to their preferred defensive line can keep our busy strikers at bay.

Clarkson, McCormack, Porter and Lasley have been finding the net recently and there's no reason to believe that the happy habit will not continue. 'Well fans will travel knowing that the team will set out with a very positive 4-3-3 formation and that the quick, passing style will create chances. Of course, Levein knows that too and he'll be taking steps to counter our tactics. But he's at home and he'll be expected to try to win the game - surely we'll have room to let our pace tell.

The last four meetings at Tannadice have been drawn and the last decisive result was a 1-0 win for Motherwell in December when a Jim Paterson goal secured the points.

An international break is looming next weekend. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to admire the table with us sitting in fourth spot on our own? A 1-0 win will do the job.

Remember the last time we were at Tannadice?

The recent record against United